2015/16 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE5142M Geophysical and Geological Field Methods and Geological Interpretation

15 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Dr Roger Clark
Email: r.a.clark@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

Pre-requisite qualifications

Course entrance pre-requisite

Module replaces

SOEE5141 and combines (1) the field components of SOEE5141 and SOEE5145, (2) the near surface seismic component of SOEE5141, the geology and geology field component of SOEE5154, and the semester 1 structure of basins components of SOEE5131

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

In this module students will learn geophysical, near-surface seismic and geological field survey techniques, summary of applied geophysical measurement techniques, and how to interpret geophysical and structural sections for petroleum crustal basin analysis.

Objectives

Introductory Geology: demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge in basic geology and geological principles, with emphasis on sediments;

Geological Interpretation of Basin Structure: show a basic understanding of stress in the Earth's crust, rock failure and types of fracture, faulting styles, extensional, strike-slip and compressional tectonics and basins, salt tectonics, fluid flow in rocks and the impact of fractures as conduits and barriers to flow

Applied Geophysical Methods: provide an overview of the theory, principles, and practice of geophysics as applied to near-surface engineering and environmental targets, provide field experience in geophysical techniques and surveys, with emphasis on shallow seismic methods.

Geological Field Methods: provide field experience in geological mapping techniques.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to: provide an overview of the theory, principles and practice of near surface seismic methods; have a basic understanding of principles of gravity, magnetic, EM, GPR and resistivity methods; make a qualitative and quantitative interpretation of any seismic refraction or electrical/EM, gravity and magnetic data encountered in near-surface applied geophysics to a credible professional standard; report and document near-surface geophysical surveys at a credible professional standard; perform and integrate field geological observations into a reserve calculation and understand the value and shortcomings of geological techniques in hydrocarbon prospectivity; interpret structural geology to aid interpretation of geophysical data; and have the skill to conduct field acquisition of structural and geophysical data. The learning outcomes will be assessed using practicals, independent field reports and unseen exam.

Syllabus

Introductory Geology: fundamental geology skills (geological cycle, stratigraphy, earth structure, maps and structure, sediments and sedimentary environments, geological field trip).

Geological Interpretation of Basin Structure: overview of plate tectonics, stress in the lithosphere, tensile and shear fracture, faulting styles, extensional basins and associated basins - rifting, models of passive rifting, passive margins, compressional tectonics and associated basins - orogenic belts and foreland basins, models of lithopsheric flexure, sedimentation patterns, strike-slip tectonics and associated basins, salt tectonics, salt properties and associated structures, fluid flow in fractured rocks, from data to reservoir scale modelling - numerical flow modelling and up-scaling

Applied Geophysical Methods: seismic refraction travel-time distance relationships; refraction interpretation algorithms for plane-layer and undulating boundary cases; special plane-layer cases (hidden layers, velocity gradients); refraction tomography and 3D surveys as applied to static corrections; the MASW method, EM, GPR and resistivity, with emphasis on shallow seismic methods.

Field Methods: acquisition, processing and interpretation of geophysical data on a fieldwork campaign.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Fieldwork	6	8.00	48.00
Lecture	4	3.00	12.00
Lecture	11	2.00	22.00
Practical	2	3.00	6.00
Practical	4	2.00	8.00
Private study hours			54.00
Total Contact hours			96.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Completion of practicals and assessments, field exercises and reports, literature search, reading text books, and revision for examination.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Assessment and feedback during practicals.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	N Wales Project Report 2,000 Words	20.00
Report	Yorkshire Project Report	10.00
Practical	Basin Practical	10.00
Practical	Seismic Practical	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 22/05/2015

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