PETROENG 4035 - Reservoirs, Resources & Reserves

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2018

This course comprises 2 components; (I) Evaluating reservoirs, seals and pay (II) Resources & Reserves. This course provides participants with a working knowledge of the main techniques (qualitative and quantitative), used by Reservoir (Development and Production) geologists to evaluate subsurface properties of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Geological controls on well log signatures porosity, permeability, relative permeability, and capillarity are discussed. Case histories review conventional methods of determination of net pay and demonstrate some improved techniques using data from core, sidewall core, cuttings, conventional plug measurements (porosity and permeability) in conjunction with capillary pressure data. The course focus will be on conceptual understanding and practical applications using case studies and hands-on exercises. The second part of the course explains strength and weaknesses of various reserves estimating methodologies, including differences between resources and reserves and differences between reserve estimates used for regulatory reporting and those used for business decision making. Exploration and development views are covered, as are deterministic and probabilistic methods, with the aim of gaining a thorough understanding of various reserves levels and their equivalence in both systems, in terms of proved, proved plus probable, and proved plus probably plus possible. Alternative estimation methods, such as volumetrics, material balance and decline curve analysis. An appreciation will be gained of data limitations and uncertainty and how this is reflected in final volumes and hence risk. This course also explains strength and weaknesses of various reserves estimating methodologies, including differences between resources and reserves and differences between reserve estimates used for regulatory reporting and those used for business decision making. Exploration and development views are covered, as are deterministic and probabilistic methods, with the aim of gaining a thorough understanding of various reserves levels and their equivalence in both systems, in terms of proved, proved plus probable, and proved plus probably plus possible. Alternative estimation methods, such as volumetrics, material balance and decline curve analysis. An appreciation will be gained of data limitations and uncertainty and how this is reflected in final volumes and hence risk.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PETROENG 4035
    Course Reservoirs, Resources & Reserves
    Coordinating Unit Australian School of Petroleum & Energy Resources
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Intensive - 49 hrs over 8 days
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible PETROENG 4007, PETROENG 4003 & PETROENG 4032
    Assessment assignments, group discussion, exam
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor John Kaldi

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

     
    1 To become familiar with the integration of basic petrographic, wireline and capillary pressure data to evaluate reservoir rock quality, pay vs. non-pay,
    2 To differentiate between reservoir fluid contacts (eg Oil / Water contacts) and Free Water Level (FWL),
    3 To understand expected fluid saturations at different levels of the reservoir, and determine thickness of the transition zone.
    4 To evaluate seal capacity (thickness of hydrocarbon column a seal can hold before it leaks
    5 Learn to use 2-way capillary pressure analyses to approximate recovery efficiency during primary or secondary recovery,
    6 To become familiar with resources and reserves terminology and methodologies, which have now been internationally standardised
    7 To understand the importance of uncertainty in reserves estimation and to become familiar with various estimation techniques to quantify uncertainty; to address uncertainty, probabilistic methods (as distinct from deterministic methods) are now generally advocated and these are being taught
    8 To appreciate the importance of good reserves management for optimising the value of petroleum developments and how such management (or the lack of good management) may impact companies commercially
    9 To have hands-on experience in using @Risk in dealing with statistics, distributions and probabilistic reserves calculations; some exercises will be conducted in groups, which are subsequently disseminated to the entire class, similar to work situations in the industry
    10 To appreciate that resource and reserves estimates utilise data from all subsurface disciplines, requiring close cooperation among disciplines

     
    The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.
    The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency: 1.1   1.2   1.3   1.4   1.5   1.6   2.1   2.2   3.4   3.6   

    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1-8
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-8
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,9,10
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    9,10
  • Learning Resources
    Recommended Resources
    Determination of Oil and Gas Reserves, Petroleum Society, Monograph No 1, Second Edition, 2004, Virginia MacKay
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Weighting (%) Individual/ Group Formative/ Summative
    Due (week)*
    Hurdle criteria Learning outcomes
    In class exercises 50 Group Summative Weeks 2-12 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.  10
    Final exam 50 Individual Formative 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.  10
    Total 100
    * The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.
     
    This assessment breakdown complies with the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy.
     
    This course has a hurdle requirement. Meeting the specified hurdle criteria is a requirement for passing the course.
    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    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.

  • 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.

    MyUni: Students should regularly check the MyUni website (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/).

    Email: Each student should regularly check his or her University-provided email account (firstname.lastname@student.adelaide.edu.au) 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.
  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • 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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