COURSE ORGANISATION AND OUTLINE
Organisation
The MSc Petroleum Geoscience course is one of the key components of ESE’s larger programme of
petroleum-related Masters education (including Petrolem Geophysics, Petroleum Engineering and
Metals and Energy Finance). It is managed under the following general administrative structure:
Course Director: Professor Howard D. Johnson
Course Manager: Ms. Shashi Luther
Course Administrator: Ms. Joanna Owens
Course Administrator: Ms. Aparna Ashok
There is also a Staff-Student Consultative Committee, which includes around 4 MSc students who act
as representatives for the whole class. They will be selected in the first three weeks of Term 1.
Normally, we hold 1-2 meetings per term. The aim is to obtain student feedback on all aspects of the
course, particularly with regards any problematic areas.
We also have an Industry Advisory Board, which meets annually in early November. This comprises
around 15-20 company representatives, who review the course curriculum and help select students
through the scholarship scheme.
Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
To develop advanced skills and competency in the technical disciplines of geoscience (including
basin analysis, sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy, structural geology, reservoir
characterisation, seismic data acquisition and processing, 2D and 3D seismic interpretation).
To provide essential knowledge of the key allied petroleum geoscience disciplines (e.g. geostatistics,
petrophysics, reservoir engineering) and to appreciate their relationship and inter-dependency with
core geoscience subjects.
To apply these skills to the full spectrum of hydrocarbon exploration and production activities (play
fairway analysis, prospect evaluation, appraisal, development and reservoir management) through
classroom study, field work, integrated team projects, and independent research.
To present modern petroleum industry methods and practices including demonstration and hands-on
use of industry-standard software and hardware systems for 2D/3D seismic interpretation, basin
modelling, petrophysics and reservoir characterization.
To promote the ethos of synergy within integrated, multidisciplinary teams of geoscientists and
petroleum engineers in the exploration and development of oil and gas resources.
To develop the candidates' transferable skills including communication (oral, written and aural), team
work, decision making, economic and risk analysis, and time and project management.
To train the candidates in best current industry practices, in order to be able to work independently
and also as a member of a team.
To provide a challenging and stimulating education required for an MSc taught course degree.
Throughout the course, considerable emphasis is placed on communication skills, both written and
oral. In the course of the year, all students can expect to make a contribution to the two group project
presentations and to give a presentation on their individual project. These presentations are given to
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internal and external examiners and an invited audience from industry.
Course structure
The key aspects of course structure are:
Course duration: 50 weeks (early October to mid-September)
Classroom teaching, group projects, fieldwork: Terms 1 and 2 (early October to early April)
Examinations: Term 3 (May)
Independent projects: Term 3 and summer (early June to mid-September)
Term 1: Production Geoscience
Term 1 (11 weeks, October-December) addresses Production Geoscience as currently practiced in
the oil industry, which requires a broad understanding of geological, geophysical and reservoir
engineering subjects. For this reason, there is strong integration between all three petroleum-related
MSc courses (Geoscience, Geophysics and Engineering) during this period. The syllabus comprises
8 weeks of classroom-based taught courses followed by a 3-week Production Geoscience Group
Project, which provides practical experience of industry-style workflows.
Modules studied in Term 1 include:
Development Geology
Seismic Techniques
Structural Geology
Characterisation of Fractured Reservoirs
Petrophysics
Core analysis
Petroleum Engineering
Hydrocarbon Resources Classification & Estimation
Geostatistics
Term 2: Exploration Geoscience
Term 2 (11 weeks, January-March) addresses Exploration Geoscience, with an emphasis on
applying current concepts, methods and technologies (e.g. basin analysis, sequence stratigraphy,
petroleum systems analysis, seismic interpretation) to hydrocarbon basins. The syllabus of this term
comprises 5 weeks of classroom-taught courses followed by a 5-week Exploration Geoscience Group
Project, which provides further practical experience of industry-style work. Student teams present
their project work to a panel of selected industry judges. The term is followed by a 3-week synthesis
fieldtrip to the USA, which comprises two weeks in Utah (clastic depositional systems) and one week
in West Texas (carbonate depositional systems). These fieldtrips provide the opportunity to revise
and integrate many aspects of the entire course prior to the exams.
Modules studied in Term 2 include:
Applied Sedimentology
Exploration and Production Geochemistry
Basin Analysis
Seismic Interpretation of Sedimentary Basins
Petroleum Systems Analysis
Petroleum Economics
Group projects
In addition to the teaching programme in Terms 1 and 2, students undertake the following group
projects:
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Production Geoscience Group Project.
This is a field development training exercise which illustrates the integration of disciplines required for
field appraisal and reservoir characterisation. The project is carried out by teams of 5-6 students (2-3
MSc Petroleum Geoscience, 1-2 MSc Petroleum Geophysics, 2-3 MSc Petroleum Engineering) using
an integrated dataset (seismic, wireline logs, cores, fluid pressure measurements, well tests and
petrophysical data). The project integrates all the formal teaching in Term 1, and trains students to be
team players in multi-disciplinary reservoir management groups.
Exploration Geoscience Group Project (‘Barrel Award’). This is an exploration-based project
focusing on the detailed assessment of the petroleum potential in a frontier basin. The project is
carried out by teams of 4-6 students, using a grid of 2D and/or 3D seismic data collected for regional
exploration, regional well data and industry-standard analogue databases. The project integrates all
the formal teaching in Term 2, and trains students to be team players in exploration evaluation and
regional hydrocarbon prospectivity analysis. This is a competitive exercise assessed by a panel of
three external, senior geoscientists. They select the winning team, which receives the prestigious
Barrel Award (an award that extends back for 30 years).
Fieldwork
We regard fieldwork as an integral part of Petroleum Geoscience training, and it is used to
consolidate our students’ understanding by illustrating classroom-taught concepts in the field.
Fieldtrips are taken to several areas of outstanding geological interest in the UK and USA that
illustrate the full breadth of petroleum geoscience. Our approach in the field is problem-based, so that
students use the outcrops to help to better understand and interpret subsurface geological datasets
(seismic sections, well-log panels, reservoir production datasets). Many oil companies run field trips
to the same locations, and the MSc course provides an early opportunity to study the same outcrops
and consider the same lessons.
Fieldtrips undertaken during the course are:
Wessex Basin, 6 days, 9th-14th October 2012
North Somerset, 2 days, 27th-28th October 2012
Derbyshire, 2 days, 9th-10th February 2013
Utah, 9 days, 28th March-7th April 2013
West Texas, 5 days, 8th-14th April 2013
Independent project work
After the exams, students undertake a 17-week independent project from early June until midSeptember. The independent project is the culmination of the MSc course, and provides students
with the opportunity to further their specialist knowledge in a particular area and/or to gain work
experience in an oil company. It also allows students to demonstrate their independent thinking,
critical and creative analysis, and sound technical judgment in their project work, and to manage both
the technical analysis and time-management aspects of the project. In short, the independent project
represents the pinnacle of each student’s knowledge and ability over the duration of the MSc course.
It is our aim to place the majority of students into companies for the full duration of their projects typically over 80% of the total student body. The remainder of the class will undertake their projects
within Imperial College. These decisions are based on a variety of factors, including performance
during the course work and examinations, existing links between students and companies (e.g.
through sponsorship and/or employment offers) and personal interest (e.g. some students prefer a
more research-oriented project within an existing IC-based research group).
The final presentations of the independent projects are in the middle of September. The final two
weeks of September must be kept free in order to complete revisions and corrections to the MSc
thesis.
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6. COURSE MODULE DESCRIPTION
Term 1
Development Geology
Course unit/examination paper: Production Geoscience
Teaching hours and methods: 24 hours (12 hours lectures, 12 hours practicals)
Staff: Prof. Howard Johnson
Description: The module outlines the basic concepts and applications in Development (or Production)
Geology, and reviews modern practices in reservoir characterisation and 3D geological modelling. At
the end of the module, students should understand the importance of reservoir geology and
geophysics in the complete field appraisal, development and production (reservoir management)
process. The module provides classroom teaching of concepts, which are then re-inforced through
hands-on use in the Wessex Basin Fieldtrip and Production Geoscience Group Project. In October
2009, an additional 1 day lecture is provided by Professor John Kaldi (University of Adelaide), which
is part of this module.
Assessment: exam (2 questions on ‘Production Geoscience’ paper)
Rock Properties
Teaching hours and methods: 6 hours lectures
Staff: Prof. Robert Zimmerman
Description: The module presents the fundamental definitions of reservoir rock properties related to
hydrocarbon exploration and production. The concept of scales in rock properties and the effects of
geological heterogeneity are introduced. The module establishes the theoretical relationships and
empirical correlations between the storage and transport properties of reservoir rocks.
Assessment: coursework (question sheet; coursework jointly with Petrophysics module)
Module shared with MSc Petroleum Engineering course MSc Petroleum Geophysics courses.
Wireline Logging
Teaching hours and methods: 6 hours lectures
Staff: Dr. Mike Ala
Description: The module presents an introduction to the fundamental concepts of open-hole, wire-line
logging. It will describe the main tools used for lithology, porosity and saturation determination.
Examples of how these different tools are used in typical subsurface situations will be presented. The
subject matter will be developed further during the Petrophysics module. The main aim of this session
is to prepare students for consider the likely wire-line log response of the outcrops to be studied on
the Wessex Basin fieldtrip. Assessment: coursework (coursework & examination jointly with
Petrophysics module)
Module shared with MSc Petroleum Engineering & MSc Petroleum Geophysics courses.
Wessex Basin Fieldtrip: Petroleum Systems & Reservoir Evaluation
Course unit/examination paper: Production Geoscience
Teaching hours and methods: 5½ days fieldwork
Staff: Prof. Howard Johnson, Prof. Alastair Fraser, Prof. Helmut Jakubowicz, Prof. John Cosgrove,
Prof. Matt Jackson, Dr. Cedric John, Prof. Mark Sephton, Dr Jenny Collier, Dr Fivos Spathopoulos.
Description: The fieldtrip has two aims.
(1) To consolidate the classroom-taught concepts of development geology, with an emphasis on the
role of outcrop analogues in understanding subsurface reservoirs. The students document outcrops
of units that are direct analogues to the reservoir studied several weeks later in the Production
Geoscience Group Project (Sherwood sandstones, Wytch Farm Field, Wessex Basin).
(2) To introduce the different elements of petroleum plays in an active hydrocarbon basin. Data
collected during the fieldtrip is used for an assessed project by the students in the Exploration and
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Production Geochemistry and Modelling of Petroleum Systems modules in Term 2.
Assessment: coursework (note books and work sheets)
Module shared with MSc Petroleum Engineering & MSc Petroleum Geophysics courses.
North Somerset/Bristol Channel Basin Fieldtrip: Fault & Fracture Characterisation
Teaching hours and methods: 2 days fieldwork
Staff: Prof. David Sanderson and Dr Lidia Lonergan
Description: The main aim of this trip is to provide new insights and training in the analysis of
normal and strike-slip faults. The excellent exposure and high-resolution stratigraphy in
Lower Liassic rocks at Kilve, north Somerset, allow very detailed studies of fault displacement
to be made, and many of the current ideas regarding the geometry and kinematics of faulting
have been developed using these rocks. The wave-cut platforms and cliff sections also
provide good analogues to ‘time slices’ and ‘dip lines’ in 3-D seismics.
On the Somerset Coast, there are excellent exposures of a wide range of structures, including
faults, veins, joints and folds. Normal, strike-slip, reverse, oblique-slip and reactivated normal
faults all occur. They cover a wide range of scales, with displacements ranging from a few
mm up to a few hundred metres. The ~18 km long coastline between Hinkley Point and Blue
Anchor Bay provides a world-class natural laboratory for studying the geometry and evolution
of faults and fractures, which have been utilised by many research groups and by many
companies for the training of petroleum geoscientists.
Basic Petroleum Geophysics
Teaching hours and methods: 6 hours lectures
Staff: Prof. Helmut Jakubowicz
Description: The module provides an introduction to the specific earth parameters which can be
deduced from seismic reflection data. Basic concepts of reflection seismology are taught, including
wave propagation, time series analysis, time-depth conversion, borehole geophysics and velocity
modelling.
Assessment: none
Module shared with MSc Petroleum Engineering & MSc Petroleum Geophysics courses.
Seismic Techniques
Course unit/examination paper: Exploration Geoscience
Teaching hours and methods: 45 hours (15 hours lectures, 30 hours practicals)
Staff: Dr. Jenny Collier, Dr. Chris Jackson, external lecturers
Description: This module provides an integrated introduction to the acquisition, processing and
interpretation of 2D and 3D seismic datasets. The module has a particularly strong practical
emphasis, with many sessions conducted on an industry-standard computer workstation network.
These techniques are applied in both the Production Geoscience Group Project and Exploration
Geoscience Group Project. Advanced geophysical methods are also illustrated in relation to the
application of reservoir geophysics to field development and reservoir management: e.g. 3D/4D
seismic, 3D visualisation, amplitude studies, AVO, and elastic inversion.
Assessment: exam (1 question on ‘Exploration Geoscience’ paper)
Seismic Interpretation
Course unit/examination paper: Exploration Geoscience
Teaching hours and methods: 30 hours (15 hours lectures, 15 hours practicals)
Staff: Dr. Rebecca Bell
Description: The module provides hands-on experience of interpreting 2D and 3D seismic datasets
from a variety of structural and stratigraphic settings. It builds directly onto the Seismic Techniques
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course and provides hands-on experience of seismic interpretation using both paper sections and
workstations. The petroleum exploration and production significance associated with each seismic
dataset evaluated is emphasised. The course aims to provide students with practical seismic
interpretation skills. It also demonstrates the wide range of tectonic and stratigraphic styles,
encompassing those found in the major hydrocarbon provinces around the world.
Assessment: exam (2 questions on ‘Exploration Geoscience’ paper)
Hydrocarbons Classification & Estimation
Teaching hours and methods: 3 hours lectures
Staff: Dr. Graeme Simpson (RPS Group)
Description: The module presents the definitions of hydrocarbons in place and reserves, and
introduces the techniques used to estimate these values. The financial impact of reserve estimations
are discussed.
Assessment: coursework (within the Wytch Farm and Barrel Award Group projects)
Module shared with MSc Petroleum Engineering & MSc Petroleum Geophysics courses.
Petroleum Engineering
Course unit/examination paper: Production Geoscience
Teaching hours and methods: 12 hours (12 hours lectures)
Staff: Prof. Martin Blunt, Prof. Alain Gringarten
Description: The principles of reservoir engineering are introduced, including reservoir fluids and
production mechanisms, recovery efficiency, fluid pressure measurements and their applications, and
the use of material balance calculations. Well test analysis techniques and interpretations are
presented.
Assessment: exam (1 question on ‘Production Geoscience’ paper)
Petroleum Structural Geology
Course unit/examination paper: Petrophysics and Tectonics
Teaching hours and methods: 15 hours (12 hours lectures, 3 hours practicals)
Staff: Dr. John Cosgrove
Description: The module provides a rigorous background in the fundamentals of structural geology
(e.g. stress, brittle failure, fluid-induced failure, evolution and fractures and impact on fluid flow) in the
context of petroleum exploration and production.
Assessment: exam (1 question on ‘Petrophysics and Tectonics’ paper)
Faults and Fractures
Course unit/examination paper: Production Geoscience
Teaching hours and methods: 15 hours (9 hours lectures, 6 hours practicals)
Staff: Prof. David Sanderson (Univ. of Southampton)
Description: The module builds on the foundations laid in the Petroleum Structural Geology module,
and deals with the properties of fractures and fracture networks, sampling and prediction of subseismic fractures in subsurface reservoirs, their impact on flow, and the representation of fracture
networks in reservoir models. This module includes a 2-day field tri[ to study fault and fracture
systems in Mesozoic rocks exposed along the North Somerset coast.
Assessment: exam (1 optional question on ‘Production Geoscience’ paper)
Petrophysics
Course unit/examination paper: Petrophysics and Tectonics
Teaching hours and methods: 36 hours (18 hours lectures, 18 hours practicals)
Staff: Dr Mike Ala, Dr. Peter Fitch, Dr. Chris Pentland (Shell) and Dr. Sander Suicmez (Shell)
Description: The module covers the theory and practice of core analysis and open-hole log
interpretation. Students gain an understanding of the fundamental physics involved in various
petrophysical measurements from cores and borehole logs, and are taught to conduct basic log
interpretation to determine petrophysical parameters such as lithology, porosity, fluid saturation and
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permeability prediction. The module also provides hands-on experience in using commercial
petrophysical software.
Assessment: coursework (question sheet; coursework jointly with Rock Properties module), exam (2
questions on ‘Petrophysics and Tectonics’ paper)
Geostatistics
Course unit/examination paper: Production Geoscience
Teaching hours and methods: 12 hours lectures
Staff: Dr Ashley Francis (Earthworks)
Description: The module provides an introduction to the principles and applications of geostatistics,
and equips students with the necessary skills to apply geostatistics in building both deterministic and
stochastic reservoir models.
Assessment: exam (1 optional question on ‘Production Geoscience’ paper)
Production Geoscience Group Project
Course unit/examination paper: Production Geoscience
Teaching hours and methods: 15 days project work in teams
Staff: Dr. Matt Jackson, Dr. Gary Hampson, Prof. Howard Johnson, Dr Mike Ala, Prof. Helmut
Jakubowicz
Description: This is a field development training exercise which illustrates the integration of disciplines
required for field appraisal and reservoir characterisation. The project is carried out by teams of 5-6
students (2-3 MSc Petroleum Geoscience, 2-3 MSc Petroleum Engineering) using an integrated
dataset (seismic, wireline logs, cores, fluid pressure measurements, well tests and petrophysical
data). The project integrates all the formal teaching in Term 1, and trains students to be team players
in multi-disciplinary reservoir management groups (asset management teams, business units, etc.).
Assessment: coursework (oral presentation and written report)
Module shared with MSc Petroleum Engineering & MSc Petroleum Geophysics courses.
Term 2
Petroleum Systems Analysis
Course unit/examination paper: Petroleum Basin Analysis
Teaching hours and methods: 42 hours (24 hours lectures, 24 hours practicals)Staff: Dr. Mark
Sephton, Dr Kerry Gallagher (University of Rennes), Dr Fivos Spathopoulos (Praxxis), Dr Peter
Allison
Description: The module covers the fundamentals of petroleum systems analysis and its use in
hydrocarbon exploration. The module includes basic organic geochemistry, concepts and examples
of petroleum systems, petroleum source rocks, modelling of petroleum systems, and an introduction
to basin-scale pressures and fluid dynamics. Practice in using the quantitative tools and techniques
used in modelling the petroleum system of a basin (i.e. the formation, generation, migration and
trapping of hydrocarbons) is provided. At the end of the module, students are able to undertake 1-D
basin modelling using industry-standard software, and are aware of the extension of this process into
2- and 3-D applications. Examples from different hydrocarbon provinces and basin types are used to
illustrate the petroleum systems concept.
Assessment: exam (2 questions on ‘Petroleum Basin Analysis’ paper)
Basin Analysis: Seismic Expression and Structural Styles
Course unit/examination paper: Petroleum Basin Analysis
Teaching hours and methods: 48 hours (16 hours lectures, 32 hours practicals)
Staff: Prof. Philip Allen & Dr Lidia Lonergan
Description: This module presents a modern approach to the analysis of sedimentary basins,
emphasising the fundamental controls on basin development. The mechanisms controlling largescale basin evolution are integrated with structural evolution and sedimentary processes. Analysis
techniques include quantitative geophysical modelling, seismic interpretation and detailed
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sedimentary and stratigraphic analysis of basin infill.
Assessment: coursework (case study), exam (2 questions on ‘Basin Analysis & Tectonics’ paper)
Applied Sedimentology
Course unit/examination paper: Applied Sedimentology
Teaching hours and methods: 48 hours (36 hours lectures, 12 hours practicals)
Staff: Prof. Howard Johnson, Dr. Gary Hampson, Dr. Cédric John, Dr. James Maynard (ExxonMobil),
Dr Paul Grant
Description: The module addresses the fundamental sedimentological controls on reservoir
distribution and character, and provides a practical guide to the use of facies models and sequence
stratigraphy in the sedimentological interpretation of subsurface data (core, wireline logs, seismic
data). The module is divided in two broad topics: a) siliciclastic systems (Johnson and Hampson),
and b) carbonate systems (John). External lecturers provide specialist teaching in the application of
biostratigraphy, applied sequence stratigraphy and numerical forward-modelling techniques. Students
also undertake core description and interpretation at an industry core store.
Assessment: exam (3 questions on ‘Applied Sedimentology’ paper)
Derbyshire Fieldtrip: Deep-Water Reservoirs in the Pennine Basin
Teaching hours and methods: 2 days fieldwork
Staff: Professor Alastair Fraser and Dr Ian Kane (Statoil)
Description: The 'Deep-water Sedimentology and Stratigraphy' fieldcourse will take place from the
9th of February-10th February 2013. We will visit several classic outcrops of Upper Carboniferous
deep-water strata that in exposed in Derbyshire. This fieldcourse will build on concepts taught on the
Reservoir Sedimentology taught-course. We will visit a number of outcrops during both days of the
fieldtrip and then complete a series of short exercises in the classroom in the evenings. After the field
course you should be able to: (i) use sedimentological criteria (e.g. grainsize, sedimentary structures,
biogenic structures, etc) to recognise and differentiate between deposits related to turbulent sediment
gravity-flows (e.g. turbidites) and non-turbulent sediment gravity-flows (e.g. debrites); (ii) understand
how individual beds stack to form 'depositional elements' such as channels and fans (i.e. the 'building
blocks' of deep-water stratigraphic successions); (iv) understand the wireline, core and seismic
expression of deep-water sedimentary systems and the key methods of correlation and interpretation
in sparse subsurface datasets; and (iv) understand how the fluid flow behaviour of deep-water
reservoirs is controlled by their bed-scale sedimentology and larger-scale stratigraphic architecture.
Petroleum Economics
Teaching hours and methods: 18 hours (12 hours lectures, 6 hours practicals)
Staff: Dr Edward Jankowski
Description: An introduction to the basic concepts and background for the financial and economic
assessment of projects within the petroleum industry. At the end of the module, students are able to
carry out simple portfolio management decisions under conditions of uncertainty, including economic,
technical and political risk.
Assessment: none
Exploration Geoscience
Course unit/examination paper: Exploration Geoscience
Teaching hours and methods: 18 hours (12 hours lectures, 6 hours practicals)
Staff: Prof. Alastair Fraser
Description: Fundamentals of play-based exploration aimed at demonstrating the integration of all
aspects of petroleum exploration and petroleum systems analysis. The course includes seismic
interpretation, well correlation and common risk segment mapping and the integration of reservoir,
source, seal and trap analysis. Prospect and play risk analysis is also outlined as a basis for
generating a consistent approach to estimating risked volumetric estimations. This course is
deliberately practical and is used as a precursor to the Barrel Award.
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Assessment: coursework (the Barrel Award group project: presentation & report)
Exploration Geoscience Group Project (‘Barrel Award’)
Course unit/examination paper: Exploration Geoscience
Teaching hours and methods: 20 days project work in teams
Staff: Dr. Chris Jackson, Prof. Alastair Fraser, Dr Cedric John, Prof. Howard Johnson
Description: This is an exploration-based project focusing on the detailed assessment of the
petroleum potential in a frontier basin. The project is carried out by teams of 4-6 students, using a
grid of 2D and/or 3D seismic data collected for regional exploration, regional well data and industrystandard analogue databases. The project integrates all the formal teaching in Term 2, and trains
students to be team players in exploration evaluation and regional hydrocarbon prospectivity analysis
(new venture teams, etc.). This is a competitive exercise assessed by a panel of three external,
senior geoscientists. They select the winning team, which receives the prestigious Barrel Award (an
award that extends back for 31 years).
Assessment: coursework (oral presentation and written report)
Utah Fieldtrip: Clastic Depositional Systems
Course unit/examination paper: Utah Fieldtrip (clastic sedimentology fieldtrip)
Teaching hours and methods: 15 days fieldwork
Staff: Dr. Gary Hampson, Dr. Lidia Lonergan, Dr Amandine Prelat
Description: The first week of the field trip focuses on the sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy and
reservoir characterisation of coastal-plain, marginal-marine and shallow-marine deposits using the
superb exposures of the Book Cliffs and Coal Cliffs. The second week of the field course addresses
structural geology, basin evolution and tectonic-sedimentation interaction in the unique exposures of
the northern Paradox Basin, an exhumed salt basin. Well logs, cores and seismic data are used to
demonstrate the subsurface expression of the rocks studied at outcrop, and specific comparisons are
drawn with subsurface hydrocarbon provinces and reservoirs. The fieldtrip thus provides practical
revision and integration of many advanced aspects of the taught modules prior to exams.
Assessment: coursework (field notes and assessed practical exercises)
West Texas Fieldtrip: Carbonate Depositional Systems
Course Unit: West Texas Fieldtrip (carbonate sedimentology fieldtrip)
Teaching hours and methods: 5 days fieldwork
Staff: Dr. Cedric John, & Dr Veerle Vandeginste
Course Description: This field course will focus on the classical carbonate outcrops from West Texas
and New Mexico, many of which are equivalent to reservoirs units still under production in West
Texas. The fieldtrip will include an overview of Mississippian carbonate mounds, Pennsylvanian
carbonates and siliciclastics (mixed system), as well as an overview of the entire Permian reservoir
system including the reef and backreef environments. The outcrops will be linked to nearby
subsurface carbonate reservoirs in the prolific hydrocarbon occurrences of the Permian Basin. The
fieldtrip thus provides practical revision and integration of many of the carbonate sedimentology and
stratigraphy principles tthat were discussed during lecture modules.
Assessment: coursework (field notes and assessed practical exercises)
Independent Project
Course unit/examination paper: Independent Project
Teaching hours and methods: 83 days project work
Staff: All Staff
Description: The project provides students with the opportunity to study in depth a particular aspect of
petroleum geoscience, thereby expanding the knowledge they have acquired during the taught
courses. Students are expected to demonstrate independent thinking, critical and creative analysis,
and sound technical judgment in their project work, and to manage both the technical analysis and
time-management aspects of the project. In short, the independent project should represent the
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pinnacle of a student’s knowledge and ability over the duration of the MSc course. It is our aim to
place the majority of students into companies for the full duration of their projects - typically this
amounts to 80-90% of the total student body. The remainder undertake projects within Imperial
College.
Assessment: oral presentation + poster (30%) and written thesis (70%)
The time frame for setting up independent projects is as follows:
November: meeting with Course Co-ordinator to define the outline of project scope, set-up, timings.
December: Deadline for applications to internship schemes (BP, ExxonMobil, Shell: note that any
student wishing to be considered for an independent project with these companies must complete a
successful job and/or internship application).
Early January: students provide Course Administrator with CV, list of preferred topics.
Mid-March: Specific topic and general objectives defined.
End-May: Start project after the end of examinations. Students present brief (5 minute) outline of
project to staff panel.
End-August: Submission of written dissertation.
Mid-September: Examination of project via poster and oral presentation in front of academic staff and
invited Industry visitors.
Mid- to Late-September: corrections to thesis and submission of final corrected versions (no later
than 30th September)
More detailed instructions, including guidelines for report and oral presentation design, are given to
students at the appropriate time. In recent years many (over 80%) of students carry out their project
in the industry, normally in company offices, with academic co-supervision.
Please note that the course ends on the 30th September, when the final version of your thesis has
to be submitted. Please remain available during the last two weeks of September in order to
complete revisions and corrections to your thesis. All final thesis marks are predicated on
satisfactory completion of all revisions and corrections requested by the internal and external
examiners. This is important with regards booking return flights home, planning holidays and
agreeing employment start dates. Please remain available until 30th September.
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7. COURSE ASSESSMENT
The MSc and DIC Awards
The MSc of Imperial College London is awarded for passes obtained in formal examination and
coursework assessments and, separately, in a project report or dissertation.
The MSc award is an unclassified award, i.e. the result is “Pass” or “Fail”; however, a candidate may
be recommended for an award of “Merit” or “Distinction”. A “Distinction” award requires an overall
performance in examination results, in coursework, and in project work of a consistently very high
standard (normally requiring an overall mark of 70% and above in all components of the course). A
“Merit” award recognises an overall performance in examination results, in coursework, and in project
work of a consistently high standard that falls short of the “Distinction” category. A “Merit” award
normally requires an overall mark of 60% and above in all components of the course. It should be
noted that minimum passes in all subjects will not necessarily be regarded as an examination pass
for the MSc. An outstanding performance in one area cannot compensate for failure in the other. A
re-sit of one or more examinations is allowed only on the next occasion of the examinations, i.e. after
a lapse of one year.
The DIC award is an award of Imperial College. To receive the award of DIC, a candidate must have
achieved standards equivalent to a pass in MSc requirements. It is neither a 'consolation' award for a
marginal failure to achieve MSc standards, nor an award to candidates ineligible for MSc registration.
Any relevant topic is potentially examinable, whether presented by an internal member of staff, an
external lecturer, or by a research or other student.
Structure of Assessment
Assessment of the candidates is based on three separate considerations:
Examinations (50% of the final marks). At the beginning of Term 3, all candidates take five 3-hour
examinations on the subjects covered during the course.
Course Work (25% of the final marks). Certain assignments carried out during the year as course
work are assessed.
Independent Project (25% of the final marks). The independent project is assessed by written
dissertation, poster presentation and oral presentation.
Each of these three components must be passed. A candidate achieving an overall mark of 70% and
above in all three components of the course will be considered for the award of a Master of Science
Degree with Distinction.
A candidate who achieves over 70% in all three components of the course is awarded a Distinction;
between 60 and 70% a Merit; between 50 and 60% a Pass; and below 50%, a Fail. It should be noted
that minimum passes in all subjects will not necessarily be regarded as an examination pass for the
MSc. Candidates are notified of their performance and (if needed) any re-sits required.
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Examinations
Examinations include formal sittings together with coursework assessments which include the group
projects. Fuller details of the coursework assessments are given during the year.
Students take 5 written examination papers, each of 3 hours duration, in late April and early May:
Production Geoscience examines the following modules:
Petroleum Engineering (Section A, 1 question from choice of 2)
Development Geology (Section B, 2 questions from choice of 4)
Geostatistics; Characterisation of Fractured Reservoirs (Section C, 1 question from choice of 2)
Exploration Geoscience examines the following modules:
Seismic Interpretation of Sedimentary Basins (Section A, 1 compulsory practical question involving
interpretation of seismic line; Section B, 1 question from choice of 2)
Seismic Techniques (Section C, 1 question from choice of 2)
Petrophysics and Seismic Techniques examines the following modules:
Petrophysics (Section A, 1 compulsory practical question involving interpretation of wireline-log data;
Section B, 1 question from choice of 2)
Petroleum Structural Geology (Section C, 1 question from choice of 2)
Basin Analysis and Tectonics examines the following modules:
Basin Analysis (Section A, 2 questions from choice of 4)
Modelling of Petroleum Systems; Petroleum Geochemistry (Section B, 2 questions from choice of 4)
Applied Sedimentology examines the following modules:
Applied Sedimentology (Section A, 1 compulsory practical question involving interpretation of a welllog and/or seismic dataset; Section B, 2 questions from choice of 4)
All papers are double marked and available for inspection by the external examiners. Individual staff
examiners mark initially to their own scheme but the marks are reported to the MSc course
Administrator. The Administrator then collates all the marks. The marks are then totaled according to
the current weighting scheme. These 'averaged' marks determine the ranking of the student. It is
these marks that are reported to the University and given to the candidates.
Those that fail one or two papers maximum, but have an average of 50% or above at the exams, will,
after discussion at the examiners' meeting, be considered to pass the exams – subject to the
discretion of the examiners, who may request an oral exam and/or further written work. Those that fail
the oral, or have failed two or more papers and have an average of less than 50% at the exams will
have their degree deferred until they re-sit the failed papers the following year. If they then pass, they
will be placed in the examination pass list for that year. It should be noted that minimum passes in all
subjects do not necessarily constitute an examination pass for the MSc.
The examination papers are closed book examinations. Essential mathematical formulae that are
difficult to remember or correlation graphs are provided where appropriate.
Coursework
These are marked and part of the MSc assessment. Their purpose is to give students a guide to their
own progress, especially for those who have returned to study after a period in industry and for our
overseas students to familiarise themselves with our assessment procedures.
Full details of the coursework assessments are given during the year.
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Independent project
The independent projects are assessed by a dissertation, a poster and a presentation of 15-20
minutes (plus 5-10 minutes for questions) to the examiners and representatives for the oil industry.
The reports are marked by two examiners. Students must achieve a pass mark of 50% in the
independent project in order to pass the MSc course. At the discretion of the Board of Examiners,
projects with marks between 45 and 50% may be revised and resubmitted within one month of the
end of the MSc course. Students with project marks below 45% will have their degree deferred until
they undertake a new project the following year. If they then pass this new project, they will be placed
in the examination pass list for that year.
Examiners’ Board Meetings
Two Examiners' Board meetings are held; a preliminary meeting in the middle of June to consider the
examination and coursework performance, and a final meeting in September to consider the overall
results.
Criteria for the Award of MSc Petroleum Geoscience Degree Results
Distinction: to be awarded where a candidate has achieved an aggregate mark of 70 per cent or
greater across the programme as a whole, including a mark of 70 per cent or greater in each of the
three elements of the course (i.e. coursework, examinations and independent project).
Merit: to be awarded where a candidate has achieved an aggregate mark of 60 per cent or greater
across the programme as a whole including a mark of 60 per cent or greater in each of the three
elements of the course (i.e. coursework, examinations and independent project).
Pass: to be awarded where a candidate has achieved an aggregate mark of 50 per cent or greater
across the programme as a whole.
Fail: results when a candidate has achieved an aggregate mark of less than 50 per cent or across
the programme as a whole, and/or has failed to pass each of the three elements of the course.
All candidates must pass at least three of the five examinations papers.
Recommendations for final degree results are at the discretion of the Examinations’ Board.
Prizes
The following prizes are awarded at the end of the course:
The Journal of Petroleum Geology Prize: awarded to the student achieving the highest overall
performance.
The Energy Institute Prize: awarded to the student achieving the highest mark in the coursework
element of the curriculum.
The BP Prize: awarded to the student achieving the highest mark in the individual project element of
the course.
The London Petrophysical Society Prize: awarded to the student who has completed an
outstanding dissertation with a significant petrophysical component.
The Fieldwork Prize: awarded to the student with the best fieldwork report.
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Cheating Offences Policy & Procedures
“The action or practice of plagiarising: the wrongful appropriation or purloining and publication as
one’s own, of ideas, or the expression of ideas, of another.” (Simpson & Weiner 1989)
It is a tenet of scholarship that one does not plagiarise. In a university, the definition quoted above
needs some qualification: “publication” is taken to mean all forms of presentation including project
reports, dissertations, theses etc. An “idea” will include observation of facts, opinions, conclusions
etc. Adherence to a few simple rules will avoid plagiarism.
If, in a piece of work, you wish to include an idea, which was first pronounced by someone else, then
there are two choices.
Rewrite the idea in your own words and follow it by a short reference to a bibliography
(or list of references).
Quote the original words within quotation marks and follow it by a reference.
Illustrations can cause problems.
If you redraw a diagram etc, which is substantially the same as that published
by someone else then it should be referenced as “after Bloggs 1995”.
If you include a photocopy of an illustration, it must be referenced “ from Bloggs 1995”.
In both cases the full reference must be included in the bibliography
(or List of References).
If you wish to include an idea from a colleague in your report then you should reference it as,
for example “Jones, personal communication 1995”.
Downloading from the web without acknowledgement is an instance of plagiarism.
The University of London regards plagiarism as an ‘examination offence’ and has strict procedures
for dealing with it. All suspected cases will be reported to the College Registry. Minor cases may be
referred to the Board of Examiners for consideration. All other cases will be referred to the University
and may be heard by a panel of senior members of staff from outside the College.
The penalties for plagiarism, and allowing plagiarisation of your own work, can include:
-
reduced or zero marks for that piece of work or for the whole course module.
a re-submission of the work after a specified time (typically two years) in the
case of projects and dissertations.
exclusions from future examinations of the University.
Degrees already awarded may be withdrawn.
Cheating Offences Policy and Procedures
https://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/registry/Public/Procedures%20and%20Regulations/Regulations/Exa
m%20Regulations%202010-11/Cheating%20Offences%20Policy%20and%20Procedures.pdf
APPENDIX I: Policy on Scientific Misconduct
The College considers any allegation of scientific misconduct to be a matter of great concern and will
investigate any such allegation fully. Given its international reputation and status, the College has a
responsibility to the scientific community and to the public at large and therefore, where appropriate,
will make public the outcome of any such investigation.
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Definitions
The College has adopted the Royal College of Physicians’ definitions of scientific misconduct as
including piracy, plagiarism and fraud. The following definitions give indicative descriptions of the
types of activity covered by this regulation. These descriptions are neither exclusive nor exhaustive:
a. Piracy is the deliberate exploitation of ideas and concepts from others without
acknowledgement.
b. Plagiarism is the copying of ideas, data or text (or a combination of these) without permission
or acknowledgement.
c. Fraud involves deception—usually, but not exclusively, the invention of data. This could also
include the omission from analysis and publication of inconvenient components of a data set.
Other types of scientific misconduct may be separately defined, but the College views them as
combinations or sub-types of those defined above. In addition to scientific misconduct, these
procedures will also apply to cases of scientific negligence.
Procedures for the Investigation of Allegations of Scientific Misconduct
See https://www.imperial.ac.uk/publications/research/app_III.htm
STATEMENT ON PLAGIARISM
You are reminded that all work submitted as part of the requirements for any examination (including
coursework) of Imperial College and the University of London must be expressed in your own words
and incorporate your own ideas and judgements.
Plagiarism, that is, the presentation of another person’s thoughts or words as though they were your
own, must be avoided, with particular care in coursework, essays and reports written in your own
time. Note that you are encouraged to read and criticise the work of others as much as possible. You
are expected to incorporate this in your thinking and in your coursework and assessments. But you
must acknowledge and label your sources.
Direct quotations from the published or unpublished work of others, from the internet, or from any
other source must always be clearly identified as such. A full reference to their source must be
provided in the proper form and quotation marks used. Remember that a series of short quotations
from several different sources, if not clearly identified as such, constitutes plagiarism just as much as
a single unacknowledged long quotation from a single source. Equally, if you summarise another
person’s ideas or judgements, figures, diagrams or software, you must refer to that person in your
text, and include the work referred to in your bibliography. Departments are able to give advice about
the appropriate use and correct acknowledgement of other sources in your own work.
The direct and unacknowledged repetition of your own work which has already been submitted for
assessment can constitute self-plagiarism. Where group work is submitted, this should be presented
in a way approved by your department. You should therefore consult your tutor or course director if
you are in any doubt about what is permissible. You should be aware that you have a collective
responsibility for the integrity of group work submitted for assessment.
The use of the work of another student, past or present, constitutes plagiarism. Where work is used
without the consent of that student, this will normally be regarded as a major offence of plagiarism.
Failure to observe these rules may result in an allegation of cheating. Cases of suspected plagiarism
will be dealt with under the College’s Examination Offences Policy and may result in a penalty being
taken against any student found guilty of plagiarism.
Cheating Offences Policy and Procedures
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/exams/examoffences
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Plagiarism advice for postgraduate taught course (Master's) students
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/library/subjectsandsupport/plagiarism/pgtaught
TurnitinUK Plagiarism Detection Service at Imperial College
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/ict/services/teachingandresearchservices/elearning/plagiarism
Petroleum Geoscience:
Basic Textbooks for MSc Course at Imperial College
1. Allen, P.A. & Allen, J.R. (2005). Basin Analysis: Principles and Applications. Wiley-Blackwell, 2nd
Edition, 560 pp.
2. Asquith, G. and Krygowski, D. (2006). Basic Well Log Analysis. AAPG Methods in Exploration No.
16, 2nd Edition, 244 pp.
3. Bacon, M., Simm, R. and Redshaw, T. (2003). 3-D Seismic interpretation. Cambridge University
Press, 222 pp.
4. Brooks, J. & Fleet, A.J (1987). Marine Petroleum Source Rocks. Geological Society of London
Special Publications, No. 26.
5. Brown, A.R. (2005). Interpretation of 3D Seismic Data. AAPG Memoir, No. 42, 6th Edition, 541 pp.
6. Catuneanu, O, (2006). Principles of Sequence Stratigraphy. Elsevier Science, 386 pp.
7. Dake, L.P. (1992). Fundamentals of Reservoir Engineering. Elsevier Science, 2nd Edition, 613 pp.
8. Gluyas, J. and Swarbrick, R. (2004). Petroleum Geoscience. Blackwell Science Ltd., 359 pp.
9. Hantschel, T. and Kauerauf, A.I. (2009). Fundamentals of Basin and Petroleum Systems
Modelling. Springer, 476 pp.
10. Hart, B.S. (2000). 3-D seismic interpretation: a primer for geologists. SEPM (Society for
Sedimentary Geology).
11. Huffman, A.R. & Bowers, G.L. (2002). Pressure Regimes in Sedimentary Basins and their
Prediction. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 76.
12. Magoon, L.B. and Dow, W.G. (1994). The Petroleum System: From Source to Trap. AAPG
Memoir, 644 pp.
13. Morton-Thompson, D. and Woods, A.M. (1992). Development Geology Reference Manual. AAPG
Methods in Exploration Series, No. 10, 550 pp.
14. Payton, C.E. (1977). Seismic stratigraphy-applications to the exploration of sedimentary basins.
AAPG Memoir, 26, 516p.
15. Reading, H.G. (1996). Sedimentary Environments: Processes, Facies and Stratigraphy. WileyBlackwell, 3rd Edition, 704 pp.
16. Selley, R.C. (1998). Elements of Petroleum Geology. Academic Press Ltd., 470 pp.
17. Shepherd, M. (2009). Oil Field Production Geology. AAPG Memoir, No. 91. 350 pp.
18. Tearpock, D.J. and Bishcke, R.E. (2002). Applied Subsurface Geological Mapping with Structural
Methods. Prentice Hall, 2nd Edition, 864 pp.
19. Moore, C. H. (2004). Carbonate reservoirs: porosity evolution and diagenesis in a sequence
stratigraphic framework. Development in Sedimentology 55, Elsevier, 444 pp.
20. Killops S. and Killops V. (2005). Introduction to Organic Geochemistry. Blackwell Publishing, 2nd
Edition, 393 pp. ISBN 0 632 06504 4.
21. Fossen, H. (2010). Structural Geology. Cambridge University Press (ISBN-13:9780521516648).
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