19 Jul Gunnar Robinson, The Colorado School of Mines, Petroleum Engineering, Week 5

Hello everyone, it’s Gunnar Robinson. This week was a little different from some of the previous weeks. There were not a lot of hands-on activities, but the classes were packed with information and gave me a much deeper understanding of how petroleum engineers design, evaluate, and optimize oil and gas production specifically. Between internship activities, Petroleum Super School homework and note-taking, it was one of the busiest academic weeks of the summer.

One of the major topics I learned about was well completions. Before this week, I understood the basics of drilling a well, but I had not fully appreciated everything that happens after the well is drilled. I learned how engineers complete wells so they can safely and efficiently produce hydrocarbons from the reservoir. We discussed casing, cementing, perforating, and the different completion designs that can be used depending on the geology and production goals of a field. It was interesting to see how much engineering goes into preparing a well for production long after the drilling rig leaves the location.

We also spent time studying well stimulation techniques. I learned how stimulation treatments are used to improve production by increasing the flow of oil and gas into the wellbore. Hydraulic fracturing was a major focus, and I was able to connect many of the concepts from earlier weeks, such as rock properties and fracture design, to the stimulation process. Understanding how engineers create and manage fractures in the reservoir helped me see how different disciplines within petroleum engineering work together to maximize production.

Another topic that stood out to me was well logging. We learned how engineers use logging tools to gather information about the rocks and fluids underground. By analyzing measurements such as resistivity, porosity, and other formation properties, engineers can determine where hydrocarbons are located and evaluate the quality of a reservoir. It was fascinating to see how much information can be obtained from indirect measurements taken thousands of feet below the surface.

The classes also introduced us to nodal analysis and reservoir engineering. Nodal analysis showed how engineers evaluate the entire production system by examining the interaction between the reservoir, wellbore, and surface facilities. This approach helps identify bottlenecks and determine ways to increase production. In reservoir engineering, we explored how engineers estimate reserves, understand reservoir behavior, and predict future production. These lessons demonstrated how petroleum engineering combines physics, mathematics, and data analysis to make decisions about field development and resource management.

One of the most interesting topics of the week was petroleum economics. Within this topic, I learned that economic considerations play a major role in nearly every petroleum engineering decision. Engineers must evaluate costs, revenues, risks, and project profitability when deciding whether to move forward with a project. It was interesting to see how engineering and business principles come together in the energy industry.

Outside of the internship, I continued spending time at the recreation center and gym, which has become an important part of my routine while living in Golden. I also kept up with my Petroleum Super School assignments, which took up a significant amount of time this week. Although the workload was demanding, it helped reinforce many of the concepts we were learning during the internship.

One of the highlights of the week was celebrating my birthday. My parents came to Golden to visit, and we went to Red Robin together. It was especially meaningful because it was a restaurant I visited often when I was younger, bringing back many good memories. It was great to spend time with my family and take a short break from the busy schedule.

I also enjoyed a fun dinner with Luke and Evan at an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant. It was a nice opportunity to relax and spend time together after a week full of classes and homework. Even though this week was quieter in terms of field trips and experiments, the amount of knowledge packed into the lectures made it one of the most educational weeks of the internship so far.

I have one week left, and I am looking forward to making the most of it!

Do Things Worth Doing!

~Gunnar Robinson