PETROGEO 7022 - Petroleum Geoscience: MSc Research Project

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2017

This course involves conducting a group research project under supervision by a panel of expert staff. Students will work together as a team to define and characterise all elements of a petroleum system within an Australian sedimentary basin selected by members of the supervisory staff. Each student will have responsibility for investigating and reporting on a particular element and/or process of the petroleum system. Students will then bring their components together as a group to formulate a cohesive timing chart of events that demonstrates critical moments in the history of the petroleum system. This will then be used to predict the location of likely hydrocarbon accumulations within the subsurface of the sedimentary basin up to the present day. The elements and processes of a petroleum system are interlinked so students will need to collaborate within their group in order to develop their own areas of work. These dependencies will be identified as part of an initial report that summarises the student's area(s) of study and will comprise background information and project goals, and perhaps also some early outcomes or results. This report is due at the end of Week 5 and should be approached as an opportunity to develop the basic structure of the final thesis.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PETROGEO 7022
    Course Petroleum Geoscience: MSc Research Project
    Coordinating Unit Australian School of Petroleum & Energy Resources
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Regular plenary meetings throughout Semester 2 between student groups and the staff supervisory panel. Meeting timing and frequency to be arranged ad hoc between students and staff. Average meeting frequency is weekly to fortnightly.
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites PETROGEO 7010, 7011, 7012, 7013
    Corequisites PETROL 7020, 7021
    Assumed Knowledge A conceptual understanding of the subsurface elements and processes that coincide to define a working petroleum system.
    Course Description This course involves conducting a group research project under supervision by a panel of expert staff. Students will work together as a team to define and characterise all elements of a petroleum system within an Australian sedimentary basin selected by members of the supervisory staff. Each student will have responsibility for investigating and reporting on a particular element and/or process of the petroleum system. Students will then bring their components together as a group to formulate a cohesive timing chart of events that demonstrates critical moments in the history of the petroleum system. This will then be used to predict the location of likely hydrocarbon accumulations within the subsurface of the sedimentary basin up to the present day.
    The elements and processes of a petroleum system are interlinked so students will need to collaborate within their group in order to develop their own areas of work. These dependencies will be identified as part of an initial report that summarises the student's area(s) of study and will comprise background information and project goals, and perhaps also some early outcomes or results. This report is due at the end of Week 5 and should be approached as an opportunity to develop the basic structure of the final thesis.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Mark Bunch

    Co-coordinator: Dr Ulrike Schacht
    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 Work as part of a team to define and characterise all elements and processes of a petroleum system within a sedimentary basin.
    2 Become an expert in the investigation of, and reporting on, particular petroleum system elements and/or processes.
    3 Express the geological development of a petroleum system by palaeogeographic reconstructions and burial history modelling of a sedimentary basin.
    4 Formulate a cohesive timing chart of events that demonstrates critical moments in the history of the petroleum system.
    5 Collaborate within the project group in order to demonstrate and describe the interlinkages between the elements and processes of a petroleum system.
    6 Predict the location of likely hydrocarbon accumulations within the subsurface of sedimentary basin.
    7 Map the risk that critical elements or processes did not or do not occur in the project definition of a fully formed and functioning petroleum system.

     
    The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.


    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)
    1-7
    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
    1-4, 6, 7
    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, 3-7
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-4, 6, 7
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1, 4, 5
    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
    1, 3-5
  • 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
    Weekly project team meetings - personal performance 7.5 Individual Formative Weeks 6-9 1. 2. 3. 7.
    Weekly project team meetings - teamwork 7.5 Group Formative Weeks 6-9 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
    Group thesis - personal chapter 52.5 Individual Summative Week 12 1. 2. 3. 7.
    Group thesis - collected chapters 17.5 Group Summative Week 12 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
    Oral Examination - personal presentation 11.25 Individual Summative Week 15 1. 2. 3. 7.
    Oral Examination - project team Q&A 3.75 Group Summative Week 15 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
    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.
     
    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

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    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.

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