Reading / Creating / Understanding P&ID's 1

[s89t3]

I am currently in the capacity of EPCM within the natural Gas Sector. I am looking for two things.

1) Book/article that would help me understand the processes from drilling to final product.

2) Understanding the placement of valves,pumps (and types) etc; and understanding spec breaks and where they should occur.

Any insight would be great.

Thanks

 

[zdas04]

What the heck is an "EPCM". None of the words I've been able to match to the letters are nearly as profound as they are profane.

If it stands for "Extra Pure Consulting Minion" then a comic book would do (Amoco actually published a pretty good one in the early '80s for high school students).

If it stands for "Exploration Project Consulting Manager" I'd suggest 4 years in Lubbock, TX; Norman, OK; Golden, CO; or Bryant Park, TX.

David

 

[s89t3]

Too Clarify: EPCM stands for "Engineering Procurement Construction Management". In other words, I am a Project Engineer/Manager on a Natural Gas Project. I am not an expert in the Natural Gas Sector but would like to be able to understand all components much better (down to the design process).

 

[dcasto]

Here is another reason I hate PMI.com (I still pay my dues and go to school). zdas04 is right. The new school of thought is a manager is a manager and can manage anything because he'll hire the right people at the right time and the right cost (the project triangle COST TIME QUALITY). So you should hire a PE in the field.

If you need a boon dongle then, The Colorado School of Mines has a 1 week course, JM Campbell holds clases. The GPA is an organization the represents the industry and they have clases an seminars at their convention....

 

[JLSeagull]

The process from drilling to final product is a long trip. Start by reading ISA 5.1 for instruments or the P&ID legend sheet. I know, sometimes it is hard to find a P&ID legend sheet. All projects should have one. Many don't. This approach gets the instrumentation symbology out of the way.

It sounds as though you have familiarity with the mechanical machinery such as pumps and compressors. More on equipment if not. If you do not know devices such as pressure differentia (flow) and pressure transmitters visually, consider visiting a skid fabricator, plant, job site or instrument representative warehouse for that purpose. This applies more easily for valves. Many warehouses are available to get a grasp of ball or gate valves, flange classes, etc. If pipe sizes are not clear (NPS 1/2 has no relationship to 1/2-inch inside or outside) then any piping warehouse or even a hardware store can help.

I am least able to address drilling. However, API publishes some neat training material that is great for this end of the business. Exploration and drilling are known as upstream -- way up stream. Gas and oil gathering, separation, and treating in an oil-patch setting are still upstream. We all define upstream and downstream differently. Downstream includes gas processing, refining and all of the gas/liquid petro-chemical processes. Plastic pellots are way down stream.

 

[zdas04]

Is this like "Supply Chain Management"? If so, the only preparation you need is to develop telephone skills (i.e., never answer a call that you didn't initiate), and the ability to shamelessly take credit for work that you've done everything in your power to hinder.

David

 

[GSTeng]

I have spent 3 years working for a huge oil and gas upstream service company, then a year with a mid stream oil&gas enigneering company, then two more with a midstream servce company. I understand the process from downhole to the O&G refineries but then I am lost.

There may be a book that will take you from downhole to delivery but it would either be so thick that it would take years to read or so vauge that you would know just enough to get yourself into trouble.

As to your second question. This will vary form producer to producer and area to area. Some areas have lots of oil, some gas, some both with a ton of water mixed in and then everything in between. Valves and equipment will vary with all of this.

My suggestion would be to find someone in your area that is very knowlageble in O&G and start asking questions. Some people can give you a great idea of what happens between the wellhead and the refinery, but it will change with the area and the company.

If you do find a book please let me know, I know I could use it.

 

[BigInch]

Procurement? Is that like a "buyer" or "purchasing manager"?

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[JLSeagull]

Yup.

In fairness procurement activities include the buyer for stuff, subcontract administrator for services, expediter for both and invoice support, clerical support to see if folks are on the acceptable bid list.

Some of us seem to be a bit tough on manager types. We all had to learn what nozzles and nipples were some time.

 

[BigInch]

When I did a year as an "EPC" (no M), it was after 5 years designing pipe systems, but that was a long time ago at a rather progressive gas company where they thought you should know exactly whatever it was that you were purchasing. Unusual concept these days.. I guess.

OK s89t3... there are some good books over at the Gulf Publishing Company at,

http://www.gulfpub.com/default.asp?...ion=Books&producttype=2&CategoryID=&keywords=

If you're near Houston, Texas go downtown to Brown's Bookstore is a good place to get most any oil & gas learning book there is (or are?) xxx ...you want.

http://www.brownbookshop.com/HTMfiles/welcome.htm

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[BigInch]

PS. Don't ask for P&ID books.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[GL431]

Try this link to get an overview of drilling:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/oilandgas/index.html

You can print it as a pdf (209 pages).

Some other stuff is what I collected over a year or so, but difficult to post.