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MSc Petroleum Exploration

Year 2

Learning outcomes

On completion of the programme students should have shown evidence of being able:
• to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the fundamental controls on sedimentary basin evolution
• to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of recent scientific advances in sedimentary basin evolution and their application to industry
• to exhibit an advanced level of understanding of the interaction of complex geo-processes in hydrocarbon exploration;
• to exhibit competence in the integration of individual dynamic geological process into a fundamental understanding of exploration risk.
• to take a proactive and self-reflective role in working and to develop professional relationships with others;
• proactively to formulate ideas and hypotheses and to evaluate these;
• to evaluate current issues and research in the discipline;
• to demonstrate an advanced understanding of techniques applicable to their own research, advanced scholarship or area of specific interest within the broader discipline;
• to develop a broad range of knowledge in order to allow professional practice in subsurface structural geology, in either an academic or industrial context
• to be trained in relevant field and desk-based techniques for the practice of structural geology and geophysics
• to gain an in-depth knowledge of seismic and structural methods
• to exhibit competence in the skills in petroleum characterisation;*
• to demonstrate an understanding of the petroleum system modelling and its application to exploration*
• to demonstrate the skills required to undertake numerical simulation;*
• to demonstrate practical knowledge in geodata management and visualisation;*
• to execute successfully all stages of a Petroleum Exploration focussed research dissertation**

* outcomes are not required for MSc Structural Geology with Geophysics (Leeds only Award)
** outcomes are different from MSc Structural Geology with Geophysics

Transferable (key) skills

Masters (Taught), Postgraduate Diploma & Postgraduate Certificate students will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities as defined in the modules specified for the programme:
• the skills necessary to undertake a higher research degree and/or for employment in a higher capacity in industry or area of professional practice;
• evaluating their own achievement and that of others;
• self direction and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations;
• independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development;
• critically to engage in the development of professional/disciplinary boundaries and norms.

Full details are contained within the module skills matrix.

Technical Skills
An essential element of the Master’s programme is the development of a deep understanding of the theory that underlies petroleum system exploration and production. It is equally important that students are well acquainted with the technical skills that are required to implement the theory into professional practice. Through the programme technical skills are developed by integrating data with industry standard software techniques, which includes:
• “Petrel” for geocellular model building and fault analysis
• “Petrel” for 3D seismic interpretation
• SMT Kingdom Suite for 2D and 3D seismic interpretation
• “Traptester” for fault seal analysis
• “Move” suite for restoration and section validation
• “Petromod” for hydrocarbon generation and migration modelling
• “Flex and Stretch” for lithospheric scale modelling and heat flow analysis.

Assessment

Achievement for the degree of Master (taught programme) will be assessed by a variety of methods in accordance with the learning outcomes of the modules specified for the year/programme and will involve the achievement of the students in:
• evidencing an ability to conduct independent in-depth enquiry within the discipline;
• demonstrating the ability to apply breadth and/or depth of knowledge to a complex specialist area;
• drawing on a range of perspectives on an area of study;
• evaluating and criticising received opinion;
• make reasoned judgements whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data.

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