Unit information: Petroleum Sedimentology in 2013/14

Unit name	Petroleum Sedimentology
Unit code	EASC30024
Credit points	10
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1B (weeks 7 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Whitaker
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Successful completion of years 1 and 2 ofan Earth Sciences degree programme
Co-requisites	n/a
School/department	School of Earth Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

This unit enables students to apply their knowledge of sedimentology and geophysics to hydrocarbon-prone sedimentary basins to develop an understanding of hydrocarbon source, reservoir and trap systems, of basin-fill architecture and of the movement of fluids through reservoir systems.

Case studies from a number of different industrial and geological settings will be used to expand knowledge of a range of regional geologies, including the Wessex Basin, North Sea and West Texas.

Students will also be introduced to emerging opportunities offered by unconventional reservoirs and also carbon storage and sequestration.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit you will be able to

• Unfold the provenance and geochemical history of hydrocarbon reserves.

• Characterise reservoirs and seals in terms of their origin and porosity and permeability and understand their scale-dependence.

• Describe the characteristics of reservoirs that influence the flow of hydrocarbons.

• Describe, classify and give examples of hydrocarbon basins in relation to plate tectonic setting.

• Relate and account for facies changes in modern and ancient basins in relation to depositional environments, and variations in reservoir properties.

• Understand and apply the basic techniques of exploration geophysics and petrophysics from seismic stratigraphy to downhole logging.

• Understand the basics of reservoir modelling.

• Evaluate and map exploration prospects and calculate reserves for different geological reservoir models.

• Recognise the phases an oil field goes through as technology advances, from early gas/oil extraction to flushing of reservoirs and on to use of empty reservoirs for potential carbon storage.

This unit draws upon the skills and knowledge you gained from Year 1 Dynamic Surface, and Year 2 units Sedimentology and Applied Geophysics

Teaching Information

Lectures, practicals and fieldwork

Assessment Information

This unit constitutes 10 credit points and 100 marks to your end-of year results. Your final mark will be based on both your practical reports (25%), fieldwork (15%) and a final examination (60%, 2 hours). Assessment will be based on faculty criteria.

General feedback will be provided during all practical sessions and the field class from staff and demonstrators. Practicals will be returned within one week of submission following week, and in class we will run through a detailed answer key to aid self-evaluation.

Reading and References

n/a