Last modified: 18 Aug 2025 15:16
The course covers aspects of geology, geophysics and subsurface evaluation to illustrate how geologists deal with uncertainty and risk when assessing energy resources in the subsurface. It will look at the place of the geoscientist during the productive life of an hydrocarbon field and the role that they play in subsurface energy storage. 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 look into the subsurface, and the main tools at their disposal; the role of the geophysicist; how to make subsurface maps; volumetrics; subsurface fluid flow; and the creation of static reservoir models.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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1. Basic geology and geological nomenclature.
2. The petroleum system: geological controls on formation and accumulation of hydrocarbons.
3. Fundamentals of geophysical acquisition and data processing.
4. Defining plays, fairways and prospects.
5. Prospect mapping.
6. Dealing with uncertainty and risk.
7. Production geology and subsurface fluid flow.
8. Formation evaluation and interpretation.
9. Geological input into completions (particularly in late field life).
10. Data archiving and management.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Duration: 90 minutes |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Explain how geostatistical approaches (e.g. exploration risking) are used to determine the probability of oil and gas in a prospect. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Critique petroleum volumetrics and production estimates to deduce the chance of commercial hydrocarbons being present. |
| Factual | Apply | Explain the role of geoscience in the context of Petroleum exploration and production. |
| Factual | Understand | Communicate key concepts across technical disciplines and to key stakeholders. |
| Factual | Understand | Describe the essential elements and processes that are encompassed in the Petroleum System concept. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Maximum 2 pages plus one page references. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Explain how geostatistical approaches (e.g. exploration risking) are used to determine the probability of oil and gas in a prospect. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Critique petroleum volumetrics and production estimates to deduce the chance of commercial hydrocarbons being present. |
| Factual | Understand | Communicate key concepts across technical disciplines and to key stakeholders. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Maximum 2 pages. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Communicate key concepts across technical disciplines and to key stakeholders. |
| Factual | Understand | Describe the essential elements and processes that are encompassed in the Petroleum System concept. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Apply | Explain the role of geoscience in the context of Petroleum exploration and production. |
| Factual | Understand | Describe the essential elements and processes that are encompassed in the Petroleum System concept. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Explain how geostatistical approaches (e.g. exploration risking) are used to determine the probability of oil and gas in a prospect. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Critique petroleum volumetrics and production estimates to deduce the chance of commercial hydrocarbons being present. |
| Factual | Understand | Communicate key concepts across technical disciplines and to key stakeholders. |
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