GL3018: PRINCIPLES OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05

Course Overview

This course introduces students to the key issues surrounding being a geologist in the petroleum industry. With the changing nature of hydrocarbon exploration and production, both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons are considered. The key concepts of the origin and generation of hydrocarbons, reservoir rocks and subsurface reservoir structures (traps) are introduced, together with some of the key techniques used within the industry (e.g. reservoir geology, petrophysics and formation evaluation). Practical issues such as how hydrocarbon wells are drilled and how rocks are sampled in the subsurface are also considered.

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	3
Term	First Term	Credit Points	15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus	Aberdeen	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Dr Joyce Neilson Dr Stephen A. Bowden

Qualification Prerequisites

Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

One of BSc Physics with Geology (Studied) or BSc Geology (Studied) or Master of Geology (Studied) or BSc Geology-Petroleum Geology (Studied) or BSc Archaeology-Geoscience (Studied) or BSc Geology - Physics (Studied) or BSc Geography-Geoscience (Studied)
GL2510 An Introduction to Field Geology (Studied)
GL2015 Petrology & Mineralogy (Passed)
GL2014 Stratigraphical Principles (Passed)
Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

EP3001 Petroleum Geology and Reservoir Characterisation (Passed)
GL3523 Petroleum Geology and Reservoir Characterization (Studied)
GL3524 Petroleum Geology and Reservoir Characterisation (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

The origin of petroleum including fundamental processes of organic deposition, thermal maturation, migration of fluids
Formation of the different types of traps for reservoired petroleum.
Conventional and Unconventional Hydrocarbons.
The use of wireline logging for remotely determining rock properties.
Exploration strategies and the role of the geologist.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Alternative Assessment

Coursework (100%)

Alternative Resit Assessment

Online Test (100%)

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome
Factual	Remember	ILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.