The course consists of a variety of geosciences and engineering courses addressing the concepts of petroleum exploration and appraisal. There are 8 taught courses, a team project and an individual project. The taught courses are worth 150 hours of work each, the projects are each worth 300 hours.

Semester 1

In Semester 1 the taught courses include background on how oilfields develop in various stratigraphic and structural settings using the north sea as an example, how basin development influences exploration success and what exploration methods are used, the basic methods of formation evaluation from wireline logs, and detailed sedimentology of reservoirs.

• Reservoir Concepts
• Petroleum Basins
• Formation Evaluation
• Reservoir Sedimentology

Semester 2

In Semester 2 the courses include geophysical interpretation and methods, seismic and sequence stratigraphy of clastic and carbonate reservoirs, biostratigraphy, and reservoir quality issues connected with diagenesis, basin flow systems and petroleum geochemistry and geomechanics and engineering aspects of flow in the subsurface.

• Geomechanics and Flow Mechanics
• Petroleum Systems Analysis
• Applied Petroleum Geophysics
• Applied Stratigraphy

Project Work

After the taught components are completed there are two research projects. Firstly is a group project designed to simulate working in an exploration section of a major oil company, including both fieldwork to the basin in question and also working on historical data to identify likely prospects for further exploration work. The second project is an individual project on any aspect of geology and geophysics related to the subjects covered during the program and can be undertaken through Heriot-Watt or at an outside company, subject to approval of the project as suitable.

Fieldwork

There are 2 set fieldtrips in the program, although other day trips may take place as part of the courses detailed above.

Introduction to the Forth Basin

This 2 day fieldtrip takes place within the first few weeks Semester 1, and is set up as an introduction to the course, the students, staff and the local area. The students visit local outcrops around Edinburgh city, and also several excellently exposed outcrops on the north coast of the Firth of Forth, discussing basin scale, type, exploration potential, source rocks and reservoir rocks, with illustrations of reservoir heterogeneity, reservoir scale, reservoir engineering issues and modelling challenges. This fieldtrip is assessed as part of the Petroleum Basins course.

Wessex Basin Fieldtrip

This week-long fieldtrip to the Wessex Basin is part of the Team Exploration Project at the beginning of summer. The aim of the fieldtrip is to introduce the students to the geology of the Jurassic Coast area, and to provide them with examples of source rocks, seal rocks, reservoir rocks, and structural features that may form traps within the Wessex Basin. Various exercises in logging, description and calculation of hydrocarbon produced are undertaken in the field, these are then used in the Group Project to identify likely locations for prospects and leads.

Past students on the Applied Petroleum Geoscience MSc have gone into further research (PhD programmes in the UK and overseas). Others have gone on to work in geoscience departments of major Oil and Gas companies as well as industry service organisations, contractors and small local companies. Companies who have employed our past students include Shell and Petroceltic here in the UK, and a number of other companies worldwide including Tullow, GNPC, and Total.

For MSc level entry, students must hold: a good honours or BSc degree in a relevant Geoscience discipline such as Geology or Geophysics from a UK or Overseas University. We look specifically for proven ability in basic geology or petroleum geology courses, as well as credits in maths courses. Parts of the courses listed above require higher or university level mathematics backgrounds.

In addition to the academic qualifications, motivation, industrial experience and personality are taken into consideration.

English language requirements

If your first language is not English, or your first degree was not taught in English, we’ll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum requirement for English language is IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. We offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement prior to starting your masters course:

• 14 weeks English for IELTS 5.5 (with no more than one skill at 4.5);
• 12 weeks English for IELTS 5.5 (with minimum of 5.0 in all skills);
• 6 weeks English for IELTS 5.5 (with minimum 5.5 in reading and writing, and minimum 5.0 in listening and speaking).