2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE3500 Basin Dynamics and Petroleum Systems

10 creditsClass Size: 70

Module manager: Dr Richard Collier
Email: r.e.l.collier@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisites

SOEE2510

Basin Evolution & HC Resources

This module is mutually exclusive with

SOEE5650M

Petroleum Systems Case Studies

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1) Understand the origins and maturation of petroleum in the context of the geodynamic evolution, and the burial and thermal histories of sedimentary basins.
2) Appreciate the differing structural, magmatic and heat flow characteristics of continental margins, as exemplified around the Atlantic's continental margins.
3) Recognize how contrasting reservoir styles and hydrocarbon trap opportunities relate to the nature and evolution of the continental margin.
4) Work effectively in a team environment to address petroleum exploration objectives within a quasi-commercial and competitive project to develop a drilling proposal.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module, students should have gained:
1) Awareness of how the interaction of tectonic, burial and thermal histories in sedimentary basins determines the potential for hydrocarbon development and economic entrapment on continental margins.
2) Exposure to a variety of Atlantic margin petroleum system case studies.
3) Study of these topics should be supported by advanced text books and by familiarity with key papers from the recent research literature, giving the opportunity to develop and sustain arguments based upon multiple sources of information.
4) Enhanced skills in communicating ideas, models and solutions to problems; team-working, data synthesis and the succinct oral and written presentation of complex geological arguments. This will include the opportunity to develop team-working skills in a competitive business game environment.

Syllabus

Lecture topics:
- Geodynamics of continental rifting and break-up
- Volcanic margins; case studies from the Faeroe-Shetland and Norwegian-Greenland margins
- Non-volcanic margins; case studies from the Galicia Bank (Iberian margin) and South Atlantic
- Case study from the Orange Basin, South Africa
- Petroleum systems of passive continental margins; case studies from the West African margin
- Petroleum Systems of passive continental margins; case studies from the Brazilian margin
- Burial and thermal histories of the South Atlantic margins

Team practical:
Oil exploration in a failed rift; developing a drilling proposal targeting structural plays

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	8	1.00	8.00
Practical	2	2.00	4.00
Practical	2	3.00	6.00
Private study hours			82.00
Total Contact hours			18.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Teamwork in support of team practical: 6 hours;
Private study in support of lectures: 56 hours;
Revision: 20 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Informal feedback through in-course practicals.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Practical	1 x 6 hour individually-mediated, team practical	33.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		33.00

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	67.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		67.00

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: 06/10/2016

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