TU Delft Starts New Course in Petroleum Geology
The goal of this course is to obtain knowledge of the origins of petroleum and gas. An overview is given on the conditions that are needed for oil and gas to accumulate in reservoirs.
Moreover, techniques to find and exploit these reservoirs are highlighted. The focus always is on the task of the petroleum geologist during the different phases of oil and gas exploration and production.
After an introduction to the course including typical numbers and hystorical developments, essential terms and concepts like biomolecules and the carbon cycle are explained. A start is made with the geology with explaining source rocks and their maturation when forming oil and gas. After that, the composition of oil and gas and its application is eludicated on. How the oil travels from the source rock to the oil reservoir, where it is explored, is explained in the fourth lecture on migration.
This lecture is followed by discussing the reservoir rock properties, like permeability and porosity. Moreover, it is explained how the oil or gas can be trapped inside the reservoir rock. Finally the exploration and production of different types of basins is discussed.
In several of the lectures, non fictive case studies are presented in order to clarify the theory presented. In order to properly understand the course, prior knowledge in general geology and fluid flow in rocks is preferred.
