GEOLOGY 619 – ADVANCED PETROLEUM GEOLOGY

Wayne M. Ahr, Professor, CPG

Draft v.1 – October, 2008

Advanced Petroleum Geology is designed for graduate students in geology, geophysics, and engineering. Prerequisites for this course are a minimum of 2 semesters of geology, or permission of the instructor. This course differs from Geology 404 – Petroleum Geology – by its more rigorous treatment of subject matter, wider range of topics covered, the absence of an associated laboratory, and by higher expectations of student participation and performance in class and on examinations. • Text: None. Reading assignments will be made in journal articles and selected reference

texts. Students will be expected to participate in class discussions or written assignments based on selected readings. Participation grades will reflect the students’ preparation, level of participation, and demonstration of critical thinking.

• Class Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:45 – 2:00 pm. in Halbouty, Room

105. • Grades: Course grades will be based on participation in class discussions, in-class

critiques of outside reading, and on 3 examination scores. There will be two hour exams – dates to be announced – and a comprehensive final at the published day and time in the university calendar. The final exam grade will be weighted. An example calculation for term grades is as follows: 125 points for each of 2 hour exams = 250; final exam = 200, class participation = 50. Total points possible = 500. An “A” requires a 90 % or higher average score or at least 450 points (0.90 X 500). There are no supplemental exercises for extra credit. Makeup exams will only be given after receipt of written justification for absences. If such exams are given, the date of such exams will be at the discretion of the professor. If you are given permission to enroll but you do not have the prerequisite courses in geology, it is your responsibility to do additional background reading as necessary. In cases of high demand for seats, preference will be given to those who meet the prerequisites.

• Office hours: My office is rm 53 Halb. I will be pleased to meet with you any reasonable

time you wish. Please make an appointment after class or by email for a time convenient for both of us. You can also contact me by email -- ahr@tamu.edu – for questions related to the course.

University Rules

University Rules Regarding Attendance, approved absences, etc. See http://student-rules.tamu.edu/rule7.htm for policies and a link to absence forms. In addition, be aware of the rules and regulations regarding religious observances found at http://dof.tamu.edu/faculty/policies/religiousobservance.php. Scholastic Dishonesty Statement (Aggie Code of Honor) The Honor Code, based on the long-standing affirmation that An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do, is fundamental to the value of the A&M experience. Know the Code. Aggie Code of Honor: "An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do." http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy Statement

The following ADA Policy Statement (part of the Policy on Individual Disabling Conditions) was submitted to the UCC by the Department of Student Life. The policy Statement was forwarded to the Faculty Senate for information.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal antidiscrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe that you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Koldus Building, or call 845-1637.

Coursework Copyright Statement The handouts used in this course are copyrighted. By "handouts," this means all materials generated for this class, which includes quizzes, exams, lab problems, in-class materials, review sheets, and additional problem sets. Because these materials are copyrighted, you do not have the right to copy them, unless you are expressly granted permission.

As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one’s own the ideas, words, writings, etc., that belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person.

If you have any questions about plagiarism and/or copying, please consult the latest issue of the Texas A&M University Student Rules, under the section "Scholastic Dishonesty."

Discussion Topic Outline

This is a list of the topics that I plan to cover but it is not a time schedule. Some topics will take longer to cover than others.

1. Introduction Course objectives, course plan, grading system. Definition and scope of petroleum geology The petroleum system

2. Origin of petroleum

Source rocks and their sedimentology/stratigraphy Kerogen. Maturation and measures of maturity

3 Properties of petroleum Composition and occurrences of oil and gas Primary and secondary migration mechanisms

4. Sedimentary basins Basin categories Basin types by tectonic setting.

Examples of basin types

5. Traps and seals Definitions Trap types and modes of origin Seals Calculating seal capacity “Ideal seal rock types”

6. Petroleum reservoirs Definitions

Reservoir rock properties in terrigenous sandstones and carbonates Fundamental properties Derived (dependent) properties Tertiary properties Reservoir petrophysical properties Saturation, wettability, capillarity, capillary pressure, recovery efficiency 7. Reservoir flow units Definition of flow unit, baffle, barrier and petrophysical rock type Graphical methods for defining petrophysical rock types Evaluating flow unit quality 8. Exploration geology Lithostratigraphic and sequence stratigraphic methods

Subsurface geological maps and sections Reflection seismic methods Gravity and magnetic surveys

9. Methods of logging rock and reservoir properties Lithologic logs from cuttings and cores; mud logs; driller’s logs Conventional borehole logs and their applications

10. Depositional facies in sandstone reservoirs as models for exploration and development Depositional models of nonmarine and marine sandstones

11. Exploration for carbonate & terrigenous sandstones – differences and similarities Carbonate depositional platforms Depositional models of marine carbonate reservoir rocks 12. Influence of diagenesis on sandstone and carbonate reservoir characteristics 13. Fractured reservoirs. Fracture formation and characteristics. Finding and developing fractured reservoirs. 14. Selected field examples – as time permits. Suggested references (books) Ahr, Wayne M., 2008. Geology of carbonate reservoirs: the identification, description, & characterization of hydrocarbon reservoirs in carbonate rocks. Wiley & Sons, New York. 278 p. Berg, R.R., Reservoir Sandstones. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 481 p.

Gluyas, J., and Swarbrick, R., 2003. Petroleum Geoscience. Blackwell Publishing (Wiley & Sons), 359 p. Magoon, L.B. and Dow, W.G., 1994. The petroleum system – from source to trap, AAPG Memoir

60, 665 p. North, F.K., 1985. Petroleum geology. Allen & Unwin, 607 p.