2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE2510 Basin Evolution and Hydrocarbon Resources

10 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Dr Nigel Mountney
Email: n.p.mountney@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

Pre-requisites

SOEE1570	Geology 1
SOEE1580	Geology 2
SOEE1600	Geology for Petroleum Engineers

This module is mutually exclusive with

SOEE2075	Basin Evolution
SOEE2085	Hydrocarbon & Mineral Resource

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module introduces the techniques required for the study of sedimentary basin development and explains how such basins act as major sources for hydrocarbon reserves.

Objectives

The objectives of this module are to provide an introduction to the mechanisms which lead to the formation of sedimentary basins, to demonstrate the controls on the geometry of basins and their stratigraphic fills and to establish how hydrocarbon reserves stored within sedimentary basins originate, accumulate and are trapped in the subsurface.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1) Interpret and describe the mode of origin of a range of sedimentary basins;
2) characterize the structural style of sedimentary basins, including from seismic data;
3) recognize, explain and predict lateral variations of sedimentary facies in a variety of basin settings;
4) develop models of external controls (e.g. sea level change through time) on depositional and seismic architectures;
5) derive tectonic subsidence/uplift histories from the history of base-level change and burial represented in the stratigraphic record;
6) assess the criteria required for the development of thermally mature hydrocarbon source rocks;
7) demonstrate the migration of petroleum fluids through carrier beds and into reservoirs;
8) appreciate how reservoir and seal rocks are juxtaposed; and
9) outline the main types of stratigraphic and structural traps for hydrocarbons.

Syllabus

1) Origin of sedimentary basins
2) structural styles of basins and their expression in seismic data
3) lateral variations of sedimentary facies in differing basin settings
4) models of external controls on depositional and seismic architectures; an introduction to sequence stratigraphy
5) burial histories and the derivation of tectonic subsidence/uplift histories from stratigraphic data
6) an overview of the petroleum play system
7) the petroleum charge system
8) reservoir, topseal and trap
9) quantifying risk in hydrocarbon exploration
10) petroleum geology of the North Sea.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Class tests, exams and assessment	2	2.00	4.00
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Practical	1	20.00	20.00
Practical	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			46.00
Total Contact hours			54.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Students are expected to undertake approximately 3 hours of independent study and additional reading as an accompaniment to each lecture in the course, plus 16 hours revision for the end-of-module exam.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress within the module will be monitored within practical classes through in-class group and one-to-one discussions.

Further it will be assessed through marking of the in-class assessed exercise and the workbook-based practical exercise.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
In-course Assessment	Basin Evolution Exercise	40.00
Practical	Workbook Assessment (Hydrocarbon Resources Exercise)	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

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: 03/07/2018

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