Effective sand control and particle characterization are critical to the success of operations in the oil and gas industry. The Principles of Particle Size Distribution Analysis training programme is a comprehensive 5-day course designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to analyze, interpret, and apply particle size distribution (PSD) measurements in various industrial scenarios.
The course begins by exploring the fundamentals of particle size, shape, and distribution, highlighting their importance in sand control design, filter media selection, and laboratory simulations. Participants will delve into the latest PSD measurement techniques, including sieving, sedimentation, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), laser diffraction, and Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA). Each method is presented with its strengths, limitations, and real-world applications, enabling participants to select the most suitable techniques for their specific needs.
Advanced modules cover practical insights into cutting-edge tools like the Litesizer DLS and Particle Size Analyzer (PSA), providing hands-on experience in modern equipment used for wet and dry dispersions. Participants will also learn how to interpret complex PSD data, evaluate particle morphology, and address challenges in sand control and material performance.
The programme emphasizes industry relevance by integrating quality control standards and showcasing applications of PSD analysis in drilling fluids, formation sands, and gravel pack design. Case studies and laboratory exercises blend theory with practice, ensuring that attendees can directly apply their learnings to solve challenges in their roles.
By the end of the course, participants will have the technical expertise to measure and analyze PSD effectively, make data-driven decisions for sand control and material optimization, and implement quality assurance processes to enhance operational efficiency. This training is ideal for engineers, geologists, technicians, and managers seeking to excel in particle characterization and its application in oil and gas operations.
• Reservoir and Production Engineers: Responsible for designing and optimizing sand control methods.
• Drilling Engineers: Involved in selecting materials and methods for drilling operations where particle size impacts performance.
• Petroleum Engineers: Focused on formation sand analysis and filtration media design.
• Geologists and Sedimentologists: Conducting formation sand studies and PSD analysis for reservoir characterization.
• Laboratory Technicians: Handling particle analysis equipment and interpreting PSD data for engineering decisions.
• Quality Control Engineers: Ensuring consistency and reliability in PSD measurements for sand and filtration systems.
• Technical Managers and Supervisors: Overseeing sand control projects and requiring a solid understanding of PSD for informed decision-making.
- Define and explain particle size, shape, and distribution principles
- Identify the relevance of PSD in sand control and its impact on oil and gas operations
- Evaluate the pros and cons of PSD measurement techniques such as DLS, laser diffraction, and DIA
- Choose the most suitable PSD method for specific materials and applications
- Use and interpret data from modern instruments like the Litesizer (DLS), Particle Size Analyzer (PSA), and Dynamic Image Analyzer (DIA)
- Apply advanced measurement capabilities such as zeta potential, refractive index, and bulk material morphology analysis
- Interpret PSD results to support decisions on sand control design, filter media sizing, and material selection
- Compare and integrate data from different measurement techniques to draw reliable conclusions
- Implement quality assurance processes to ensure accuracy and reliability in PSD analysis
- Use reference materials and calibration standards effectively
- Solve practical problems related to particle size in drilling fluids, formation sands, and gravel pack systems
- Optimize PSD measurement for wet and dry dispersions in industrial scenarios
- Introduction to solid matter and particles
- Definitions of particle size and shape
- Importance of Particle Size Distribution (PSD) in sand control
- Sampling and sample preparation
- Applications of PSD in sand control design: sand screens, gravel packs, and simulated formation sand
- Overview of PSD measurement techniques
- Sieving: process, applications, and limitations
- Sedimentation techniques
- Electrical Sensing Zone (Coulter Principle)
- Forward light scattering (Laser Diffraction)
- Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS): fundamentals, zeta potential, and molecular mass measurement
- Microscopy and image analysis for particle morphology
- Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) with Litesizer: multifunctional capabilities and interpretation
- Laser Diffraction with Particle Size Analyzer (PSA): generating PSDs and compensating for material properties
- Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA): particle shapes, morphology, and bulk material analysis
- Comparison of PSD measurement techniques: strengths, limitations, and selection criteria
- Introduction to porous and non-porous materials
- Fundamentals of porosity, density, and surface area
- Physical gas adsorption for surface area analysis
- Mercury intrusion porosimetry for pore size distribution
- Chemical gas adsorption for active site characterization
- Pycnometry and other density measurement methods
- Comparison of techniques for porosity assessment
- Accuracy and precision in particle size and porosity measurements
- Reference materials and calibration standards
- Quality control processes for PSD and porosity analysis
- Addressing common pitfalls in particle characterization
- Strategies for selecting appropriate measurement techniques for specific applications
- Particle characterization in sand and gravel for oil and gas
- Industrial relevance of powders and granular materials
- Blending theory with practice: laboratory exercises
- Case studies on PSD relevance to sand control and filtration design
- Interpretation of PSD data for engineering decisions
Training can take place in 4 formats:
- Self-paced
- Blended learning
- Instructor-led online (webinar)
- Instructor-led offline (classroom)
Description of training formats:
- Self-paced learning or e-Learning means you can learn in your own time and control the amount of material to consume. There is no need to complete the assignments and take the courses at the same time as other learners.
- Blended learning or "hybrid learning" means you can combine Self-paced learning or e-Learning with traditional instructor-led classroom or webinar activities. This approach requires physical presence of both teacher and student in physical or virtual (webinars) classrooms or workshops. Webinar is a seminar or presentation that takes place on the internet, allowing participants in different locations to see and hear the presenter, ask questions, and sometimes answer polls.
- Instructor-led training, or ILT, means that the learning can be delivered in a lecture or classroom format, as an interactive workshop, as a demonstration under the supervision and control of qualified trainer or instructor with the opportunity for learners to practice, or even virtually, using video-conferencing tools.
When forming groups of students, special attention is paid to important criteria - the same level of knowledge and interests among all students of the course, in order to maintain stable group dynamics during training.
Group dynamics is the development of a group in time, which is caused by the interaction of participants with each other and external influence on the group. In other words, these are the stages that the training group goes through in the process of communicating with the coach and among themselves.
The optimal group size for different types of training:
- Self-paced / E-learning: 1
- Instructor-led off-line (classroom): 6 – 12
- Instructor-led on-line (webinar): 6 – 12
- Blended learning: 6 – 12
- Workshop: 6 – 12
- On-the-job: 2 – 4
- Simulator: 1 – 2
Feedback in the form of assessments and recommendations is given to students during the course of training with the participation of an instructor and is saved in the course card and student profile.
In order to control the quality of the services provided, students can evaluate the quality and training programme. Forms of assessment of the quality of training differ for courses with the participation of an instructor and those that are held in a self-paced format.
For courses with an instructor, start and end dates are indicated. At the same time, it is important to pay attention to the deadlines for passing tests, exams and practical tasks. If the specified deadlines are missed, the student may not be allowed to complete the entire course programme.
A personal account is a space for storing your training preferences, test and exam results, grades on completed training, as well as your individual plan for professional and personal development.
Users of the personal account have access to articles and blogs in specialized areas, as well as the ability to rate the completed training and leave comments under the articles and blogs of our instructors and technical authors
Registered users of a personal account can have various roles, including the role of a student, instructor or content developer. However, for all roles, except for the student role, you will need to go through an additional verification procedure to confirm your qualifications.
Based on the results of training, students are issued a certificate of training. All training certificates fall into three main categories:
- Certificate of Attendance - students who successfully completed the course but did not pass the tests and exams can apply for a certificate of attendance.
- Certificate of Completion - students who have successfully completed a course could apply for a Certificate of Completion, this type of certificate is often required for compliance training.
- Verified Certificate - it is a verified certificate that is issued when students have passed exams under the supervision of a dedicated proctor.
You can always download a copy of your training certificate in PDF format in your personal account.
You will still have access to the course after completing it, provided that your account is active and not compromised and Tecedu is still licensed for the course. So if you want to review specific content in the course after completing it, or do it all over again, you can easily do so. In rare cases, instructors may remove their courses from the Tecedu marketplace, or we may need to remove a course from the platform for legal reasons.
During the training, you may encounter various forms of testing and knowledge testing. The most common assessment methods are:
- preliminary (base-line assessment) - to determine the current level of knowledge and adapt the personal curriculum
- intermediate - to check the progress of learning
- final - to complete training and final assessment of knowledge and skills, can be in the form of a project, testing or practical exam
Travel to the place of full-time training is not included in the cost of training. Accommodation during full-time studies can be included in the full board tuition fees.
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You can preview samples of the training materials and review key information about the course on our website. You can also review feedback and recommendations from students who already completed this course.
We want you to be happy, so almost all purchased courses can be returned within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with the course, you can request a refund, provided the request complies with our return policy.
The 30-day money back policy allows students to receive quality teaching services with minimal risk, we must also protect our teachers from fraud and provide them with a reasonable payment schedule. Payments are sent to instructors after 30 days, so we will not process refund requests received after the refund period.
We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to limit or deny refund requests in cases where we believe there is refund abuse, including but not limited to the following:
- A significant portion of the course has been consumed or downloaded by a student before the refund was requested.
- Multiple refunds have been requested by a student for the same course.
- Excessive refunds have been requested by a student.
- Users whose account is blocked or access to courses is disabled due to violation of our Terms and Conditions or the Rules of Trust and Security.
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- These refund restrictions will be enforced to the extent permitted by applicable law.
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Conducting classes is based on the fact that the teacher demonstrates text, drawings, graphics, presentations on an interactive board, while the content appears in the student's electronic notebook. A specially designed digital notepad and pen are used to create and edit text and images that can be redirected to any surface via a projector.
Classes are live streamed online, automatically recorded and published on the Learning Portal, allowing you to save them for reuse anytime, anywhere, on any mobile device. This makes it possible not to miss classes and keep up with classes and keep up with the passage of new material.
Real-life training uses the principles of game organization, which allows future professionals to rehearse and hone their skills in a virtual emergency. Learning as a game provides an opportunity to establish a connection between the learning activity and real life.
The technology provides the following learning opportunities:
- Focused on the needs of the user
- Instant feedback
- Independent decision making and choice of actions
- Better assimilation and memorization of the material
- Adaptive pace of learning tailored to the individual needs of the student
- Better transfer of skills learned in a learning situation to real conditions
Basic principles of training:
- A gradual increase in the level of difficulty in the game;
- Using a simplified version of a problem situation;
- Action in a variable gaming environment;
- The right choice is made through experimentation.
The main advantages of Game Based Learning technology:
- Low degree of physical risk and liability
- Motivation to learn while receiving positive emotions from the process;
- Practice - mirroring the real situation
- Timely feedback
- Choice of different playing roles
- Learning in collaboration
- Developing your own behavior strategy
Conducting practical classes online using remote access technologies for presentations, multimedia solutions and virtual reality:
- Laboratory workshops that simulate the operation of expensive bench equipment in real production
- Virtual experiment, which is visually indistinguishable from a remote real experiment performed
- Virtual instruments, which are an exact copy of real instruments
- Mathematical modeling to clarify the physical characteristics, chemical content of the investigated object or phenomenon.