What This Program Covers
Most exploration failures happen because someone missed a critical element in the petroleum system. Maybe the source rock never reached maturity. Maybe hydrocarbons migrated before the trap formed. Understanding how these elements work together separates productive basins from expensive dry holes.
This program walks through the complete petroleum system concept, starting with organic matter deposition and ending with hydrocarbon accumulation. You will learn to identify source rocks using geochemical data, calculate thermal maturity from vitrinite reflectance and Rock-Eval pyrolysis, and map migration pathways using carrier bed analysis.
What You Actually Learn
The focus is on building working models of petroleum systems. You will analyze real basin data to determine if all four critical elements are present: adequate source rock, sufficient maturation, effective migration routes, and properly timed traps. Case studies cover both successful discoveries and instructive failures from major sedimentary basins.
We spend significant time on timing relationships because this trips up many geologists. A perfect structural trap means nothing if hydrocarbons migrated through the area before the structure formed. You will learn to use burial history charts, fission track data, and fluid inclusion analysis to reconstruct the sequence of events.
The program includes hands-on work with basin modeling software to test different scenarios. What happens if you change the heat flow? How does faulting affect migration? These tools help you understand the sensitivity of your interpretations and identify the biggest uncertainties in your model.
Course Structure
Program Structure
- Source rock evaluation: TOC analysis, kerogen typing, and maturity assessment using multiple geochemical indicators
- Thermal history reconstruction: building burial and thermal models, calibrating with maturity data, understanding heat flow variations
- Migration analysis: identifying carrier beds, mapping drainage areas, calculating distances and timing
- Reservoir and seal characterization: porosity and permeability trends, capillary pressure analysis, seal capacity evaluation
- Trap formation and timing: structural evolution, diagenetic changes, preservation factors
- Petroleum system mapping: creating events charts, risk assessment, play fairway analysis
- Basin modeling software: hands-on sessions with 1D and 2D modeling tools, sensitivity analysis, uncertainty quantification
Week-by-Week Breakdown
- Weeks 1-2
- Source rock fundamentals and geochemical analysis techniques
- Weeks 3-4
- Thermal maturation modeling and calibration methods
- Weeks 5-6
- Migration pathways and secondary processes
- Weeks 7-8
- Integrated petroleum systems analysis with real basin examples