GEOLOGY 619 ADVANCED PETROLEUM GEOLOGY

Wayne M. Ahr, Professor, CPG

Draft v.1 October, 2008
Advanced Petroleum Geology is designed for graduate students in geology, geophysics, and
engineering. Prerequisites for this course are a minimum of 2 semesters of geology, or
permission of the instructor. This course differs from Geology 404 Petroleum Geology by its
more rigorous treatment of subject matter, wider range of topics covered, the absence of an
associated laboratory, and by higher expectations of student participation and performance in
class and on examinations.

Text: None. Reading assignments will be made in journal articles and selected reference
texts. Students will be expected to participate in class discussions or written assignments
based on selected readings. Participation grades will reflect the students preparation,
level of participation, and demonstration of critical thinking.

Class Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:45 2:00 pm. in Halbouty, Room
105.

Grades: Course grades will be based on participation in class discussions, in-class

critiques of outside reading, and on 3 examination scores. There will be two hour exams
dates to be announced and a comprehensive final at the published day and time in
the university calendar. The final exam grade will be weighted. An example calculation
for term grades is as follows: 125 points for each of 2 hour exams = 250; final exam =
200, class participation = 50. Total points possible = 500. An A requires a 90 % or
higher average score or at least 450 points (0.90 X 500). There are no supplemental
exercises for extra credit. Makeup exams will only be given after receipt of written
justification for absences. If such exams are given, the date of such exams will be at the
discretion of the professor. If you are given permission to enroll but you do not have the
prerequisite courses in geology, it is your responsibility to do additional background
reading as necessary. In cases of high demand for seats, preference will be given to
those who meet the prerequisites.

Office hours: My office is rm 53 Halb. I will be pleased to meet with you any reasonable
time you wish. Please make an appointment after class or by email for a time convenient
for both of us. You can also contact me by email -- ahr@tamu.edu for questions
related to the course.
University Rules

University Rules Regarding Attendance, approved absences, etc. See http://studentrules.tamu.edu/rule7.htm for policies and a link to absence forms. In addition, be aware of the
rules and regulations regarding religious observances found at
http://dof.tamu.edu/faculty/policies/religiousobservance.php.
Scholastic Dishonesty Statement (Aggie Code of Honor)
The Honor Code, based on the long-standing affirmation that An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or
steal or tolerate those who do, is fundamental to the value of the A&M experience. Know the
Code. Aggie Code of Honor: "An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who
do." http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy Statement

The following ADA Policy Statement (part of the Policy on Individual Disabling Conditions)
was submitted to the UCC by the Department of Student Life. The policy Statement was
forwarded to the Faculty Senate for information.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal antidiscrimination statute
that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities.
Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be
guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation
of their disabilities. If you believe that you have a disability requiring an
accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for
Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Koldus Building, or call 845-1637.
Coursework Copyright Statement
The handouts used in this course are copyrighted. By "handouts," this means all
materials generated for this class, which includes quizzes, exams, lab problems, inclass materials, review sheets, and additional problem sets. Because these materials
are copyrighted, you do not have the right to copy them, unless you are expressly
granted permission.
As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as ones own the ideas,
words, writings, etc., that belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are
committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your
own, even if you should have the permission of that person.
If you have any questions about plagiarism and/or copying, please consult the latest
issue of the Texas A&M University Student Rules, under the section "Scholastic
Dishonesty."
Discussion Topic Outline

This is a list of the topics that I plan to cover but it is not a time schedule. Some topics will take
longer to cover than others.

1. Introduction
Course objectives, course plan, grading system.
Definition and scope of petroleum geology
The petroleum system
2. Origin of petroleum
Source rocks and their sedimentology/stratigraphy
Kerogen. Maturation and measures of maturity
3

Properties of petroleum
Composition and occurrences of oil and gas
Primary and secondary migration mechanisms

4. Sedimentary basins
Basin categories
Basin types by tectonic setting.

Examples of basin types

5. Traps and seals
Definitions
Trap types and modes of origin
Seals
Calculating seal capacity
Ideal seal rock types
6. Petroleum reservoirs
Definitions
Reservoir rock properties in terrigenous sandstones and carbonates
Fundamental properties
Derived (dependent) properties
Tertiary properties
Reservoir petrophysical properties
Saturation, wettability, capillarity, capillary pressure, recovery efficiency
7. Reservoir flow units
Definition of flow unit, baffle, barrier and petrophysical rock type
Graphical methods for defining petrophysical rock types
Evaluating flow unit quality
8. Exploration geology
Lithostratigraphic and sequence stratigraphic methods
Subsurface geological maps and sections
Reflection seismic methods
Gravity and magnetic surveys
9. Methods of logging rock and reservoir properties
Lithologic logs from cuttings and cores; mud logs; drillers logs
Conventional borehole logs and their applications
10. Depositional facies in sandstone reservoirs as models for exploration and development
Depositional models of nonmarine and marine sandstones
11. Exploration for carbonate & terrigenous sandstones differences and similarities
Carbonate depositional platforms
Depositional models of marine carbonate reservoir rocks
12. Influence of diagenesis on sandstone and carbonate reservoir characteristics
13. Fractured reservoirs.
Fracture formation and characteristics.
Finding and developing fractured reservoirs.
14. Selected field examples as time permits.

Suggested references (books)

Ahr, Wayne M., 2008. Geology of carbonate reservoirs: the identification, description, &
characterization of hydrocarbon reservoirs in carbonate rocks. Wiley & Sons, New York. 278 p.
Berg, R.R., Reservoir Sandstones. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 481 p.

Gluyas, J., and Swarbrick, R., 2003. Petroleum Geoscience. Blackwell Publishing (Wiley & Sons),
359 p.
Magoon, L.B. and Dow, W.G., 1994. The petroleum system from source to trap, AAPG Memoir
60, 665 p.
North, F.K., 1985. Petroleum geology. Allen & Unwin, 607 p.