School of Engineering and Technology, (SET)
 
CE71.69 : Fundamentals of Geosystem Exploration  3(3-0)
 
Course objectives:

To provide a fundamental understanding on geological and geophysical techniques to explore a geosystem or a part of its that need to be sustainably exploited or developed for economic and industrial growth of society, especially those are potential of mineral, groundwater and petroleum resources. The course is particularly useful for engineers who would like to further specilize in hydrocarbon exploration and production.
 
Learning Outcomes:

Geosystem concept in global and local scale. Fundamentals of rocks and minerals. Geological processess. Geosystems as targets of geological and geophysical exploration. Mineral, groundwater and petroleum resources. Elements of structural geology, petroleum geology and petroleum hydrogeology. Geological and geophysical exploration techniques. Mineral exploration. Aspects of hydrocarbon exploration and production (E&P).
 
Pre-requisite(s):

None.
 
Course Outline:
I.            Introduction to Geosystems
1.      Geosystems in global and local scale
2.      Minerals, rocks and geological processes and hazards
3.      Mineral resources: assets and liabilities
4.      Energy resources and the environment
5.      Mineral deposits; Groundwater system; Soft clay deposit
6.      Sedimentary basin etc.

II.         Petroleum Geology and Petroleum Hydrogeology
1.      Origin, Nature, and Occurrence of Petroleum
2.      Geologic Time and Dating Geologic Events
3.      Structural Geology - Folding and Faulting
4.      Formation of Petroleum Traps
5.      Properties of porous and fractured flow medium
6.      Properties of geologic fluids & Fluid flow equation
7.      Abnormal fluid pressures
8.      Petroleum migration
9.      Basin modelling
III.       Geological and Geophysical Techniques
1.      Introduction on geological, geochemical and geophysical exploration.
2.      An overview of PDEs related to geophysics
3.      Applicability and limitation of geophysical methods
4.      Physical properties of the earth materials
5.      Seismic, electric, magnetic, gravity, well logging
IV.      Mineral and Groundwater Exploration      
1.      Classification and ownership of mineral deposits; Occurrence, distribution and outlook;
2.      Exploration procedure

V.         Aspects of Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production (E&P)                    
1.      The field life cycle
2.      HC accumulations and exploration methods
3.      Safety and the environment
4.      Field appraisal; Project and contract management
5.      Petroleum economics, managing decline; Decommissioning
 
 
Learning Resources:

Textbook:

Lecture notes

Jaln F., Cook M. and Graham M (2003), Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production, Development in Petroleum Science vol. 46, Elsevier.
 
 
Lutgens F. K. and Tarbuck E. J. (2000), Essentials of geology, 7th Edition, Prentice Hall.
 
Reference Books:
Beardsmore G. R. and J. P. Cull (2001), Crustal heat flow. A Guide to measurement and modelling. Cambridge University Press, 323 p.
Bethke C. M., Lee Ming-Kuo and Park Jungho (2002), Basin Modeling with Basin 2TM, Release 5.0, University of Illinois
Burger, H. R. (1992), Exploration Geophysics of the Shallow Subsurface, Prentice Hall.
Deming D. (2002):Introduction to Hydrogeology, McGraw Hill, 468p.
Dobrin Milton B. (1983):Introduction to geophysical prospecting, 3rd Ed., McGraw Hill
Earnst W. G. (2000):Earth systems: processes and issues, Cambridge University Press
Link P. K. (1987): Basic petroleum geology, 425p., OGCI Publications, Oil and Gas Consultants International Inc., Tulsa. TN870.5 L49 1987.
Hantschel T. and Kauerauf A. I. (2009), Fundamentals of Basin and Petroleum Systems Modelling, Springer, ISBN 978-3-540-72317-2
Megill R. E. (1979): An introduction to exploration economics, 2nd, The Petroleum Publishing Company, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Reedman J. H. (1979): Techniques in mineral exploration, Applied Science Publishers Ltd.
Siddayao C. M. (1978): The offshore petroleum resources of South-East Asia, potential conflict situations and related economic considerations, Kuala Lumpur, Oxford University Press.
 
Journals and Magazines:
Applied Geophysics
 
Geophysics
 
Geophsical Prospecting
 
Ground Water
 
Engineering Geology 
 
Online AAPG Journal
 
Petromin(www.safan.com)
 
Asian Oil and Gas (www.oilonline.com)
 
 
 
Evaluation Scheme:
The final grade will be computed according to the following weight distribution: 

Mid-Semester Exam (30%)
Final Exam (50%)
Homework and Presentation (20%)

Closed book exam.
 
Instructor(s):
SECTION NAME