Form C4
Version 4.0 (2010/2011)
Heriot-Watt University - Course Descriptor Template
1. Course
Code
2. Course
Title
G19PG
3. SCQF
Level
Petroleum Geoscience B
6. Course
Co-ordinator
5. School
Engineering and Physical Sciences
7. Delivery:
Location &
Semester
Edin
SBC
Orkney
Dubai
IDL
Sem 2
Sem…….
Sem………..
Sem……..
Sem….
8. Pre-requisites
Collaborative Partner
Baku Higher Oil School, Azerbaijan
Sem 2
9
4. Credits
15
3rd Year Director of Studies
Approved Learning Partner
Name …………………………………Sem………..
Geoscience A
9. Linked Courses
(specify if synoptic)
10. Excluded Courses
11. Replacement Courses
Code:
12. Degrees for which
this is a core course
Date Of Replacement:
13. The course may be
delivered to:
UG only
PG only
UG & PG
BEng Petroleum Engineering
14. Available as an Elective?
Yes
No
15. Aims
The aim of this course is to explore new details of sedimentology, stratigraphy and structural geology particularly related to hydrocarbon systems, introduce geophysical
exploration and development methods, and introduce statistical analysis techniques and the method of calculating volumes of subsurface hydrocarbons. Further skills in
mapping and data analysis will be developed. The determination of rock and fluid types by petrophysics is covered.
16. Syllabus
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The Petroleum System and Play: Reservoir Seal, Source rock and migration path, Trap, Timing
Reservoir heterogeneity, architecture, faults seals: Identify the main types of structural features; Identify the characteristics of a structural trap; Fractures and other
localised deformation and the effect on fluid flow characteristics; Fault compartmentalisation.
Geophysics: Review the basic geophysical concepts as used in the petroleum industry; Applications of seismic data in reservoir description. After studying this
Chapter the student should be able to: Main geophysical methods; Wave propagation – P and S waves, alteration at interfaces (reflection/refraction); Seismic
method (data gathering and interpretation); Use and limits of seismic in reservoir description.
Introduction to formation evaluation, Fundamentals of log interpretation, Basic logging tools, Porosity tools and how to compute porosity, Lithology and porosity in
complex formations, Saturation determination, Shaley sand interpretation.
Mapping: advanced mapping topics including practical work on drawing and interpreting maps
Correlation: Importance in reservoir development; Definition of a subsurface framework to understand geological relationships between wells;
Geostatistics, Property evaluation and Volumetrics: Porosity/permeability variations; Relationships between petrophysical properties and geology; Construction of
measures of spatial correlation (variograms); Definition of gross/net sand and gross/net pay; Methods to determine gross rock volume; Reserve parameter
distributions; Calculation of volumetric reserves by deterministic and stochastic methods.
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Form C4
Version 4.0 (2010/2011)
Heriot-Watt University - Course Descriptor Template
17. Learning Outcomes (HWU Core Skills: Employability and Professional Career Readiness)
Subject Mastery
Understanding, Knowledge and Cognitive
Skills
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Personal Abilities
Scholarship, Enquiry and Research (Research-Informed Learning)
Demonstrate the application of learned skills to analysing geological data to determine location and size of hydrocarbon accumulations.
Understand how geological factors affect the position, size, properties and development potential of hydrocarbon accumulations.
Choose an appropriate method to solve problems.
Use all available resources, including provided notes and directed reading to research and understand core material.
Industrial, Commercial & Professional Practice

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Autonomy, Accountability & Working with Others
Communication, Numeracy & ICT
Work in groups to research and develop solutions to class problems, and to give group presentations.
Develop skills to analyse data, and develop clear methodology to decide not only which technique is appropriate to analyse the data, but
which presentation mode is appropriate to present the results (maps, correlations, graphs, diagrams etc).
18. Assessment Methods
Method
19. Re-assessment Methods
Duration of Exam
Weighting (%)
Synoptic courses?
Method
(if applicable)
Examination
Coursework
2 hours
Duration of Exam
Diet(s)
(if applicable)
75%
25%
Examination
Coursework as appropriate
2 hours
3
20. Date and Version
Date of Proposal
13-8-2012
Date of Approval by
School Committee
Date of
Implementation
Version
Number
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