Course content

Composition and classification of petroleum. Conditions controlling primary production and accumulation of organic matter to petroleum. Primary and secondary migration of petroleum. Porosity and permeability in rocks. The role of depositional environment as a controlling factor for reservoir rock quality. Classification and formation of petroleum traps. Basin types and their petroleum potential. Principles of basin analysis. The geological development of the Norwegian continental shelf. Examples of Norwegian oil and gas fields. Geological conditions in some selected petroleum provinces in other parts of the world. The exercises include construction of burial graphs, maturation calculations, construction and interpretation of structure maps, thin section microscopy of potential reservoir rocks and a comprehensive exercise where the petroleum potential within a given area should be evaluated.

Learning outcome

The course aims at making the students comfortable with the processes leading to formation and accumulation of hydrocarbons in the earths crust. Further, to give the students an overview of the geological development and geological conditions on the Norwegian continental shelf and in other important petroleum provinces.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and exercises. If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may be changed from written to oral. Lectures are held in English if international master students attend.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

BSc in geosciences.

Course materials

J. Gluyas & R.E. Swarbrick: Petroleum Geoscience,
Blackwell Publishing.

Credit reductions