2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE2511 Basin Evolution and Geo-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 2020/21

Pre-requisites

SOEE1600

Geology for Petroleum Engineers

This module is mutually exclusive with

SOEE2601

Sedimentary Basins and their Geo-Resources

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 and geothermal energy, as well as repositories for the underground storage of hydrogen, nuclear waste and sequestered carbon dioxide.

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. The module also explains how sedimentary basins can act as sources for geothermal energy, and as repositories for the underground storage of hydrogen, nuclear waste and sequestered carbon dioxide.

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;
9) outline the main types of stratigraphic and structural traps for hydrocarbons;
10) explain how sedimentary basins can act as sources for geothermal energy, and as repositories for the underground storage of hydrogen, nuclear waste and sequestered carbon dioxide.

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 charge system
8) reservoir, topseal and trap
9) quantifying risk in subsurface exploration
10) petroleum geology of the North Sea.
11) sedimentary basins as sources for geothermal energy, and as repositories for the underground storage of hydrogen, nuclear waste and sequestered carbon dioxide.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	14	1.00	14.00
Practical	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			66.00
Total Contact hours			34.00
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

Week-by-week feedback to be given on progress in completion of workbook exercises for assessments 1 and 2. Formative assessment of progress will be via online consideration of answers to weekly exercises, else can alternatively be via in-person feedback.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Practical	Basin Analysis Workbook	40.00
Practical	Subsurface Resources Workbook	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The resit will be in the form of a single integrated essay on the topic of "basin analysis and subsurface geo-resources". Essay title and suggested reading to be issued at time when need for a resit becomes apparent.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 10/08/2020 08:46:33

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