THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Postgraduate Course: Hydrocarbon Reservoir Quality (EASC11002)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe main focus will be on cementation and dissolution effects at the pore scale, with integration of geological setting, basin modelling, geochemical measurements and petrological measurements. Topics include Sandstones and Carbonates.
Course description This course examines the science underpinning porosity and permeability in sandstone and carbonate reservoirs. This is particularly relevant for hydrocarbon exploration and production, has importance for CO2 storage sites and can also help understand deep aquifers. The mineralogy and physical arrangement of sedimentary grains is changed during burial by compaction, geochemical reactions, and fluid flow. That has a systematic impact on spaces between the grains - porosity holding fluids, and permeability enabling flow of fluids. Course themes are divided into Sandstones and Carbonates. Each theme progresses from depositional and shallow burial effects, to processes during deeper burial. Shallow burial (dis)similarities will be explained as will deep burial contrasts and similarities between sandstones and carbonates..
The focus will be on several scales. Firstly the basin setting and gross depositional and basin architecture. Second the reservoir scale depositional (in)homogeneities. Thirdly, the cementation and dissolution effects at the pore scale, with integration of geological setting, basin modelling, geochemical measurements and petrological measurements. This will help understand how to predict good, or poor, quality porosity and permeability within a basin. Delivery will be through a series of four lecture days, shared with BSc and MSc classes from Edinburgh. There is also a whole-day excursion to the core store archive of North Sea reservoir rocks, hed at BGS in Riccarton west Edinburgh. Students will be expected to travel there and back by bus or their own method for one Monday at the end of the course, 13 Feb or 20 Feb to be decided. Formative assessment is by class dialogue and interaction, with some self-paced Q and A on LEARN. Formal assessment is via witten essay and exam. Although lectures are shared between U/G and P/G a higher quality standard is expected from P/G

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Develop a critical understanding of how sandstone and carbonate reservoir porosity and permeability in the subsurface is influenced by sedimentological effects of depositional mineralogy, grainsize, and sorting.
  2. Develop a detailed understanding of the effects, from shallow-to-deep burial of compaction, cementation and dissolution. This knowledge will be integrated with basin modelling, geochemical measurements and petrological measurements.
  3. Illustrate some of the research and commercial methods, with case examples, by which porous reservoirs can be assessed
  4. Engage with synthesis and condensation of information, via an assessed critical essay. This will showcase students detailed understanding of specific topics, linkage into a coherent understanding, and with objectives to offer professional level interpretations of forefront developments.
Reading List
Notified during class and by information on LEARN
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information Weeks 1 -4 Monday 10.00 - 16.00 in Room 4, Crew Annexe
Core visit excursion 9:30 to 16:30 BGS Riccarton, 13 Feb or 20 Feb to be decided

KeywordsHydrocarbons,Sedimentology,Sandstones,Carbonates
Contacts
Course organiserDr Stuart Haszeldine
Tel: (0131 6)50 8549
Email: S.Haszeldine@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Susie Crocker
Tel: (0131 6)51 7126
Email: Susie.Crocker@ed.ac.uk
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