Background Learning Topics

Topic Summary: An overview of the fundamentals, introducing the primary geological factors controlling petroleum generation and accumulation. Presents source rocks, primary and secondary migration and sealing conditions. Provides perspective on varying geological histories, basin configurations and economic considerations.

Topic Summary: Introduces the physical and chemical properties of petroleum, and the terminology explorationists use to classify and describe them. Explains how these properties affect the behavior of petroleum--its migration, entrapment and availability to exploitation. Outlines specific production problems when unfavorable petroleum properties are present.

Topic Summary: Establishes the general conditions of subsurface environments. Presents the nature and behavior of subsurface waters, fluid pressures, geothermal factors and the fluid dynamics of sedimentary basins. Discusses how these factors can affect petroleum in the subsurface environment. A reminder that for acquiring subsurface data, a dry hole can be as valuable as a producer.

Topic Summary: Outlines basic characteristics of reservoir lithologies and discusses identification, measurement and evaluation of reservoir conditions in rocks. Considers reservoir properties which determine overall quality: porosity, permeability, and their interrelationship; diagenetic effects and reservoir continuity. Stresses the different requirements for evaluation of clastic and carbonate reservoirs.

Topic Summary: Traces the natural conditions leading to hydrocarbon generation and migration. Presents the effects of diagenesis and petrogenesis on organic matter. Discusses kerogen types, physical and chemical factors that affect the maturation level and geochemistry of petroleum, and the migration processes from petroleum source beds into the permeable carrier or reservoir rock.

Topic Summary: Petroleum generated from source rocks moves up through permeable strata and would be lost at the earth's surface if not "trapped" on its way up. Describes the characteristics of the principal trap types, how they appear on geologic sections and maps, and how they are analyzed in terms of geologic history. Examines constraints on production imposed by variations in trapping.

Topic Summary: Provides the format for genetic classification of sedimentary basins, drawing together the principles of the previous six modules into the evaluation of the earth's plate tectonic framework. Explains identification and classification of sedimentary basins, their role in forming oil and gas, and the habitats of oil and gas within them.

Topic Summary: Teaches the construction of the two principal types of cross sections--structural and stratigraphic--and their extensions into three-dimensional (fence) diagrams. Introduces computer generation of maps and sections.

Topic Summary: An integrated approach to subsurface mapping, discussing downhole data, correlations between wells, and how to depict surfaces and three-dimensional units on contour maps. Presents surface maps and geophysical or remote sensing surveys as aids in delimiting important structural and stratigraphic relationships. Stresses proper correlation and use of borehole information.

Topic Summary: Teaches how prospects are generated, emphasizing recognition of previously undelineated anomalies, and that although each prospect is unique, the general patterns of prospect generation are roughly similar. Presents learning basic patterns by using the experience of others and reviewing past cases.

Topic Summary: Presents basic concepts and techniques of exploration for nonmarine sandstone reservoirs. Applies common tools for examining nonmarine settings--such as rivers, desert dunes and lakes-- in terms of their genesis and recognition in the subsurface.

Topic Summary: Describes characteristics of shelf sand reservoirs, including elongate submarine fans, radial submarine fans and slope-apron systems. Presents detection methods including seismic, well-log, core analysis, paleontology and production studies.

Topic Summary: Examines coastal barrier islands, shallow-marine shoals, bars and deltas, presenting depositional and erosional conditions dominant during formation. Describes diagnosis and recognition through use of seismic, well-log, map and core data.

Topic Summary: Describes characteristics of deepwater sand reservoirs, including elongate submarine fans, radial submarine fans and slope-apron systems. Presents detection methods including seismic, well-log, core analysis, paleontology and production studies.

Topic Summary: Describes porosity evolution in all sandstone reservoirs, regardless of depositional environment, and reviews factors that control primary and secondary porosity. Evaluates tools and techniques used for description of sandstone porosity and porosity evolution. Illustrates applications of porosity evolution through case studies.

Topic Summary: Introduces carbonates by examining formation and deposition, focusing on ramp and slope models and the depositional settings within them. Presents field examples of ancient and modern carbonate deposits and their reservoir characteristics.

Topic Summary: Demonstrates the systematic evolution of carbonate porosity and describes classifications and conditions used for predicting porosity distribution. Discusses depositional and diagenetic models of carbonates. Field studies illustrate how to handle porosity parameters in production planning.

Topic Summary: Describes characteristics of evaporites and examines their relationship to hydrocarbon accumulations, including their role as source beds, reservoirs, traps and seals. Discusses evaporite mineralogy and diagenesis, as well as analysis and identification techniques. Field examples illustrate occurrences, evaluation and significance of evaporite structures.

Topic Summary: Reviews basic parameters in defining a facies--lithology, sedimentary structures, paleontology, geometry and associated environments. Discusses information sources, including cores, cuttings, well logs and seismic, and summarizes diagnostic features of major facies. Presents case studies on environmental diagnosis of productive sandstone and carbonate reservoirs.

Topic Summary: Reviews a typical stratigraphic sequence, and examines each of its component systems tracts. Stresses the interplay between sea level and sediment supply and how this interplay affects depositional geometries. Presents a methodology for interpreting stratigraphic sequences, incorporating well, seismic and biostratigraphic data. Discusses current controversies and future trends.

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Topic Summary: Introduces structural geology and its application to exploration programs. Presents mechanics of deformation and use of outcrop and subsurface studies to diagnose tectonic forces. Emphasizes regional deformation and reviews plate tectonic schemes and effects.

Topic Summary: Presents the history and concepts of plate tectonic theory as applied to petroleum exploration. Examines tectonic processes involved in development of sedimentary basins, and describes tectonic influences on the exploration concerns of source, reservoir, trap, maturation and migration. Discusses current issues in plate tectonic theory.

Topic Summary: Applies tectonic concepts learned in GL601 and 602, focusing on petroleum habitats in divergent margin and rift basins. Discusses theories of rifting and its effect on sedimentation. Classifies rift basins and examines each type through present day examples.

Topic Summary: Places convergent margins in a plate tectonic setting and examines general characteristics. Relates petroleum habitats to theories of basin development. Classifies convergent margin basins and presents examples. Proposes a strategy for petroleum exploration in convergent margin basins.

Topic Summary: Focuses on characteristics and chemical makeup of petroleum, tracing maturation of organic matter to petroleum. Emphasizes development of kerogen and bitumen as transitional steps, and explains modification of intermediate materials during diagenesis, catagenesis, and metagenesis in response to increasing subsurface temperature. Presents examples of source-rock studies, crude-oil correlations and crude oil-source rock parings.

Topic Summary: Demonstrates uses and limitations of geochemical techniques and their importance in exploration and production. Presents appropriate sample selection and preparation, as well as analytical techniques used in laboratories. Reviews and integrates basic source rock and crude oil evaluation programs into more advanced basin study and modeling programs.

Topic Summary: Presents the integration of drilling and well completion technology in an overall development program, showing the equipment and procedures involved as operations are carried out. Focuses on the responsibilities of individuals and service companies at the drillsite.

Topic Summary: Describes the production technology techniques used to maximize production. Once production begins, the reservoir is only a part of a larger system, and understanding the relationships among all elements--the wellbore, tubing string, artificial lift equipment, surface control devices, separators, treaters, tanks and measuring devices--is crucial to economical and safe recovery.

Topic Summary: Describes the reservoir management techniques used to maximize production. Once production begins, the reservoir is only a part of a larger system, and understanding the relationships among all elements--the wellbore, tubing string, artificial lift equipment, surface control devices, separators, treaters, tanks and measuring devices--is crucial to economical and safe recovery.

Topic Summary: GeoSteering is the application of geologic and engineering skill to direct a horizontal or extended-reach wellbore path, based upon knowledge of the enclosing stratigraphy, with the expressed aim of maximizing wellbore exposure to the target reservoir. This TOpic reviews valuable insights into the GeoSteering process, provided by a leading company with experience gained over the course of steering nearly 2000 horizontal wells.

Topic Summary: Describes the physical principles of the major remote sensing techniques, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each during application. Discusses aerial photographs, Landsat images, SPOT images, and thermal infrared and radar techniques. Includes a glossary of remote sensing terms, and interpretation projects for each technique which relate remote surveys to other geological data.

Topic Summary: A complete introduction to basin evolution and evaluation. Discusses basin formation processes, geodynamic models, source rocks, maturation, migration, and sedimentary basin models. Presents the impact of basin models on prospect generation, measurement of basin histories and properties, and the principles and application of various basin evaluation methods. Refers to case studies for analysis and summary.

Topic Summary: Examines the critical elements of play analysis and evaluation, including play controls for structural styles and depositional systems as well as the elements of reservoir, source, seal, trap maturation and migration, and economic considerations. Discusses the data requirements of play analysis and the planning and evolution of the play summary. Presents various examples and case studies from both frontier and developed basins.

Topic Summary: This presentation describes both classical statistical and geostatistical methodologies designed to quantify qualitative information. Though the material presented is not heavily mathematical, the presentation is not simplistic. General equations and matrix notation are used in some sections. The equations are presented mostly for informational purposes, because calculations used in geostatistics tend to be tedious and very computer-intensive. This module presents an overview of techniques that can be used to transform a traditional geological reservoir description (a surface or 3D volume) into a mathematical reservoir.

Topic Summary: This topic examines the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in the oil and gas industry. Beginning with an overview of GIS design and applications and a description of Geodetic Frameworks, it examines the type of information contained in a typical oil and gas GIS. Case studies and examples are presented relating to a variety of GIS systems, and an Appendix of GIS-related websites is included to help users find the most up-to-date information in this important area.

Topic Summary: Analyzes geological situations where petroleum accumulations are possible and discusses tools used to locate and evaluate those areas. Examines the divisions of an E&P company and the exploration decision-making process. Describes various cultural and political environments that affect exploration. Assumes no prior knowledge of geophysics.

Introduces reflection seismology, which accounts for 95% of the geophysical exploration effort. Examines the basic principles of the method and discusses field work, processing, and interpretation. Describes the effective use of seismic data, as well as the known pitfalls awaiting the geophysicist.

Topic Summary: Explores the relationship between geological and seismic properties. Uses seismic stratigraphy to describe the seismic reflection patterns of depositional environments, how to recognize source rocks, reservoir rocks and seals, and how to infer burial history, likely saturant and geologic age.

Topic Summary: Imparts a broad understanding of the principles of signal theory. Extensive graphics introduce Fourier series, convolution and correlation.