2017/18 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE5650M Petroleum Systems Case Studies

15 creditsClass Size: 20

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-requisite qualifications

(SOEE2075 + SOEE2085) OR SOEE2510

This module is mutually exclusive with

SOEE3500

Basin Dynamics & Petroleum Sys

This module is not approved as an Elective

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.
5) Produce a consultancy-style report with a management summary, based upon a petroleum field case study.

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 the integration of information from the recent research literature. This is expected to provide the opportunity for demonstrating originality in developing or applying ideas.
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, to demonstrate problem-solving abilities in an unfamiliar environment and multidisciplinary context, and to handle complexity and formulate judgements with incomplete data.
5) Enhanced research and presentation skills as for consultancy-style management reports. This should demonstrate the ability to communication knowledge and rationale to both specialist and non-specialist, managerial audiences.

Skills outcomes
Students will have the opportunity to develop team-working skills in a competitive business game environment, and to further develop research and presentation skills through a consultancy-style project.

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

Hydrocarbon field case study report:
An independent literature-based study to be carried out and presented in the style of a consultancy-style business report.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Team Work	1	6.00	6.00
Lecture	8	1.00	8.00
Practical	2	2.00	4.00
Private study hours			132.00
Total Contact hours			18.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Private study in support of lectures: 56 hours
Teamwork in support of team practical: 6 hours
Revision for written exam: 20 hours
Research and preparation for consultancy case study report: 50 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Informal feedback through in-course practicals

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1,500 word consultant's case study report	25.00
Practical	1 x 6 hour individually mediated team practical over two weeks	25.00
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	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: 10/03/2017

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