Undergraduate Course: Geophysical Investigation of Earth Resources (EASC10116)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course focuses on geophysical methods that are used for investigating the subsurface of the earth for resources such as minerals, water and hydrocarbons, and for observing fluids or gases injected into the subsurface for storage such as CO2 or methane. Physical properties of the resources that contrast with the background properties determine the particular geophysical method that should be used to detect and evaluate them. |
| Course description |
The emphasis of the course is on high resolution extraction of physical properties from geophysical data.
Syllabus:
Introduction to geophysical exploration for resources
Determination of seismic velocities
Revision of linear algebra
Survey design methods
Removal of multiple reflections in seismic data processing
Geophysical time lapse methods
Anisotropy in the Earth
Seismic interferometry
Zoeppritz equations
Principles of seismic reflection interpretation and well ties
Microseismics
Controlled source electromagnetic methods (CSEM)
Airborne magnetic exploration
The course includes practicals on seismic data processing using SEG-Y seismic data and seismic-industry software.
5 practicals (3 hours each) and 5 tutorials (3 hours each) are held on alternate weeks.
Students complete the practical work in their own time and are required to write a report on the data processing of not more than 4,000 words.
Semester 1
Week Lecture Topic
1 Introduction to geophysical exploration for resources (MC).
2 NO LECTURES: 4th YEAR GEOPHYSICS FIELD WORK
3 Determination of seismic velocities (AZ)
4 Review of linear algebra (AC)
5 Survey design methods (AC)
6 Removal of multiple reflections in seismic data processing (MC)
7 Geophysical time-lapse methods (AC)
8 Anisotropy in the earth (MC)
9 Seismic interferometry (AC)
10 Zoeppritz equations (MC)
11 Revision
Semester 2
Week Lecture Topic
1 Principles of seismic reflection interpretation and well-ties (AZ)
2 Microseismics (MC)
3. Controlled source electromagnetics for subsurface fluid detection (AZ)
4. Airborne magnetic exploration (AZ)
5. Revision
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Approval of CO |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 15,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 5,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Revision Session Hours 6,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
137 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
70 %,
Coursework
30 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment details
Exam (70%)
Coursework (30%)
The coursework consists of seismic data processing. In Semester 1 students learn to use the seismic data processing on a test data set. Semester 1 work is not assessed. In Semester 2, the students process a different set of seismic data and write a report on it of not more than 4,000 words. The report is assessed and counts for 30%.
For information on deadlines please refer to the Learn page.
Assessment deadline
The deadline for submission of the Seismic Data Processing Report is 12 noon, Monday 4 April 2022.
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| Feedback |
Work will be set in tutorials and feedback will be given on that work in subsequent tutorials. This work will not be formally assessed, but is given to help students appreciate the subject and find out how they are doing. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 3:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the fit of geophysical methods to objectives concerning earth resources.
- Process seismic data using seismic-industry software.
- Write a seismic processing report.
- Read, understand and use professional literature.
- Appreciate the need for complementary techniques, including CSEM and microseismics.
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Reading List
Young, R.A, 2004, A lab manual of seismic reflection processing: EAGE Publications b.v, Houten, The Netherlands
Luk Ikelle and Lasse Amundsen, "Introduction to Petroleum Seismology", 2005, Society of Exploration Geophysicists |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1) Ability to process seismic data using seismic-industry software
2) Ability to write a seismic processing report
3) Ability to read, understand and use professional literature. |
| Keywords | Earth resources,geophysics |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Anton Ziolkowski
Tel: (0131 6)50 8511
Email: anton.ziolkowski@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Katerina Sykioti
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: Katerina.Sykioti@ed.ac.uk |
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