Module Details

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Sandstone Petroleum Reservoirs
Code ENVS604
Coordinator Dr ITE Verhagen
Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences
Iris.Verhagen@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2020-21 Level 7 FHEQ Second Semester 15

Aims


To equip students with appropriate background of clastic sedimentary systems as applied to the petroleum industry.

To train students in the methods of sedimentological data collection from core and surface exposure, with emphasis placed on the key information required by the petroleum industry and why this information is necessary.

To train students how core data is used by the petroleum industry and how it is linked to petrophysical and other wireline datasets.

To make students aware of the spatial limitation of borehole datasets, highlighting the need for spatial sedimentary datasets from field scale outcrop analogues to increase value of information.

To train students in uses of deterministic and stochastic reservoir models and how the datasets encountered by the students are put to practical use when building reservoir models and determining petroleum volumes.

To give students an appreciation of team work when assessing reservoir quality o f a reservoir unit (Brent Group in the Thistle Field, UK North Sea) and placing accrued information in context with current knowledge and future petroleum exploitation.


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) Ability to apply principal methods and concepts regularly used by oil companies to assess a clastic reservoir(s).

(LO2) Ability to carefully collect and interpret sedimentary data (from core and outcrop) of specific interest to the petroleum industry and apply this to qualitative and quantitative reservoir assessment.

(LO3) Ability to combine stratigraphic information with borehole datasets to provide a better understanding of the subsurface reservoir.

(LO4) Understanding how diagenesis affects clastic sedimentary reservoirs.

(LO5) Ability to interpret sedimentary environments from core, outcrop and wireline data.

(LO6) Abilityto interpret stratigraphic sequences in a ‘relative sea level’ framework.

(LO7) Abilityto analyse petroleum reservoir datasets (wireline, core, seismic) and buildbasic static models using industry-standard software such as PETREL.

(LO8) Ability to make a reservoir quality assessment (porosity, mineral phases, diagenetic phases) of petrographic thin section.

(S1) Group/team work.

(S2) Presentation skills in various media (poster, talk, concise report).

(S3) Problem solving using a variety of data and information types (quantitative and qualitative).


Syllabus

 

All lecture notes will be available on VITAL before the lecture, if this is not the case, print-outs will be available during the lecture and the lecture notes will be uploaded straight after the lecture.

All practical material and supplementary material will be accessible through VITAL. Generally the supplementary reading will be advisory, to be used as a starting point for the student to find additional supplementary reading.

This module will cover key topics such as:

The clastic sediment factory: What? When? How much? Where?
Source-to-sink:What? When? How much? Where?
Sequencestratigraphic concepts: theory, outcrop and subsurface.
Overview of clastic depositional systems: Definition, occurrence and scale.
Overview of clastic depositional systems: Petroleum reservoir significance.
Fluvial sandstone reservoirs I: Process and form.
Fluvial sandstone reservoirs II: A case study.
Aeolian sandstone reservoirs I: Process and form.
Aeolian sandstone reservoirs II: A case study.
Deepwater sandstone reservoirs I: Process and form.
Deepwater sandstone reservoirs I: A case study.
Shoreline sandstone reservoirs I: Process and form.
Shoreline sandstone reservoirs II: A case study from the North Sea.
Sandstone reservoir architecture: element dimensions.
Sandstone reservoir architecture: controls.
Sandstone reservoir architecture: outcrop & subsurface examples.
Sandstone reservoir architecture: modelling & building static models.
Sandstone reservoir architecture: well correlation methods to build reservoir models.
Unconventional reservoirs: tight gas sandstone, shale gas and shale oil reservoirs.
Reservoir quality prediction: depositional controls.
Reservoir quality prediction: early diagenetic controls.
Reservoir quality prediction: compactional controls.
Reservoir quality prediction: burial diagenetic controls.
Volumetric calculations ( STOIIP & other).
Field appraisal and up-scaling.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: 24 lectures covering all the topics listed in the syllabus. These will be given as 2 two-hour slots (12 lectures). Lectures will facilitate discussion and lead naturally into the workshop learning environment.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 2 - Practical
Description: Six workshops of 4 hours duration each, covering specific concepts and techniques (e.g. facies interpretation) and data acquisition (e.g. core description, petrography) that cannot be delivered via seminars.
One 6 hour duration, conference-style poster workshop led by student groups (part of assessment).
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Curriculum 2021 statement: active learning is applied in both teaching methods. During the lectures discussion is encouraged and - where applicable - short exercises (e.g. interpreting diagrams, identifying features on images, etc.) or videos will be used to illustrate the lecture material. The practical sessions are hands-on activities, mostly in small groups, for the full 4-hours.
The lecture and practical/workshop material is led by the latest advances in both research and the (petroleum) industry. To make sure the material is up-to-date, industry professionals are invited to provide guest lectures/workshops and/or provide input through the MSc's industry steering committee.


Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 24

        24

48
Timetable (if known) 120 mins X 1 totaling 24
 
        240 mins X 1 totaling 24
 
 
Private Study 102
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Team poster accompanied by 20 min presentation and Q&A There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is not an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule   6 hrs    40       
Publication-style short research paper There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When) :Semester 2, W  8-12 pg paper (4000     40       
Digital workbook that contains record of data collected in practical workshops There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is not an anonymous assessment.  Digital workbook (.p    20       

Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.