So you’ve got Nodal Analysis Software...


You more-or-less know how to navigate your way around the software, and maybe you’ve already built a few well models...

Now what? How to apply this powerful technique to address well performance questions? For instance:

  • Flow stability: Why does a well exhibit slugging and surging, although there’s plenty of energy in the reservoir?
  • What is the practical production potential of a well, and is it a good idea to produce at this rate?
  • When should you convert a natural flow well to artificial lift?
  • Tubing selection: How do you determine the optimal size? Should that be based on current well producing conditions or some point in the future? When?
  • Model matching: How do you decide what is good input data and what is bad? And what’s the best way to match a model?

Perhaps you’re already comfortable building models and now you want to go a little deeper – to understand what’s going on behind those data input screens, to learn important concepts such as liquid hold-up & slippage, flow regime maps etc., and how they impact calculation results.

Or maybe you’ve used Nodal Analysis in the past, but it’s been a while and you just want a good, concise refresher...

– Course Goals –


This course is all about improving your efficiency. Learning-by-doing works, but it's not very effective. How long will it take until your models consistently yield meaningful, reliable results? And what about providing your company with solutions to those questions listed above?

Wouldn’t it be good to turbo-boost the acquisition of these skills?

Learn from an experienced engineer and acknowledged mentor - one who can get you up to speed in just a few days.


By the end of this course, students will be able to...

PART 1, Single-Well Modelling (Modules 1-5):
  • Optimise oil & gas well production performance
  • Identify common well performance issues and provide solutions
  • Evaluate well potential (current & future conditions)
  • Select optimum tubing size
  • Create practical operating envelopes that avoid unstable flow
  • Match single-well models
  • Address typical “real-world” well-modelling issues
PART 2, Introduction to Networks (Module 6):
  • Understand the core principles of Networks (e.g. as used to optimise field production, short-term production forecasting, etc.)
  • Be fully prepared to construct a first Network model

Important: This Course is about practical application of Nodal Analysis; it does NOT teach students how to use any specific software brand!

– Target Audience –


Oil & Gas Field Operators
  • Production Technologists, Production & Completion Engineers
  • Petroleum / Reservoir Engineers

Providers of ESP and Gas Lift Equipment & Services

Engineers who want a deeper understanding of...

  • What's going on behind the screens of equipment design software that utilises Nodal Analysis principles
  • How Operators operate: how decisions are made such as artificial lift vs. other measures to restore production, timing for implementation, etc.

(Note: The course does not cover the technology of artificial lift equipment)

Recommended Skills Level: Beginners / Intermediate

– Course Overview –


PART 1: Single-Well Modelling

1. Nodal Analysis – The Basics

2. Fundamentals

3. Model Matching

4. Review (Test) / Calculation Sensitivities

5. Case Studies



PART 2: Networks

6.1 Introduction to Networks

6.2 Network Case Studies


Meet Your Instructor...


Stuart P. Hodgson


Hi, I'm Stuart.

Back in 1985 I entered the oil & gas industry as a BP petroleum engineer. Two companies later, and after various international operational and production-related roles (including technical management), in 2002 I founded my production technology consultancy, Moon Production Technology.

My main focus is production optimisation and artificial lift. In addition to technical studies, over the years I have taught and mentored many engineers to use Nodal Analysis to optimise well performance, and of course Networks to optimise Field production.

This knowledge and experience is now being channelled into eLearning; I pride myself on being able to present (sometimes) complex things in a simple manner... clear communication is at the heart of MPT Training.


– Course Curriculum –

PART 1: Single-Well Modelling


  Course Guidelines
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Module 1: Nodal Analysis – The Basics
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Module 2: Fundamentals
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Module 3: Model Matching
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Module 4: Review (Test) / Calculation Sensitivities
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Module 5: Case Studies
Available in days
days after you enroll

Course Fee – PART 1 only

Buy the Full Course


Save money – Purchase the complete Production Optimisation Course (PART 1 and PART 2)


Production Optimisation (Full Course)

PART 1 and PART 2

Courses: 2

€1.699

Don't want the Full Course?


Then consider these alternatives...

Production Optimisation - PART 2

Introduction to Networks

Stuart Hodgson

Stuart Hodgson

€349


Production Optimisation - Module 1

Nodal Analysis - The Basics

Stuart Hodgson

Stuart Hodgson

€249

Production Optimisation - Module 5

Case Studies

Stuart Hodgson

Stuart Hodgson

€249

Production Optimisation - Section 6.2

Network Case Studies

Stuart Hodgson

Stuart Hodgson

€199

Testimonials

Alexis Ortega

Production Engineer, Wintershall Dea － Kassel, Germany
I recently had the opportunity to enroll in the Production Optimization – Nodal Analysis (Part 1) course provided by Stuart Hodgson (Moon Production Technology GmbH), and I must say that it was a rewarding learning experience. As a Production Engineer, understanding the fundamentals of Nodal Analysis is essential and this course provided me with the foundational knowledge I need to excel in this area.

In my 20+ year career in the Oil and Gas industry, working primarily as a Stimulation Engineer, I have sporadically used Nodal Analysis software to evaluate well performance, especially after the wells have been hydraulically fractured or acid stimulated. However, now making a transition to a more traditional position of Production Engineer, I require a deeper knowledge of the design and optimization of different Artificial Lift Systems (ALS) during the life of a well, such as Gas Lift, Sucker Rod Pumping (SRP) or Electric Submersible Pumps (ESP’s). The Production Optimization course (Part 1) offered by Stuart helps me with this goal because, starting with the basic theory of Nodal Analysis, it gradually builds on those fundamentals, then covering more practical aspects such as model matching and model sensitivities. The final part of the course, where actual cases of application of these concepts are presented, captures the big picture of the methodology presented by including real examples of optimization of the most common Artificial Lift Systems.

I would like to highlight some specific aspects of the course. First of all, I find the structure and organization of the course suitable. The video lectures are well structured and the material is presented in a logical and easy to follow manner. Many diagrams, graphs, and animated sketches are included to illustrate the impact of different reservoir and well variables on production. Secondly, the instructor, Stuart, not only has extensive theoretical knowledge on the subject of Production Optimization, but also real field experience. He has a remarkable ability to explain complex topics clearly and concisely, using practical examples. And third, the course materials are comprehensive and well selected.

I recommend the Production Optimization (Part 1) course. (To date, I have not been involved with Networks so there was no reason for me to do Part 2.) It has given me a solid foundation in Nodal Analysis, allowing me to evaluate well performance, forecast production, and troubleshoot production issues. In particular, for a Petroleum Engineer transitioning to a Production Engineering position, as in my case, this course is a worthwhile investment for future career development.

Daniel Sejas

Junior Reservoir Engineer, Ad Terra Energy － Geneva, Switzerland
I took this Nodal Analysis course as part of a training program in the company.
During the course not only the basic, but KEY aspects of Nodal Analysis are reviewed and explained in a simple way. The included real-life examples are the best!
This allowed me to start working on well performance evaluation and production optimization right after the course, saving time and improving the quality of my job, truly understanding what is behind a well model in a Nodal Analysis software.
The quality of the course material is very good: illustrative videos with examples and very useful course notes.
As a young engineer, I totally recommend this course to be added to any training or graduate program!
Thank you very much Stuart!

Lisa Boodoo

Snr. Production Engineer, Suncor Energy － Newfoundland, Canada
“This Production Optimization course (Parts 1 and 2) being offered by Stuart Hodgson is the best course that I have done in this subject, and I have done several in my 20+ year career. The key advantage of this course is that Stuart goes back to the basic building blocks required to fully understand what’s going on behind the screen of a Nodal Analysis model, which can help you to sense check your input and results. The best section of the course for me was explaining how the VLP curve changes for different WC or gas lift rate or WHP, which is so important to grasp. Having this sort of basic understanding can help the engineer tremendously in diagnosing production issues on wells. Stuart worked with my team 12 years ago to set up our first Prosper and GAP models, and up to this day members of the team still refer to his training notes, which is a testament by itself to the quality of his material and expertise in this subject. In addition to the necessary building blocks, Stuart also provides a great balance of practical knowledge and real life examples, guiding the user through various workflows for creating and matching well models and network models with very useful tips. This course is suitable for beginners as well as engineers that may want a refresher. In fact, I believe that any engineer of any level will gain something useful from this course and I have no hesitation in recommending this course as one of the best Production Optimization courses available in the market today.”

Abdellatif Maarif

Petroleum Engineer, JVGAS － Algeria

“I picked the online Production Optimisation course because it allows greater flexibility in planning your day and working around your business. The way of learning also made me more interested in the subject. Great content which covered a lot of things that are relevant to what I need and what I was looking for. Excellent guidelines are given by the instructor who explains the process in detail and goes step-by-step in real field examples. Course highly recommended for those interested in Production Optimization concept & techniques”

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I get for my money?

The pre-recorded course videos are Screencasts (narrated PowerPoint Slides); all of the Slides were created by us – this is not a re-hash of old Operator and Service Company Manuals! Average video duration is about 40 minutes. You can choose to take either the full Course (all videos), or just Single-Well Modelling, or just the Introduction to Networks:

PART 1 (Single-Well Modelling)
  • Media: Modules 1-5 (9 videos, viewable as often as you want for 12-days)
  • Downloads: Course Notes & Workbook, Test Questions, Additional Materials (yours to keep)
PART 2 (Introduction to Networks)
  • Media: Module 6 (2 videos, viewable as often as you want for 5-days – PART 2 only – or 15-days as part of the full course)
  • Downloads: Course Notes (yours to keep)

A Certificate with a unique Serial Number is issued upon successful completion of the course.

What's the value of this course? I've seen others advertised that are much cheaper...

How much is your career development worth to you? What is the value of additional technical skills to your company? Don't confuse this high-value, intensive interactive training – that took over 1,200 hrs to prepare, record and edit – with "just another $100 Webinar”. What would you pay for the traditional 5-day in-person course? (Hint: probably around US$5,000 + travel & accommodation.) For significantly less than half of those costs, this course offers an alternative, condensed into just 3-days online; it’s goal is to give engineers working for Upstream O&G companies and providers of Oil Field Services a solid foundation in Nodal Analysis techniques, thereby enhancing technical skills and facilitating career development. There is perhaps a little less theory compared to a traditional 5-day course, but on the other hand you get a lot more tips, tricks and practical examples from the real-world. What's more valuable to you..?

How long does it take to complete the Course?

The suggested time plan is 3 days to complete the full course, but if you are new to Nodal Analysis then please allow up to 5 days. To maximise the learning effect it is recommended you limit yourself to no more than 2 Modules/day. If you have access to Nodal Analysis software then please consider allocating some time to familiarise yourself with it a little, especially for Module 3 (model matching).

Many of the videos have short questions (in addition to the self-assessment Test in Module 4), so allow more time than the video duration; we strongly encourage you to watch the technical videos several times – you’ll quickly realise there’s a lot more information in the dialogue than is presented in the Slides.

When can I start? How long can I access the Course?

You can start as soon as you enrol! The full course should take about 3-days to complete (including a half-day for PART 2). You can access PART 1 or the complete course for 10-days, or PART 2 only for 5-days, so there's plenty of time to re-watch the videos as often as you want.

What’s the best way to view this Course – Can I use my Phone or other Mobile Device?

The videos will automatically adapt to your screen size but for the learning best experience a large screen (e.g. computer monitor) is recommended. Also you’ll probably want to sit where you can take notes, e.g. at a desk or table.

I am a complete beginner in Production Optimisation and/or Nodal Analysis – Is this Course for me?

Great, this course is ideal! No prior knowledge of Nodal Analysis is assumed. Nevertheless, you will get most out of the model matching section if you have already built a few single-well models. (If possible, we recommend you try building a few models yourself before taking this course.)

Sales Tax, VAT, etc. ("Consumption" Taxes)

Depending on your location, a Sales Tax may be applicable. Enter your Company's details in the Billing Address during checkout to ensure a receipt can be generated for your tax records. In the EU, by law VAT is automatically added to the Course Fee. To avoid incurring this tax, please enter your Company’s International Tax ID code during checkout. (If you’re unsure what this is, ask your finance department to provide this information.) The Tax ID typically has a 2-letter country code followed by several digits. (Example: Germany uses 9-digits, DE123456789.)

I am an “expert” in Nodal Analysis – Would I benefit from this Course?

That depends. If you currently build and match well models on a regular basis then probably not. If you’re looking for advice on specialised areas such as modelling perforation tunnels or complex horizontal wells then this course is definitely not for you. But, if it’s been a while since you built any models and you want a refresher – or if you want to fill in the gaps on fundamental concepts such as slippage, superficial velocity, flow types, flow regimes & maps, etc., then this course might be for you. If you are unsure then please contact us so we can discuss – we promise to give honest feedback.

English is not my first language – Will I be able to cope?

Your course Instructor makes a point of speaking slowly and as clearly as he can. If you’ve watched the Course Overview video (above), more-or-less understood it and can read this then you’ll be fine. Also, you’ll be able to watch the videos as often as you want during the access period.

Which Nodal Analysis or other specialised Software do I need?

PART 1 (Single-Well Modelling): You don't need any technical software to do the course, but you will probably find it easier if you can access Nodal Analysis software. The course is designed to be – as far as practicable – “brand agnostic”. The idea is to teach you how to apply any Nodal Analysis software to solve real-life problems. Having said that, Module 3, the model matching section, is based on PROSPER (an industry-leading Nodal Analysis software by Petex). If your company uses a different product you will still be able to follow the principles and methodology described, but you may find some differences in how to apply the details to your software brand.

PART 2 (Networks) is based on GAP (Petex), but since this is an overview of the core principles* and a demonstration of typical applications, Network software is not necessary to benefit from this Module. (*Note: Network model matching is not covered by this introductory course.)

What if I am unhappy with the Course?

Nobody wants dissatisfied customers! If you're serious about raising your Nodal Analysis skills we're so confident you'll love this course that we offer a 30-day money back guarantee. Bet you wouldn't get that from a 5-day in-person course! (Please watch the course overview video above and read through all the FAQs before enrolling so you know what to expect...)

Are Group Discounts available?

Yes! Please contact us, indicating the proposed number of students.

What are your Contact Details?

For questions regarding this course and/or Mentoring services: [email protected]

Production Technology Consulting enquiries: [email protected]