Postgraduate Geology and Geophysics 2024-2025

By the end of this course, the student should:

• Understand the Petrophysical rock properties that affect fluid storage and movement (Porosity, Permeability, Saturation, Mineralogy).
• Understand the primary wireline and LWD logging tools: Measurement, Fundamental physical principles, and applications.
• Understand the theory of seismic signal description.
• Appreciate the main processes involved in a typical seismic data-processing suite.
• Understand the basic concepts of seismic stratigraphy and the interpretation of seismic data.

By the end of this course, students will be aware of issues in relation to team work, particularly communication, diversity, and organisation. They will be able to communicate technical interpretation effectively by oral, written and electronic methods. They will utilise knowledge gained in the field and classroom to complete a number of industry-facing tasks through assessments based on real life scenarios utilising field-based data and concepts derived from lectures and field observations. These skills will be developed on two fieldtrips, one of which will focus on the exceptional geology exposed in Utah.

The course covers aspects of geology, geophysics and prospect evaluation to illustrate how geologists deal with uncertainty and risk during the exploration process. It will look at the place of the geoscientist during the productive life of an oilfield. Another key aspect of this course will be the issue of communication between geoscientists and engineers. By the end of this course students should understand how geologists explore for oil and gas, and the main tools at their disposal; the role of the geophysicist; how to make prospect maps; petroleum volumetrics; subsurface fluid flow; and the creation of static reservoir models.

This course aims to cover the main aspects of drilling and well engineering in the petroleum industry. This will include an in-depth look at drilling techniques and technologies. Another key aspect of this course will be the issue of communication between geoscientists and engineers.

This course aims to develops students' understanding of the fundamentals of Earth’s structure and geodynamic processes, introducing geological concepts to those from a more physics-based background, and fundamental physics to those from a geoscience background. By the end of this course students will be able to explain how Earth's structure and processes are governed by the underlying physics, and describe how the Earth deforms and the consequences of this on the surface of the Earth. This course will also develop students' coding skills and give them experience in reading scientific papers and in scientific writing.

The course aims to develop practical geological skills applicable to the extraction and sequestration of fluids in the subsurface, embracing the subdisciplines of tectonics and structural geology together within clastic and carbonate sedimentology, stratigraphy, and diagenesis; The main basin-forming processes with be introduced to provide context for the sedimentary geology. The basics of structural geology for trap definition and characterisation are developed and applied, deducing structural styles on seismic images and examples of how deformation influences reservoir behavior and trapping mechanisms. The course will show how structural, sedimentological and stratigraphic knowledge is crucial in both exploration and development activities, and is fundamental in making predictive models.  It will impart a practical knowledge of depositional environments which form hydrocarbon reservoirs and targets for CO2 sequestration, linking these together using the techniques of sequence stratigraphy as applied to siliciclastic and carbonate settings. The origin and effects of reservoir fluids and subsequent diagenesis will also be covered. 

Oil and Gas fields go through the stages of exploration, discovery, development, maturity and decommissioning. These stages each require carefully planned operations in which a range of services are contracted. This course will expose students to cases studies that document these stages and from studying these examples students will practice assessing the needs of natural resource development and matching it to the commissioning of scientific, technological and engineering services.

This module focuses on the application of geophysical techniques for solving near surface environmental problems. It covers basic theory and practical aspects of modern data collection for near surface magnetic, gravity, resistivity, electro-magnetic (EM), ground penetrating radar (GPR) and seismic refraction, along with case study examples of application to the assessment and monitoring of a range of scientific and technical environmental problems including water resources, geotechnics, contaminated lands, civil engineering, mining, geothermal resources, archaeology. The module will be taught so that the students will be equipped to plan and undertake their own geophysical experiments focusing on a variety of near surface geophysical targets. The use of a variety of geophysical equipment in the field will form a significant component of this module.

This module is designed to give students a range of computational skills associated with time-series analysis and inverse theory. The module content will be delivered in the form of lectures, practicals and webinars.

Time series analysis and inverse theory is of paramount importance in exploration geophysics and computational sciences. The students will get familiar with signal processing and optimisation. This will open up multiple career paths in geoscience and STEM in general. 

Spectroscopy, radiative transfer and retrieval methods are rapidly growing fields with extreme importance in atmospheric and planetary science. They are fundamental to study weather, climate, air quality on Earth, the evolution of greenhouse gases and biogeochemical cycles on Earth. They provide information about the physics and evolution of the atmospheres of the solar system planets and exoplanets at a larger scale. This course will provide the fundamental knowledge to a depth that will leave a student with the background to perform quantitative research on atmospheres. It spans across principles through applications, with sufficient background for students without prior experience in spectroscopy or radiative transfer.

Borehole Geophysics provides critically important information about the subsurface through well logging and core analysis. This course will cover the fundamentals of Petrophysics and its use in the analysis of cores and geophysical well logs for reservoir characterisation and hydrocarbon assessment.

The course will then examine rock physics properties recorded in seismic data. This course will review the basics of rock physics analysis and modeling to introduce how microstructure information can be used to understand subsurface reservoirs.The course will conclude by, examining how changes in rock physics over time can be used to aid the extraction and storage of fluids in the the subsurface.

This course will provide an understanding of the management aspects of reservoir, facilities, pipeline and safety engineering in the hydrocarbon industry.  It will also give an understanding of approaches to risk management and psychology that will enhance management decision-making.

This course introduces students to the fundamental types of geographical, geological, offshore survey, and geophysical data used within the Oil and Gas and related industries, with special emphasis on those types of data where the spatial position is crucial to the significance of the measurements. Attention will be given to the common sources of data, acquisition and capture, storage, processing, quality control, and analysis, and representation through mapping and visualisation.

The course will provide an understanding of: data governance issues and how they impact on business workflows; data management organisation models and structures, data roles and responsibilities; legal issues relating to data governance, and a more detailed exploration of data protection law;  data policies, strategies, standards and procedures; the relation between data governance and data quality, security, entitlements and obligations; and data management maturity and impact.

This course covers some basic economics and then focuses on valuation of assets, how to deal with risk in making investment decisions, and the various systems by which petroleum revenue is taxed.

This course aims to deliver key skills and understanding of the role of the geologist in development planning, driving production throughout a field’s life. There is an emphasis on the interface with Reservoir and Well Engineering, Operations and Commercial disciplines. The course gives students an understanding of fluid flow in the subsurface and how it might be impacted by geological heterogeneity. The approaches employed in building qualitative and quantitative geological models of the subsurface, and the difficulties associated with doing this reliably will be covered.

The aim of this course is to provide a structured method for researching various forms of materials and sources with a critical approach for evaluation and appraisal.  This course will allow the development of the necessary research skills required to undertake the independent project.  Other skills developed include CV preparation, interview practice and group working techniques. 

This course introduces financial laws attached to petroleum exploration and exploitation with respect to the UK, alongside an introduction to international law and regulatory frameworks.

The course covers aspects of geology, geophysics and prospect evaluation to illustrate how geologists deal with uncertainty and risk during the exploration process. It will look at the place of the geoscientist during the productive life of an oilfield. Another key aspect of this course will be the issue of communication between geoscientists and engineers. By the end of this course students should understand how geologists explore for oil and gas, and the main tools at their disposal; the role of the geophysicist; how to make prospect maps; petroleum volumetrics; subsurface fluid flow; and the creation of static reservoir models.

This course covers basic areas of service operations management and project management applied to the context of managing petroleum data. It examines service design, service quality and improvement processes, capacity management in service operations, and service projects. It also covers the main areas of project management (scope, quality, cost, time, and risk) and standard planning techniques with particular emphasis on the importance of quality, scope and risk within data management projects.

The course will provide an understanding of: the value of data quality, the importance of data quality management and the consequences of poor data quality management. It will cover common data quality issues, and inherent uncertainty in data values, and demonstrate the need for data quality standards, business rules, policies and procedures, and how these are used to lead compliance activities. It will also show the relation between data governance and data quality. 

This module will cover on the most important essentials of reflection seismics: from basic to advanced information on how seismic data are acquired and processed to generate images of the subsurface. Practical exercises involving processing of seismic reflection data will form a significant part of the curriculum with the aim of familiarising students with key industry software packages.

Data sets derived from remote sensing, meteorites and samples retrieved from the Lunar surface will be integrated to inform understanding of geological processes that play within and upon the surface of terrestrial planets. This course will develop essential geologically based reasoning skills through diverse data sets, building upon and contributing to the students’ wider understanding of Planetary Sciences.

Space weather describes the varying conditions in the space environment between the sun and Earth. Phenomena associated with space weather have the potential to impact systems and technologies in orbit and on Earth. For example, solar energetic particles can penetrate satellite electronics and cause electrical failure. These energetic particles also block radio communications at high latitudes during solar radiation storms. Each phenomenon of space weather impacts a different technology. 

In this course, we will review Space Weather on Earth, and we will use the lessons learned to understand the impact of the space environment on planetary exploration.

This course provides practical training on some of the most challenging issues of space exploration. In this course, the student will overview the present and future challenges of space exploration, including in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), sample return missions and planetary protection (PP).

This course aims to demonstrate the stages in a hydrocarbon exploration project from initial basin screening, through the identification of leads and prospects, to an economic assessment. The course includes components of structural geology, tectonics, organic geochemistry, and basin modelling. It is important to view these activities in an economic context; accordingly, the course aims to explain the role of the geologist in the business of exploration and appraisal of hydrocarbons. This aims to inform the student of important economic and logistical constraints which operate alongside geological details.

This course aims to provide students with a good grounding in the role that geoscientists will play in the drive to net-zero. The course will focus on different resources the Earth can provide to support the energy transition, particularly critical economic minerals and sustainable oil and gas extraction. Lectures and Practical Exercises will introduce the skills required to evaluate a geological resource. There will be a strong focus on the sustainable, ethical and economic arguments for utilising these resources and their importance for integrated energy systems.

Through lectures delivered by academics and industry professionals, you will develop a general understanding of the role of fluid flow, heat transfer, and fractures in different geothermal systems. You will gain practical experience in reservoir modelling and sustainable reservoir management using industry standard computing software. During a field trip to a geothermal site, you will learn about risks and pitfalls in practice. An independent research project provides an opportunity to expand your knowledge on a representative geothermal field.

Lectures and practical exercises will provide you with the knowledge and skills to de-risk the subsurface for storage of energy (in the form of compressed air and hydrogen), and for the safe and long-term storage and sequestration of CO₂. Seminars will introduce case-study examples of storage within porous rocks, evaporites and volcanics. The course concludes with a group project that is designed to emulate how a subsurface storage site would be evaluated by a technical team in industry.

This module will take students to the boundaries of applied geophysics, through hands-on training to academia and industry standard techniques in field geophysical data acquisition, visualisation, and mapping. The course content is drawn from academic research, industry geophysics case studies, and dedicated field geophysics training. It provides skills that open up career paths to graduates in a range of geophysical industries. The balance between topics and techniques may shift from year to year in response to changing patterns of research and changing employer demand.

Modern seismology is wide-ranging and encompasses topics such as earthquake and tsunami hazard, the structure and dynamics of the Earth and other terrestrial planets, exploration for hydrocarbon and minerals, monitoring of micro-seismicity for a variety of purposes (carbon sequestration, induced fracturing and aftershock surveys) and even ocean circulation and weather variations. This course will teach the fundamentals of modern seismology, from exploration to the solid Earth, and will include a component on seismic imaging, which is the premier tool for illuminating Earth structure from small to large scales.

This course covers basic areas of service operations management and project management applied to the context of managing petroleum data. It examines service design, service quality and improvement processes, capacity management in service operations, and service projects. It also covers the main areas of project management (scope, quality, cost, time, and risk) and standard planning techniques with particular emphasis on the importance of quality, scope and risk within data management projects.

This module is designed to give students a range of skills associated with data-driven approaches and machine learning. Machine learning has revolutionised numerous scientific fields and it has begun to change the paradigm in geosciences by providing real-time solutions to non-trivial and computationally intense problems. Throughout the module the students will become familiar with the basic concepts and tools of machine learning. This will open up multiple career paths in geoscience and STEM in general.

In the final project you are expected to undertake and complete a study of a problem applicable to the petroleum industry. The project is an extended, independent, self-directed, piece of practical work integrating and reinforcing the material taught on the course, and giving a detailed insight into the demands of, and ways of working in the hydrocarbon industry. The project forms the major part of the IPG’s employability strategy.

This course provides the student an opportunity to design and execute the workflow of the data treatment (including in exceptional cases the possible of acquisition), processing, analysis and modelling, and interpretation of a geophysical dataset in the context of Earth structure or processes and/or exploration goals relevant to resource industries. The project is an extended, independent, self-directed, piece of practical work integrating and reinforcing the material taught on the course, and giving a detailed insight into the demands of, and ways of working in academia or industry.

This project is an extended, independent, self-directed, piece of practical work integrating and reinforcing the material taught on the rest of the Petroleum Data Management MSc programme, and giving a detailed insight into the demands of, and ways of carrying out, data management in the oil and gas industry. Under guidance, the student will be responsible for the project design and execution.

In the final project you are expected to undertake and complete a study of a subsurface problem applicable to the energy industry. The project is an extended, independent, self-directed, piece of practical work integrating and reinforcing the material taught on the programme, and giving a detailed insight into the demands of, and ways of working in the energy industry. The project forms a major part of the MSc’s employability strategy. 

The project is an extended, independent, self-directed, piece of practical work integrating and reinforcing the material taught on the course, and giving a detailed insight into the demands of, and ways of working in the oil and gas industry.