Course finder

<< return to browsing

Semester 1

Petroleum Systems (EASC10108)

Subject

Earth Science

College

SCE

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

3

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Course Summary

Hydrocarbon resources have fuelled the Western-World lifestyle for around 100 years, yet global climate change threatens the prosperity, if not the survival, of mankind and many other species. A move from using the subsurface from a source of hydrocarbons to the disposal of waste CO2 (in carbon capture and storage) and energy storage is essential for the energy transition. Prospecting for old resources (oil, gas) and new (geological storage) requires a high degree of understanding of both geological and geophysical aspects of basin exploration, and particularly the interplay between these two disciplines. Subsurface exploration provides many intellectual challenges, interpreting the subsurface, based in limited (and very expensive) data to optimise resource recovery or utilisation requires a deep understanding of geology and geophysics, with prediction into data-poor areas a key skill. Fortunately, the knowledge and techniques developed for hydrocarbon exploration are transferable to the more sustainable geoenergy technologies.The course utilises a variety of teaching methods: Lectures and practical classes cover the petroleum system and other subsurface usage, and the application of geophysical techniques to exploration. Interpretation of seismic reflection profiles of a sedimentary succession at the basin margin near Helmsdale using state-of-the-art digital software (Petrel) and seismic data, kindly donated by Schlumberger. A 4 day field excursion to Helmsdale (NE Scotland) to study rocks analogous to those used in the subsurface.

Course Description

Syllabus: Conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon resources Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Geological energy storage Origin of oil and gas, plus CO2 for storage, and hydrogen. Shales as source rocks and seals Maturation and migration Reservoirs, traps and field volumes Drilling and wireline logs Introduction to Northern and Southern Sea petroleum geology Introduction to digital seismic interpretation Introduction to digital basin modelling Fieldwork as an aid to understanding subsurface geologyCourse summary by week (MW = Mark Wilkinson, MC = Mark Chapman):Course summary by week:W1:Thursday PM Lecture: Introduction to course; petroleum systems; unconventional hydrocarbon resources; future uses of the subsurface (CCS; energy storage) (MW)Friday PM Lecture: Introduction to seismic reflection interpretation 1 (MC)W2:Thursday PM Lecture: Introduction to the geological evolution of the Inner Moray Firth, as background for the seismic interpretation exercise (MW)Friday PM Lecture: Introduction to seismic reflection interpretation 2 (MC)W3:Thursday PM Lecture: Subsurface fluids: water, origin of oil and gas; capturing CO2; generating H2 (MW)Friday AM Practical: Estimating resources: how much is down there? (MW)Friday PM Lecture: Introduction to seismic reflection interpretation 3 (MC)W4:Thursday PM Lecture: Migration, seals and leakage (MW)Friday AM Practical: Calculation of burial and maturation using PetroMod basin modelling software (MW)Friday PM Practical: Digital Seismic Interpretation (NH)W5:Thursday PM Lecture: Reservoirs, traps and pressure (MW)RQ, saturation, traps, modelling, reserves (capacity)Friday AM Practical: CO2 storage estimate (non-Monte-Carlo)Friday PM Practical: Digital Seismic Interpretation (NH)W6:Thursday PM Lecture: Drilling and wireline logs (MW)Friday AM Practical: Wireline log interpretation (MW)Friday PM Practical: Digital Seismic Interpretation (NH)W7:Thursday PM Lecture: Introduction to Southern North Sea plays (MW)Friday AM Practical: Core logging JCMB Room 6307. Friday PM Practical: Digital Seismic Interpretation (NH)W8:Thursday PM Lecture: Introduction to Northern North Sea plays (MW)Friday AM Practical: Digital seismic interpretation: Southern North Sea (MW).Friday PM Practical: Digital Seismic Interpretation (NH)W9:Thursday PM Lecture: Carbon Capture and Storage (MW)Friday AM Practical: Geological Carbon Storage using the Monte Carlo method (MW)Friday PM Practical: Digital Seismic Interpretation (NH)W10:Thursday PM Lecture: Geological energy storage (MW)Friday AM Practical: Geological energy storageLearning OutcomesOn completion of this course, the student will be able to: Understand the geological evolution of the Inner Moray Firth - how and when rifting initiated, sedimentary facies, subsidence history including effects of fault segmentation on sediment dispersal within the basin Perform a simple seismic interpretation using industry-standard software (PETREL) including a simple volume calculation for an oilfield or CO2 storage site. Describe the individual components of a petroleum system for both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon plays Understand how the knowledge gained from hydrocarbon exploration can be applied to clener geoenergy technologies including carbon capture and storage (CCS) Analyse and understand typical data from petroleum production, e.g. produced volumes of hydrocarbons; a traditional suite of wireline logs

Assessment Information

Written Exam 50%, Coursework 50%, Practical Exam 0%

Additional Assessment Information

Assessment detailsWritten Exam 50%Coursework 50%Assessment will consist of:Coursework, set in Week 5, consisting of 2 essays from 4 available, to cover a reasonable range of the course material. 1 week will be allowed for the assessment. Defined word limit per essay and expectation of modest extra reading (2 - 4 references per essay). The questions will be of similar style to the exam ones, to give students experience of the format and feedback on progress. (50%)Exam, 1 hour 30 minutes duration. 2 long-answer questions chosen from 4 options; 1 or more of the questions may have multiple sub-questions. There is no practical element to the exam e.g. no accurate plotting of graph, calculation or use of computers. No length limit to answers. (50 %) NOTE: The exam will have questions based upon some or all of the following parts of the course: The practical classes The lectures The field excursionAssessment deadlines: Coursework essays: Essay A Monday week 7, 12:00 noon.Essay B Monday week 7, 12:00 noon.Moderation: In this course, all assessments will be moderated via Sampled Second Marking. This is a process whereby an academic member of staff, different from the marker, looks at a samples of the work to ensure consistency of marking. Where multiple markers mark the same assessment moderation also verifies that all markers are marking to the same standard. The moderator is not double marking and cannot change individual marks. They can only make recommendations to adjust marks.

view the timetable and further details for this course