Unit information: Petroleum Sedimentology in 2011/12

Unit name	Petroleum Sedimentology
Unit code	EASC30024
Credit points	10
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2D (weeks 19 - 24)
Unit director	Professor. Whitaker
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Successful completion of years 1 and 2 of either the Environmental Geoscience or the Geology degree programme curriculum
Co-requisites	n/a
School/department	School of Earth Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will provide a framework in which the student can develop an awareness of the role of sedimentology in the analysis of i) sedimentary basin evolution, ii) basin-fill architecture and iii) hydrocarbon reservoir systems. The unit will be based around the analysis of sedimentary basins and reservoir systems in different tectonic settings, including examples from the North Sea, Australia and Canada. Although the unit will concentrate on the analysis of hydrocarbon reservoirs the principles of the approach can be equally applied to movement of other fluids into reservoir systems.

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.

• Describe a variety of drilling and production techniques.

• Understand the basics of reservoir modeling.

• 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

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.