PETROENG 3005 - Reservoir Characterisation & Modelling
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code PETROENG 3005 Course Reservoir Characterisation & Modelling Coordinating Unit Mining and Petroleum Engineering Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Block-format course with integrated lectures, practicals (computer based) and discussions Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Assumed Knowledge PETROENG 1005, PETROENG 1006, PETROENG 2009, SACE Stage 2 Maths, ENG 1003 (or equivalent) Assessment Assignments, exams, in-class activities and quizzes Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Mohammad Sayyafzadeh
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1 Learn the main terminology, concepts, tools, and techniques used for generating 3D static reservoir models. 2 Understand some of key issues in reservoir characterisation & modelling, particularly uncertainty & heterogeneity 3 Practice using these tools – computer exercises 4 Develop a critical-thinking and problem-solving approach to modelling, rather than a prescriptive or “recipe” approach 5 Develop & practice skills in data analysis and using Excel (key tools for all engineers) 6 Illustrate how the main tools & techniques are used for real problems through case studies 7 If time, demonstrate some commercial software that is commonly used in the O&G industry (Petrel) 8 As an effective member of a team, research a paper/topic related to the course material and present a critical review of it 9 Read and understand a range of papers and articles related to reservoir characterization
The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Entry to Practice Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer. The course develops the following EA Elements of Competency to levels of introductory (A), intermediate (B), advanced (C):
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 C B C C B B C B B C B C C C B C University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1,2,6,9,10 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
3,9,10 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
3,9 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
3,5,7 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
9 Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.
. Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
. Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
PDFs of powerpoints and additional readings. Additional exercises & Readings
A draft book/notes that Prof. Begg is co-authoring will also be provided on MyUni at the end of the course.Recommended Resources
There is no single text that covers all the material in this course. The following would be useful:
· Ringrose & Bentley 2015, Reservoir Model Design, Springer.
· Jensen, J., 2000, Statistics for Petroleum Engineers and Geoscientists (2nd edition) , Elsevier
· Pyrcz & Deutsch, 2014, Geostatistical Reservoir Modelling, Oxford University Press (or previous 2002 version by Deutsch only)
You are not required to buy any of the above. An extended list of reference materials and sources will be provided in class.Online Learning
Powerpoints, Examples and Exercises (& their solutions) will be distributed on MyUni along with additional handouts. Laptops will be provided for in-class Excel exercises
Good sources of help with learning are the downloadable learning guides (Writing, Effective Reading, Making Notes, Time Management, Exam Prep, etc) and links to other learning resources at
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/learning_guides/
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/stud_resources/
The “Writing and Speaking at Uni” course will help with assignments. I can provide further tips on preparing presentations for those that would like them. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
The block-course format (sometimes, misleadingly, called short-course) is commonly used in industry (continued professional development) and is the norm for 4th year and post-graduate courses in the ASP. This 3rd year course provides you an opportunity to understand the transition from semesterised- to block-course format.
It also represents a stage when you are expected to take greater responsibility for your own learning – lectures cover the main ideas and are pointers to the topics you should learn about – rather than comprehensive coverage of the curriculum.
One of the advantages of the block-course format is that you can immerse yourself in a single subject, without distraction or having to “re-load” for each session. Another is that there is no need to force-fit the material to the 1hr lecture/tute format – each topic can be addressed in the time it needs. Yet another advantage is that it provides an opportunity for immediate feedback on how you are doing as exercises are carried out, and solutions presented, in-class, after the concept has been taught.
Laptops will be provided for in-class exercises– and you are welcome to bring your own if you would like. Students are expected to engage with discussions.
A disadvantage is that the compressed time-scale means that you do not have as much time to let one concept sink in before moving on to another. For this reason
- we integrate the exercises to practice concepts immediately after learning them, before moving on to the next concept. The amount of time for in-class exercises is set such that 90% or more of students should be able to finish them.
- you are STRONGLY ADVISED to take a break after the end of class each day and then revise the day’s material for a couple of hours.
Learning tips (not just for short courses):
For most people it takes about 4 repetitions to get information into your long term memory. Apparently (can’t remember where I learnt this from) the best way to do it is to revise the information the day you learn it (2nd time), then one week later (3rd time), then one month later (4th time).
At the start of a course section, I usually provide grey-scale versions of the PowerPoint slides shown in class Students often find it useful to have several highlighter pens for use with these handouts, because I make a lot of use of colour. PDF files of the full colour PowerPoint slides will be available on MyUni after the class.
After-class consultation and Provision of Feedback to Students:
Solutions to in-class exercises and the mid-course test will be provided in-class. Solutions to after-class exercises will be posted on My Uni within two weeks of end of class.
I will arrange several mutually convenient time-slots when I will be available, in the weeks following the class, for questions related to exercises and course content.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
This course involves approximately the same number of contact hours that would be delivered in a semesterised course (45). During a semesterised course, you would be expected to spend a approximately twice the number of hours outside of class – learning the material, revising notes, reading more widely about the topics covered, practicing examples, finishing exercises, etc. The same is true for block-course – but this must occur after the course. Do not be fooled into thinking that, apart from the follow-up assignment, “it's an intense week (and a bit), then I’m done”. To do so is likely to lead to decreased learning and poorer performance in the exam than you would otherwise achieve – you have been advised!Learning Activities Summary
The overall structure of the course material is as shown below. Details of the topics to be covered each day will be provided at the start of the first teaching block.
The main topics will include:
· Overview of Reservoir Characterisation
· Data Sources, Quality and Analysis
o Types, scales, uncertainty
o Short review of Probability
o Univariate and bivariate Statistics
o Measuring & Modelling Spatial Continuity (Variograms)
· Framework Modelling - Mapping, Contouring, Faults
· Grid Types, Design and their relation to reservoir features and model purpose
· Geostatistical Estimation
o Geostatistical Concepts
o Kriging
o (Estimation of Dependent Variables – if time)
· Geostatistical Simulation
o Simulation versus Estimation
o Sequential Indicator Simulation
o Object Modelling
· Up-gridding & Up-scaling
o Simple averages, Pressure solver
· Integrated Reservoir Characterisation Case Study – Prudhoe Bay
· Demo of Industry Software for Reservoir Characterisation & Modelling
o Petrel from Schlumberger (if time)
· Core-store visit and exercises -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
* The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.Assessment Task Weighting (%) Individual/ Group Formative/ Summative Due (week)* Hurdle criteria Learning outcomes Midcourse test 10 Individual Summative N/A Block mode 1. 2. 6. Assignment 30 Group & Indiv Summative N/A Block mode 1. 4. 9. Project 60 Individual Summative 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 10. Total 100
This assessment breakdown complies with the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy.
10% in-class activity
You need to submit up to 5 Excel-based exercises (identify during the class and also via announcements). Submissions are
counted as the in-class activity. You will get one week to submit your excelsheets, i.e., Week#7 for first part exercises and Swot week for the second part exercises. The exercises are given during the lectures and I will assist you with doing the exercises. The solutions will be made available after submissions are due.
30% group assignment
Each group (groups of 2-3 members) requires to review a journal or conference paper, on a topic associated with this course, at the mini-conference in the second teaching block (week#13). This could be in the form of a case study (application of the course content to a real field) or an individual/particular topic of interest to you (e.g., geostatistics, variography, data analysis, reservoir characterisation data from geological analogs, modelling faults & fractures, up-scaling, etc.).
The review should consist of a summary of the paper plus some critique (was is good/useful/clear/error-free ....).Your group needs to make a presentation, max 18 minutes, to the whole class. In addition, you should allow an extra 5-10 minutes for questions.
60% project
You need to do a computer-based project and prepare a report. The project will be handed and explained in details during the class. This is an individual project and each student receives a distinct set of data to analyse (variography and transformation) and generate maps (for the given atterbute by kriging method) using your own MatLab (or Python) codes. The due date for
submission is final exam time.Assessment Related Requirements
Final mark will be a weighted average of each component. There is no requirement to achieve a minimum mark in any individual component of the assessment.Assessment Detail
Mid-course: 35min, around 5 short-answers questions during the first teaching block. The main function of the mid-course test will be to provide further examples of the main exam and to illustrate the standard of answers expected. To facilitate this, and to provide rapid feedback, the mid-course test will be marked, and ideal answers discussed, in-class. Although the main purpose of the mid-course test is formative, a 10% contribution to final grade is awarded to incentivise full participation and therefore deriving maximum value from it. An example question and ideal answer will be provided prior to the test.
Assignment: will be in the form of a group research project. Full details will be provided during the first teaching block and posted on MyUni. The purpose of the assignment is two-fold. First as a component of assessment, second as a part of course content – all class members will listen to each group presentation. A rubric will be provided to illustrate expected achievement levels for each marking criterion.
Final exam: 2.5 hours, closed-book, during the winter official examination period. About 15 short-answer questions, no choice, in the same style as the mid-course test. There will be a discussion of expectation levels for exam questions in the first session, and at the mid-course test
Further details, and tips, will be discussed in class and recorded via Powerpoint slides and Handouts.Submission
Submission of Assignment
Details will be provided in the Assignment Handout during the first teaching block and posted on MyUni thereafter
Extensions for Assessment Tasks
Extensions of deadlines for assessment tasks may be allowed for reasonable causes. Such situations would include compassionate and medical grounds of the severity that would justify the awarding of a supplementary examination. Evidence for the grounds must be provided when an extension is requested. Students are required to apply for an extension to the Course Co-ordinator before the assessment task is due. Extensions will not be provided on the grounds of poor prioritising of time or minor illness.
Penalty for Late Submission of Assessment Tasks
Assessment tasks must be submitted by the stated deadlines unless you have previously arranged this with Prof Begg for extenuating circumstances – (poor time planning, conflicting activities and minor illness are not extenuating circumstances). There will be a penalty for late submission of assessment tasks. The submitted work will be marked ‘without prejudice’ and 10% of the obtained mark will be deducted for each working day (or part of a day) that an assessment task is late, up to a maximum penalty of 50% of the mark attained. An examiner may elect not to accept any assessment task that a student wants to submit after that task has been marked and feedback provided to the rest of the class.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
Contact Admin for School policy on remarking of exams. -
Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Communication
It is important that all students maintain active communication channels throughout the year. The primary communication channels to students in this course are as follows.
Email: Each student should regularly check his or her University-provided email account for information from members of the academic staff concerning course work matters and other announcements as they arise. Make sure you clean up your Inbox regularly as if it is full you will not receive our email! We will regard an email message being sent to your student email address or an announcement posted on the MyUni site as our having communicated with each member of the class. Not reading one’s University provided email or MyUni announcements will not be a valid excuse for missing important deadlines etc.
MyUni: Students should regularly check the MyUni website (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/). -
Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- International Student Support
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
- YouX Student Care - Advocacy, confidential counselling, welfare support and advice
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.
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