Module GEOL3031: GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION AND PETROLEUM SYSTEMS OF THE BRITISH ISLES

Department: Earth Sciences

GEOL3031: GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION AND PETROLEUM SYSTEMS OF THE BRITISH ISLES

Prerequisites

• A pass at Level 1 GEOL1061 Mathematical Methods in Geosciences or pass at AS Level in Mathematics, grade B or above or the equivalent, and GEOL1051 Field Studies.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To introduce the geology and geological history of the British Isles.
• To understand the nature and range of geological resources in the UK and the importance of geology in the social and economic development of this country.
• To introduce students to the key elements of geoscience and related disciplines which underpin petroleum exploration and production.
• To integrate different types of geological, geophysical and petrophysical data in order to deduce geological histories, reduce exploration risk and enhance petroleum production.

Content

• The geology and resources of the British Isles.
• Major events in the geological history of the British Isles related to plate tectonic processes.
• Deducing geological histories from integration of diverse data sources.
• Basin formation and seismic interpretation.
• Petroleum Systems Analysis: Source Rocks; Petroleum Generation; Migration and Trapping.
• Unconventional Hydrocarbons
• Reservoir Geoscience.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the relationships between major events in the geological history of the British Isles and plate tectonic processes.
• To consider how these events are represented in the geology and resource geology of the British Isles.
• Acquire subject knowledge and understanding in geological principles, terms, definitions and classifications and how these may be used to establish geological histories.
• Understand the main ways in which sedimentary basins form and evolve.
• Be able to undertake an analysis of a petroleum system.
• Understand the main controls on the quality of a petroleum reservoir and how these may be assessed with wireline log data.
• Ability to integrate data in order to assess how oil and gas exploration and production may be optimised.

• Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills to analyze, evaluate/interpret geological and geophysical data.
• Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills necessary to plan, conduct and report on mix of laboratory and field data.
• Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills to be understand the importance of uncertainty in geological and petrophysical data.
• Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills to synthesise information/data from a variety of sources.
• Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills in citation and appropriate use of the literature.

• Receive and respond to a variety of information sources.
• Develop skills necessary for self-managed lifelong learning (including independent working, time management).
• Prepare, process, interpret and present data using appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques and packages.
• Ability to integrate different types of data in order to make interpretations of economic importance.
• Understand the importance of data quality and uncertainty.
• Develop report writing skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures, practicals and seminars will be used to demonstrate processes and examples which are then to be further examined by extra directed reading.
• Lectures, practicals and seminars will be assessed through examination, a class test and coursework.
• A common theme through the whole course is extra directed reading and important for a level three module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Discussions and feedback during practical sessions. Practical Writeup.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University