Course description: The course is intended to provide an introduction to techniques and approaches used by the petroleum industry, although much is also relevant to hydrologic and environmental geology investigations. The lab is an essential part of the course. Students learn the theory and practice of basic well log interpretation and the use of logs to prepare structural and other types of maps of subsurface geology. The student is also introduced to basics of seismic geophysical data and mapping with those data. Other topics discussed include aspects of Gulf Coast geological features (growth faults, salt domes, deltaic and turbidite sedimentation, for example). Guest lectures by local petroleum geologists are included, and we hope to visit a drilling rig to see operations.
Successful completion of this course (A or B grade) qualifies the student to take the Subsurface Mapping Project course - GEOL 419(G) – in the following semester – this course involves mapping a producing oil or gas field under the direction of an industry geologist, completing a mini-thesis.
Textbook Requirements: A set of class lecture notes by the instructor, in the format of a 500 page textbook, can be borrowed from him. A second set of notes on well logs is also available. PowerPoint files used in class can be revisited on a computer in the department’s computer lab. The files are too large for Blackboard. |
