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2019/20 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

CAPE5620M Unconventional Oil and Gas Reservoirs

15 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr A Hassanpour
Email: a.hassanpour

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

At the end of the module, students should:
- be familiar with fundamental characteristics of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs;
- have a broad understanding of the key characteristics which make unconventional reservoirs economically viable;
- understand the distribution of hydrocarbons within unconventional reservoirs (i.e. absorbed vs free hydrocarbons);
- be familiar with hydrocarbon recovery mechanisms, with an advanced knowledge of the hydraulic fracture treatment and thermal enhanced oil recovery methods;
- have gained an understanding of production strategies in unconventional reservoirs;
- be able to integrate different types of properties/data to characterise unconventional petroleum reservoirs;
- be familiar with geomechanical concepts in unconventional reservoirs and with applications of these in real scenarios;
- have acquired an understanding of petrophysical characteristics in these reservoirs;
- have gained a critical awareness of the parameters and properties in the most common unconventional reservoirs: tight gas/oil, shale gas/oil, coalbed methane, heavy oil reservoirs;
- be familiar with basic economical aspects for unconventional reservoirs and major environmental issues in such reservoirs;
- have developed their research capability in selected topics.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module, students should:
- understand the fundamental characteristics of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs as well as the differences between these types of reservoirs and conventional reservoirs;
- have knowledge of where hydrocarbons are stored within different unconventional reservoirs;
- have gained knowledge on hydrocarbon recovery mechanisms and production in unconventional reservoirs; be able to apply methods for production forecasting in practical exercises;
- understand geomechanics concepts in unconventional reservoirs;
- be able to describe the petrophysical characteristics of unconventional reservoirs;
- be familiar with hydraulic fracture treatment and thermal enhanced oil recovery methods;
- be able to describe the fundamental properties and production strategies in the most common unconventional reservoirs: tight gas/oil; shale gas/oil; coalbed methane; heavy oil reservoirs;
- understand the basics of economics of unconventional reservoirs, the characteristics of what makes such reservoirs economically viable and major environmental aspects in such reservoirs;
- be able to calculate the likely production rates from unconventional reservoirs.


Syllabus

- Unconventional reservoirs - overview and types. Reserves estimation in unconventional reservoirs.
- Unconventional hydrocarbon recovery mechanisms. Production in unconventional reservoirs; methods for production forecasting.
- Geomechanics of unconventional reservoirs.
- Petrophysical characteristics of unconventional reservoirs. Reservoir characterisation.
- Hydraulic fracture treatment and optimisation.
- Thermal enhanced oil recovery methods.
- Tight gas and oil reservoirs.
- Shale gas and oil reservoirs.
- Coalbed methane.
- Heavy oil reservoirs.
- Economics of unconventional reservoirs. Environmental aspects.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Class tests, exams and assessment12.002.00
Group learning44.0016.00
Lecture112.0022.00
Tutorial111.0011.00
Private study hours99.00
Total Contact hours51.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)150.00

Private study

- Directed reading of recommended text books/scientific papers. Students will have the opportunity to use OnePetro, the SPE online library, as part of their private study and independent learning.
- Compilation and submission of coursework.
- Revision for written examination.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Monitoring of student progress will be ensured via assessed coursework and report.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
PracticalAssessed coursework20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)20.00

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


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)2 hr 80.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)80.00

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: 05/11/2019 08:50:03

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