Geology and Petroleum Geology

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr David Iacopini

Pre-requisites

Entrance to MSc Integrated Petroleum Geology

Notes

Overview

Geophysics: The seismic reflection method, principles of seismic acquisition, processing, basic interpretation, pitfalls, attributes and their interpretation.

Petrophysics: All standard wireling log tools, log suites, lithologic determination from cross-plots, computerised log analysis, DST, RFT and pressure testing.

Structure

Teaching is by a mixture of lectures, labs and tutorials organised into three hour blocks. Total contact time is as follow:
1. Lectures (geophysics) 39 hours

2. Lectures (petrophysics) 30 hours

3. Image log workshop 18 hours

4. Visit to acquisitions company 5 hours

5. Tutorials 33 hours

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two hour written examination (60%); continuous assessment (40%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor Adrian Hartley

Pre-requisites

Entry to MSc in Integrated Petroleum Geoscience

Notes

Overview

Sedimentary environments and facies

Processes of sediment transport and deposition

Stratigraphic architecture in relation to external forcings

Applied sequence stratigraphy

Principles of diagenesis and impact on reservoir properties

Core logging

Structure

This course will be taught by mixed delivery in 3 hour blocks which will mostly be a mix of lectures and practical exercises. There is also a field element, proposed hours are as follow:

1. Lectures: 40 hours


2. Workshops: 22 hours


3. Field teaching: 45 hours


4. Self-directed: 60 hours


5. Private Study: 133 hours

Assessment

The course will be assessed by continuous assessment and examination. There will be a wide variety of formative assessments with instant feedback and two structured formative assessments with written feedback.


The summative assessment will be:
Brent palaeo-delta interpretation (30%)
Shuaiba group exercise (10%)
Core logging exercise (10%)
Examination (3 hours) (40%)

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor David Macdonald and Professor Adrian Hartley

Pre-requisites

Entrance to MSc Integrated Petroleum Geoscience

Notes

Overview

1. Presentation skills: oral, written and electronic (lectures and practicals)(7 hours)


2. Diversity workshop (3 hours)


3. Current issues in geosciences (attendance at external lectures) (15 hours self-directed learning)


4. Field trip: exercise in sedimentology, statigraphy, stuctural geology, tectonics, exploration geology, production geology, and economics (14 days of 8 hours = 112 hours: currently in the western US)


5. Private study in preparation for trip (13 hours)

Structure

Teaching is on a workshop basis for the skills courses and in small groups in the field (staff-student ration 1:8 or better)

Assessment

Assessment of many of the skills elements is formative with instant feedback. Much of the field assessment is also formative with the instant feedback, including peer assessment.

There are two summative elements:

1. A professional logbook details attendance at external professional events. Students are encouraged to reflect on the content of these presentations (20%)


2. Team presentations on an aspect of the petroleum geology of a region studied on the intenational field trip (80%)

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor Adrian Hartley

Pre-requisites

Entry to MSc in Integrated Petroleum Geoscience

Notes

Overview

The course will cover:

Reservoir geometry and heterogeneity from depositional and structural causes

The role of the geologist in development planning and driving production, and the interface with reservoir engineering

The concept of model cells and the role of upscaling

Building a reservoir model.

Structure

This course will be delivered in short course format with additional tutorials, exercises, offsite visits, and field work. Teaching will involve senior staff from the consultancy industry, BP, and Chevron. The balance of delivery is:

1. Lectures and labs 30 hours


2. Field Trip 8 hours


3. Offsite exercises (BP and Chevron) 32 hours


4. Tutorials 3 hours

Assessment

There will be two major formative assessments with instant feedback: a well-planning exercise, and a group exercise on a field development plan. The summative assessments are:

Bruce field development exercise (BP) 10% and Alba well planning exercise (Chevron) 10%

3 hour written examination 80%

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor Andrew Hurst

Pre-requisites

Entry to MSc in Intergrated Petroleum Geoscience

Notes

Overview

The course will be taught through the second half session. The content covers the uses of structural geology in hydrocarbon exploration and basin analysis. This theme is extended to examine financial and global issues associated with the petroleum prospect evaluation. The course will involve an internal competition in petroleum exploration to decide the team that will represent Aberdeen in the Imperial Barrel Award of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Structure

Teaching is by a variety of lectures, practical exercises and group work. the balance of delivery is:

1. Exploration economics short course 30 hours


2. Lectures and laboratory classes 90 hours


3. Tutorials

Assessment

There will be formative assessment with instant feedback through the course.

The summative assessments will be:
Structural geology practical exercises (40%)

Organic geochemistry report (10%)

Exploration group exercises (10%)

IBA group exercise (10%)

Examination (30%).

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Professor Andrew Hurst and Professor Adrian Hartley

Pre-requisites

Entrance to MSc Integrated Petroleum Geology and successful completion of taught IPG modules

Notes

Overview

The project is the cumlmination of the previous taught courses of the Integrated Petroleum Geoscience MSc. It will require integration of different elements and assumes a general knowledge of all aspects of petroleum geology.

The project subject can be from any aspect of exploration through to production geoscience. We have an excellent record with local oil companies for working on highly topical and relevant projects. Commonly, the projects are constructed around current problems the companies consider deserve attention, but for which they are short of personnel. These projects usually are of a research nature, and without exception are entirely original and have not been worked on before. It is common, but not essential, that the student work on their projects in the offices of the company which offered the topic and which is providing the data.

Structure

The final project is undertaken by the student with the guidance of a mentor from the Department, and an industrial advisor within the company providing the data.

Assessment

Summative 7500 word project report (100% assessment).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor Andrew Hurst

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

The course aims to cover important aspects of geology, geophysics and prospect evaluation over a three week period. Assignments (60%) are set during the teaching weeks and the exam is in December.

Structure

Assessment

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor David Macaonald

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

This course gives an overview of all aspects of the MSc program. It is delivered through the Wessex Fieldtrip and the first week of structured teaching. It covers Petroleum Economics, Petroleum Geology, The North Sea, Enterprise, Presentation Skills and Petroleum Technology. Assignments (60%) will be set in Wessex, and during the first week of teaching. Exam (40%) will be in December. An assessed presentation task will be set for each student and this takes place in early December.

Structure

Assessment

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Dr Stuart Archer

Pre-requisites

120 credits from the Hydrocarbon Exploration courses

Co-requisites

The course may only be taken as part of the Hydrocarbon Exploration programme, or by permission of the Head of School of Geosciences.

Overview

The content of the projects will depend on the industrial sponsor, with input from an academic.

Structure

The dissertation is undertaken by the student with the guidance of an oil industry related academic staff member in Geology and Petroleum Geology and an advisor within the company whose data they are working on.

Assessment

100% thesis. The course organiser may allow flexibility in the imposition of submission deadlines where there is good cause (due to individual student circumstances) for doing so.

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Dr Stuart Archer

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Notes

Overview

This course will cover:
1. Play analysis, including creation of layered maps, use of GIS and GIS derived software, play led exploration methods, shared versus local risk, graphical presentation of complex data (3 days).
2. Prospect analysis, including the generation of prospects from seismic data, closure, spill points and trap geometry, (2 days)
3. Gross rock volumetric quantification from seismic and the property mapping to facilitate full volumetric analysis (porosity, net to gross, water saturation, recovery factor, formation volume factor (2 days)
4. Risk and uncertainty, including probabilistic verus deterministic models, Monte Carol tools, cumulative probability curves, creaming curve analysis (2 days)
5. Portfolio optimisation, including play and prosect ranking, petroleum economics, and sharing risk through equity and an appreciation of commerical issues (1 day)
6. Size of the Prize simulated license round (2 days taught then self directed learning)
7. Understand - contractional basin forming processes in contrast to extensional basins. Link subsurface hydrocarbon production to outcrop analogues observable at basin margins
8. Characterise a proximal to distal sedimentary system (fluvio-delatics to deepwater turbidites) and their reservoir potential.

Structure

Teaching will be in an intensive short-course format in five blocks spread through the summer:
Block 1 will be a five-day course on play analysis (Topic 1, above)
Block 2 will be a two-day short course on propect analysis (Topic 2, above)
Block 3 will be a two-day course on volumetrics (Topic 3, above)
Block 4 will be one-day course on risk and uncetainty (Topic 4, above)
Block 5 will be a two-day course on portfolio optimisation (Topic 5, above)
Block 6 will be a two day course then selfdirected learning - size of the prize exercise (Topic 6, above).

Within each block, teaching will involve lectures, tutorials, stuctured discussion groups, laboratory-syle exercises, and group work.
A field trip of one week to Utah and Wyoming will cover topics 7 and 8 (day and evening work).

Assessment

Continuous assessment (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Prof David Macdonald and Dr Graham Webber

Pre-requisites

N/A

Notes

Overview

- Basic geology including rock types, sedimentary basins and geological structures
- Petroleum source rocks and mechanisms
- Reservoirs and their properties
- Traps and seals
- Geological mapping
- Seismic acquisition/processing/interpretation
- Gravity and magnetic
- Play and prospect mapping
- Valuation and rick
- Drilling operations and safety
- Formation evaluation, sampling and testing
- Appraisal and economic value
- Production engineering
- Development drilling, production facilities and abandonment
- View elements of petroleum geology in outcrop
- Understand scale of core, logs wells, seismic in relation to the reservoir
- Petrophysics definition and contribution to formation evaluation
- The nature, origin and properties of reservoir rocks including the main petrophysical parametrs, porosity, permeability and water saturation
- Definitions of grross and net reservoir intervals and calibration to core
- Introduction to cooring and the associated core analysis data
- Understanding the borehole environment
- Mud log data, introduction and interpretation
- Evolution of logging tool technology, methods of conveyance and dept measurement
- Borehole quality and the caliper log
- Formation evaluation data, principles of tool measurement and applications including gamma ray, SP log, porosity logs, resistivity and formation pressure
- Planning data acquisition programmes
- Use of log header information
- Depth control and validity
- Log quality assurance for standard formation evaluatyion tool set
- Capillary distribution of fluids, free water level and fluid contacts
- Quick-look intrepretation work flow through lithology recognition, reservoir.non-reservoir discrimination, fluid types and contacts, porosity estimation, formation water resistivity, water saturation, net reservoir and net pay.
- Computerised quick look petrophysics
- Reservoir quality controls and rock typing methods
- Core calibration of porosity and water saturation
- Mineral volume methods
- Shaly sand analysis
- Interpretation in thin beds
- Advanced logging tool interpretation techniques.

Structure

Material will be delivered in two short courses which contain Senergy modules F1-F3. The firstt course (F1) comprises four days: an induction day followed by a three day course covering the background petroleum geology and the role of the petrophysicist. The second course (F2 and F3) will be a nine-day introduction to petrophysical techniques.

Assessment

1x two-hour written examination (30%) and continuous assessment (70%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Prof David Macdonald and Dr John Fletcher

Pre-requisites

N/A

Notes

Overview

- Introduction to core acquisition and analysis
- Reservoir quality controls
- Geological rock types, facies, lithotypes etc
- Classification methods inclduing Reservoir Quality Index and Flow Zone Indicator
- Rock type prediction from logs
- Truth tables
- Overburden stress estimation
- Porosity calibration to core
- Permeability calibration to core
- Log based saturation height methods and limitations
- Capillary pressure based saturation height methods
- Core calibration
- Core analysis data requirements
- Impact on porosity, water saturation and permeability
- Core data vs log data - advantages and disadvantages
- Core data loading and depth shifting
- Overburden and reservoir stress
- Core descriptions, facies and lithotypes
- Porosity-permeability relationships and permeability predictors
- Saturation height functions from capillary pressure
- Saturation equation parameters from core
- Relative permeability.

Structure

Material will be delivered in two short courses, both of three days.

Assessment

1x two-hour written examination (50%) and continous assessment (50%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Prof David Macdonald and Dr John Fletcher

Pre-requisites

N/A

Notes

Overview

- Seismic acquisition and processing
- Acoustic logging tools
- Fundamental elastic properties of rocks
- Reflectivity and convolution
- Fluid substitution and scenario modellingg
- Geophysical analysis
- 3-D geological modelling and volumetrics
- Property averaging and model population
- Reservoir simulation
- Uncertainty analysis for petrophysics
- Error propagation
- Integration of uncertainties.

Structure

Material will be delivered in two short courses, both of three days.

Assessment

Continous assessment (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Prof David Macdonald and Dr John Fletcher

Pre-requisites

N/A

Notes

Overview

- Planning reservoir surveillance
- 4-D seismic
- Well testing
- Well test analysis
- Down hole pressure monitoring
- Pulsed neutron logging
- Production logging
- Drilling and completion principles and techniques
- Petrophysical input to well planning
- Pore pressure prediction
- Well bore stability
- Overburden characterisation
- Real-time data and geosteering
- Mudlogging data and wellsite geology
- Formation evaluation for well completion
- Wireline and cased hole operations
- Fluid sampling by logs and production
- Coring operations.

Structure

Material will be delivered in two short courses, both of three days.

Assessment

Continuous assessment (100%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Prof David Macdonald and Dr Graham Webber

Pre-requisites

N/A

Notes

Overview

- Sedimentology of clastic reservoirs
- Advanced interpretation for volume of clay, silt and shale
- Permeability estimation in a complex clastic environment
- Pore geometry and flow units
- Advanced application of acoustic and nuclear magnetic resonance tools in clastic reservoirs
- Key ddiffferences between carbonate and clastic reservoirs
- Carbonate deposition, diagenesis, mineralogy, rock textures and pore types
- Well log responses in carbonates
- Wettability in a carbonate environment
- Natural and induced fracture evaluation
- Controls on reservoir heterogeneity
- Introduction to unconventional reservoirs
- Shale gas funadamentals
- Shale gas log analysis
- Gas in place and recovery factors
- Total organic carbon (TOC) and maturity
- Geomechanics for shale gas production
- Coal bed methane (CBM) fundamentals
- Coal permeability and well testing technology
- CO2 storage and enhanced recovery.

Structure

Material will be delivered in three short courses, each of four days.

Assessment

Online examination (40%) and in-course exercise (60%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Prof David Macdonald and Dr Graham Webber

Pre-requisites

N/A

Notes

Overview

By the end of this course, students will have been exposed to two of the following topics:
- Image log analysis
- Advanced production log interpretation methods
- Cement and casing evaluation
- Advanced seismic methods
- Geomechanics
- Borehole acoustics
- Restivity modelluing and geosteering.

Structure

Material will be delivered in two short courses, each of three days.

Assessment

Continuous assessment (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Prof David Macdonald

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

The course consists of a series of online workshops with podcasts, formative exercises and three summative exercises:
1. Public speaking
2. Use of Powerpoint
3. The role of outrreach in science and industry
4. Ethics 1
5. Ethics 2
6. The scientifc method
7. Scientific writing
8. Research design and methods.

Structure

This course is by self-directed learning via a series of online modules containing both formative and summative elements.

Assessment

Continuous assessment (100%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor David Macdonald

Pre-requisites

Entrance to PGT programmes in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management.

Co-requisites

First degree and relevant experience.

Overview

This course covers reservoir, well/drilling engineering and facilities management. The teaching takes place over three weeks and assignments (60%) will be set then, the exam is in December.

Structure

Assessment

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor David Macdonald

Pre-requisites

Entrance to PGT programmes in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management.

Overview

This course will provide an understanding of reservoir, facilities and safety engineering in the hydrocarbon industry, both onshore and offshore, in exploration, production and development programmes. It will also give an understanding of approaches to risk management and psychology that will enhance management decision-making.

Structure

Two threads with a total of 57 contact hours time, delivered by external staff in lectures and practical work sessions, lasting half a day to a full day.

Assessment

Formal examination, 3 hour paper (70%), continuous project (30%)

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor David Macdonald

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

This course will start in late January and run for three weeks, covering petroleum economics. Assessments are set during the three weeks and the exam is held in late April/early May, at the end of the Easter vacation.

Structure

Assessment

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor David Macdonald

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

This course covers taxation, reporting, sustainable development and aspects of UK law which deal with the oil and gas industry. It takes place over two weeks and assignments (60%) are set, with the exam (40%) held in late April/early May, at the end of the Easter vacation.

Structure

Assessment

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor David Macdonald

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

This course covers environmental regulation and organisational psychology. It takes place over three weeks and assignments (60%) are set then, with the exam (40%) taking place in late April/early May, at the end of the Easter vacation.

Structure

Assessment

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr Stuart Archer

Pre-requisites

None.

Overview

1. Use of archival data (or how not to re-invent the wheel)
2. Plate tectonic context, (basin type, subsidence rates, heat flow, sedimentary provenance)
3. Potential fields (gravity, magnetics)
4. Reconnaissance (topography, bathymetry, satellite remote sensing, on-shore geological mapping, and hydrocarbon steep analysis)
5. Sequence stratigraphy at the continental margin scale
6. Controls on reservoir geometry and quality as exemplified by Middle Jurassic facies of the Minches Basin as expose in southern Skye
7. An introduction to exploration on volcanic continental margins and implications for petroleum potential using the magmatic history of the British Tertiary Igneous Province as an onshore analogue - based in northern Skye.

Structure

Teaching will be in intensive blocks within each module:
Block 1 will be a one-day course on the use of archival data (Topic 1, above)
Block 2 will be a three-day short course on topics 2 and 3 (above)
Block 3 will be a two-day course on topics 4 and 5 (above)
Block 4 will be a one-day course on topic 6 (above)

Within each block, teaching will involve lectures, tutorials, structured discussion groups, laboratory-style exercises, and group work.

Block 5 will be a week-long field course with two days working to reconstruct depositional environment and model likely reservoir geometry and quality and two days to assess the impact of high heat flow and volcanism on petroleum systems.

Assessment

Continuous assessment (100%)

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr Stuart Archer

Pre-requisites

None.

Overview

This course will cover five main topics:
1. Source rocks, including maturation, generation, migration and charge. Students will also be introduced to elemental analysis for determining kerogen type and to concepts of hydrocarbon typing, basin modelling and burial history modelling (3 days)
2. Reservoir rocks, including clastic and carbonate facies; these will be considered within a sequence stratigraphic context. Both reservoir presence and quality issues and risks will be covered (4 days)
3. Seal rocks, including the importance of local and regional super-seals will be discussed. Students will be taught the fundamental properties necessary for the development of a competent seal (1 day)
4. Traps will be discussed from both a structural and a stratigraphic point of view. The subtle interaction of structure and stratigraphy for the formation of combination traps will be explored (2 days)
5. Timing is a critical element of any working petroleum system and this will be impressed on the students. They will be taught how to construct petroleum system timing charts and identify critical moments in the basin history (1 day) plus a field course to help understand the topics and to consider Integration of outcrop and subsurface datasets from the productive hydrocarbon basis of the inner Moray Firth (4 days).

Structure

Teaching will be in an intensive short-course format in five blocks spreadh through the second half-session:
Block 1 will be a three-day course on source rocks (Topic 1, above)
Block 2 will be a four-day short course on reservoir rocks (Topic 2, above)
Block 3 will be a one-day course on seal rocks (Topic 3, above)
Block 4 will be a two-day course on traps (Topic 4, above)
Block 5 will be a one-day course on timing (Topic 5, above).

Within each block, teaching will involve lectures, tutorials, structured discussion groups, laboratory-style exercisees, and group work.

Block 6 teaching will be a week-long field course with 8 hours spent outdoors each day plus evenings working on outcrop and other subsurface problems in Helmsdale.

Assessment

Continuous assessment (100%).

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Prof David Macdonald

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

The Project is the culmination of the previous taught courses of the Petrophysics and Formation Evaluation MSc. It will require integration of different elements and assumes a general knowledge of all aspects of petrophysics.

Structure

The final project is undertaken by the student with the guidance of a mentor from the Department, and an industrial advisor within the company providing the data.

Assessment

Continous assesment, 7,500 word report (100%).