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2019/20 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE5142M Geophysical and Geological Field Methods and Geological Interpretation

15 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: Dr Roger Clark
Email: r.a.clark@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

Pre-requisite qualifications

Course entrance pre-requisite

Module replaces

SOEE5141M and combines (1) the field components of SOEE5141M and SOEE5145M, (2) the near surface seismic component of SOEE5141M, the geology and geology field component of SOEE5154M, and the semester 1 structure of basins components of SOEE5131M

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

In this module students will learn near-surface geophysical and geological field survey techniques, summary of applied geophysical measurement techniques, and how to interpret geophysical and structural sections for petroleum crustal basin analysis.

Objectives

Introductory Geology: demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge in basic geology and geological principles, with emphasis on sediments;

Geological Interpretation of Basin Structure: show a basic understanding of stress in the Earth's crust, rock failure and types of fracture, faulting styles, extensional, strike-slip and compressional tectonics and basins, salt tectonics, fluid flow in rocks and the impact of fractures as conduits and barriers to flow

Applied Geophysical Methods: provide an overview of the theory, principles, and practice of geophysics as applied to near-surface engineering and environmental targets, provide field experience in geophysical techniques and surveys, with emphasis on shallow seismic methods.

Geological Field Methods: provide field experience in geological mapping techniques.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to: provide an overview of the theory, principles and practice of near surface seismic methods; have a basic understanding of principles of gravity, magnetic, EM, GPR and resistivity methods; make a qualitative and quantitative interpretation of any seismic data encountered in near-surface applied geophysics to a credible professional standard; report and document near-surface geophysical surveys at a credible professional standard; perform and integrate field geological observations into a reserve calculation and understand the value and shortcomings of geological techniques in hydrocarbon prospectivity; interpret structural geology to aid interpretation of geophysical data; and have the skill to conduct field acquisition of structural and geophysical data. The learning outcomes will be assessed using practicals, independent field reports and unseen exam.

Syllabus

Introductory Geology: fundamental geology skills (geological cycle, stratigraphy, earth structure, maps and structure, sediments and sedimentary environments, geological field trip).

Geological Interpretation of Basin Structure: overview of plate tectonics, stress in the lithosphere, tensile and shear fracture, faulting styles, extensional basins and associated basins - rifting, models of passive rifting, passive margins, compressional tectonics and associated basins - orogenic belts and foreland basins, models of lithopsheric flexure, sedimentation patterns, strike-slip tectonics and associated basins, salt tectonics, salt properties and associated structures, fluid flow in fractured rocks, from data to reservoir scale modelling - numerical flow modelling and up-scaling



Applied Geophysical Methods: shallow seismic methods: seismic refraction travel-time distance relationships and interpretation algorithms such as planar- and undulating boundary cases, hidden layers, and velocity gradients; refraction tomography; the MASW and related surface-wave methods. Survey design strategies. Field Methods: overview of EM, GPR, resistivity, gravity and magnetics surveying principles; acquisition, processing and interpretation of geophysical data on a fieldwork campaign.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Fieldwork	6	8.00	48.00
Lecture	4	3.00	12.00
Lecture	11	2.00	22.00
Practical	2	3.00	6.00
Practical	4	2.00	8.00
Private study hours			54.00
Total Contact hours			96.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Completion of practicals and assessments, field exercises and reports, literature search, reading text books, and revision for examination.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Assessment and feedback during practicals.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	N Wales Project Report 2,500 Words	30.00
Report	Yorkshire Project Report	10.00
Practical	Basin Practical	10.00
Practical	Seismic Practical	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		60.00

Re-sit is by examination only (see below).

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	1 hr 30 mins	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		40.00

A student who fails this Module may be offered a resit. The resit mark provides a new alternative mark for the whole Module. The re-sit for this module will be a single unseen examination, of duration 2 hours, covering all three subject areas within the syllabus (Introductory Geology, Geological Interpretation of Basin Structure, and Shallow Seismic Methods).

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/06/2021 16:25:49

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