Course overview
A reservoir cannot be observed directly, so its behavior has to be modeled: how pressure will fall, how much will be recovered, and how production will change over time. Reservoir simulation builds that model from the physics and the data, and performance evaluation tests it against reality. Together they turn uncertain subsurface behavior into forecasts that guide multi-million-dollar development decisions.
This course covers both. It runs from the fundamentals of reservoir simulation through material balance and decline curve analysis, well testing and pressure transient analysis, numerical simulation and forecasting, integrating simulation with performance evaluation, advanced applications, and case studies. It is built for reservoir engineers and geoscientists who want to model and evaluate reservoirs with rigor.
Why this matters
Development decisions, how many wells, where, and how to produce, rest on reservoir forecasts, and a flawed model leads to wells in the wrong place and recovery far below potential. The cost of a bad forecast is measured in wasted capital and lost barrels.
Simulation and evaluation matter because they are how the industry reduces subsurface uncertainty to manageable risk: a model tested against actual performance becomes a reliable guide. Professionals who can build, run, and validate these models make sounder development decisions. This course builds that capability.
What you will be able to do afterwards
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
- Explain the fundamentals of reservoir simulation.
- Apply material balance and decline curve analysis.
- Use well testing and pressure transient analysis.
- Run numerical simulation and forecast performance.
- Integrate simulation with performance evaluation.
Course outline
Unit 1: Fundamentals of reservoir simulation
The course opens with the basics.
- What reservoir simulation is.
- The physics behind the models.
- Data inputs and assumptions.
- Types of models.
Unit 2: Material balance and decline curve analysis
This unit covers classic methods.
- Material balance principles.
- Decline curve analysis.
- Estimating reserves.
- Strengths and limits.
Unit 3: Well testing and pressure transient analysis
This unit covers reading the reservoir.
- Well testing methods.
- Pressure transient analysis.
- Interpreting test results.
- Reservoir parameters from tests.
Unit 4: Numerical simulation and forecasting
This unit covers the modern approach.
- Building a numerical model.
- Gridding and inputs.
- History matching.
- Forecasting production.
Unit 5: Integrating simulation and performance evaluation
This unit covers testing the model.
- Comparing model to performance.
- Updating models with data.
- Evaluating recovery.
- Reducing uncertainty.
Unit 6: Advanced applications in reservoir simulation
This unit covers harder problems.
- Complex and unconventional reservoirs.
- Enhanced recovery modeling.
- Coupled and advanced models.
- Computational considerations.
Unit 7: Case studies and best practices
The final unit covers doing it well.
- Documented simulation case studies.
- Common pitfalls.
- Best practices in modeling.
- Lessons to take back.
How the course is delivered
The course is led through structured explanation, worked technical examples, documented case studies, and group discussion. Participants examine material balance, decline, and simulation outputs and work through how models are built, matched, and validated. For the recovery side, it connects to Reservoir Engineering and Enhanced Recovery Techniques.
Who should attend
This course suits reservoir and petroleum engineers, geoscientists working with reservoir models, and technical staff in upstream oil and gas. It works for those building their reservoir skills and for experienced staff who want to sharpen simulation and evaluation. A technical background in the field helps.
About EuroQuest International Training
EuroQuest International Training was founded in 2015 by a team with more than 25 years of combined experience in professional training. The institute has delivered over 1,000 courses to more than 15,000 participants, and is headquartered in Bratislava, Slovakia, with training hubs in Dubai, London, Barcelona, Istanbul, Vienna, Paris, and Geneva. Courses are designed and reviewed by practitioners and updated to reflect current practice in each field.
Frequently asked questions
Does the course cover both classic and numerical methods?
Yes. It covers material balance and decline curve analysis alongside numerical simulation and history matching, since each has its place in evaluating a reservoir.
Do I need a strong technical background?
A technical background in petroleum engineering or geoscience helps, since the course works through quantitative methods, though it builds the concepts as it goes.
Is it tied to particular software?
No. It covers simulation concepts and workflows and how to validate models, rather than teaching one vendor's package.
Related courses
- Petroleum Reservoir Characterization and Modeling
- Subsurface Geology and Reservoir Engineering
- Well Performance Optimization and Production Enhancement
- Upstream Oil and Gas Exploration and Production
Register for this course
To reserve a place or ask about scheduling and city options for the Reservoir Simulation and Performance Evaluation course, use the registration and enquiry options on this page and the EuroQuest team will follow up with the details you need.
All Course Dates & Locations
27 dates · 14 cities · Sep 2026 – Jun 2027