Download Careers for Geoscientists In the Petroleum Industry

Careers for Geoscientists
In the Petroleum Industry
Professor Howard Johnson
Shell Professor of Petroleum Geology
Department of Earth Science & Engineering
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1.  Background to the oil & gas industry
2.  Geoscience applications in Petroleum E&P
3.  Qualifications & opportunities
Projected World Energy Supplies!
Hydroelectric
1993
100
100 BILLION
BARRELS
Solar, Wind
Geothermal
80
Billion
Barrels
of Oil
Equivalent 60
perYear
(GBOE)
40
Nuclear Electric
Coal
Natural
Gas
Crude Oil
20
1900
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
2020
2040
2060
2080
3000
after Edwards,
AAPG 8/97
Global Oil and Gas Exploration History
90
Ghawar
80
Discovered Volumes and
Average Field Size have
been in STEADY DECLINE
since the late 1960s
70
60
Bboe
50
Current Burning Rate
@ 49 Bboe/yr
40
30
‘modelled’
20
10
Annually Discovered Volumes
0
05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 00 05 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Discovery Year
'corrected' for South Pars and Kashagan
… and this despite increased efforts and advances in technology involved
Of the World's Total Recoverable Oil and Gas .....
•  Roughly 1/3 has been produced already
•  Roughly 1/3 has been discovered but remains to be produced
•  Roughly 1/3 still has to de discovered
Especially the latter 1/3 still carries a HUGE degree of uncertainty
Definition of recoverable is not at all simple and controlled by assumptions regarding Technical and
Commercial viability. There is no point in trying to be too precise about the future at this stage
What is relatively certain is that in future:
It will all become more difficult
It will all become more expensive
but also:
The product will become more and more valuable
Lots of interesting and important work will remain for you!
1960s-90s discoveries:
‘Easy Oil’
•  Structural traps dominant
•  Large, simple structures
•  Obvious traps
•  Good quality reservoirs
•  Simple rock-fluid systems (minor EOR)
•  Basic concepts (eg struct/strat)
•  Simple technologies
•  Qualitative models (eg fluid flow)
•  Single, deterministic models
•  Low resolution seismic imaging
•  Shallow burial depths (reservoir)
•  Shallow water depths (sea-bed)
>2000s discoveries:
‘Hard Oil’
•  Structural & stratigraphic traps
•  Small, complex structures
•  Subtle traps
•  Variable quality reservoirs
•  Complex rock-fluid systems (>EOR)
•  Advanced concepts (eg sequence strat.)
•  Advanced technologies (eg computing)
•  Quantitative models (eg fluid flow)
•  Multiple, stochastic models
•  High resolution seismic imaging
•  Deeper burial depths (reservoir)
•  Deeper water depths (sea-bed)
Oil and gas exploration and production is becoming more and more
geologically challenging, but this is aided by advanced technology
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1.  Background to the oil & gas industry
2.  Geoscience applications in Petroleum E&P
3.  Qualifications & opportunities
The Petroleum E & P Cycle: Geologists are Everywhere!
Exploration
Production
Operations
Geologists
Development
Geologists &
Geophysicists
Exploration
Geologists &
Geophysicists
Reservoir
Geologists
Regional
Geologists
3D Reservoir
Modellers
Structural Geologists
Sedimentologists
Stratigraphers
Wellsite Geologists
Petroleum E&P is all about understanding the interaction of
rocks and fluids at different scales, hence geology is everywhere!
Exploration: charging a reservoir
(10s-100s mill. years)
Production: depleting a reservoir
(10-100 years)
Oil & Gas
Trap
Seal
Basic Ingredients:
• 
• 
• 
• 
Heat
Source Rock
Migration Path
Trap
–  Reservoir (porous)
–  Seal (impermeable)
–  Structure (geometry)
•  Right Timing
Migration
Reservoir
Buoyancy
Driven
Expulsion
Source Rock
Maturation
Heat
The basic geological concepts apply to both E&P
Brent Field:
•  40 Ma to charge
•  40 years to produce!
Exploration:
How to do it?
Integrates stratigraphy, sedimentology, structural geology,
basin analysis, seismic interpretation & geochemistry
The Exploration Process
Decision
prospect
inventory
Phase 2: Prospect Focus
Prospect level understanding
prospect segmentation/
shotpoint risk (‘surgical
mapping’)
risk
seismic
imaging
basin statistics
-  field size dist
-  analogs
structural
styles
data
management
uncertainty
seismic
attributes
geol
modeling
Play Focus
Phase 1: Play Focus
Fundamental basin/play
level & regional
understanding
(‘forensic
geoscience’)
Professor Al Fraser (IC):
‘Geology from the bottom up!’
stratigraphy
- well data
- fieldwork
CRS: Common Risk Segment
lead inventory
play risk
-  CRS maps
-  success rates
Regional Understanding
sequence
stratigraphy
plate
reconstructions
regional seismic
grav & mag
petroleum
systems
basic maps
- structure
-  isopachs
documentation
Courtesy BP
The Exploration Process: Play Focus
Structural
Analysis
Pet. Sys.
modelling
Geological
modelling
Visualisation
Reservoir
characterisation
Play Fairway Analysis and
Risk segment mapping
Courtesy: Prof. Al Fraser
Regional Tectonics & Palaeogeography
(Courtesy: MSc Petroleum Geoscience students, Imperial College, 2009)
Location of the study area
http://www.serg.unicam.it/Reconstructions.htm
Tectono-Stratigraphic Evolution: Lower Congo Basin
(Courtesy: MSc Petroleum Geoscience students, Imperial College, 2009)
1. Pre-rift
2. Rift (Early Cretaceous)
•  Anoxic lacustrine basins: source rocks
•  Salt deposition
#
!"
#"
!"
Salt deposition
3. Post-rift (Late Cretaceous)
4. Post-rift (Tertiary to present)
•  Thermal subsidence
•  Carbonate & clastic deposition
•  Basinwards tilting & initial gravity sliding
•  Basinward tilting due to SW African uplift
•  Detached ‘rafts’ slide basinwards
•  Uplift causes sea level fall, erosion &
submarine fan deposition
#
!"
Uplift & Tilting
#
Detached Rafts
!"
Structural & Stratigraphic Interpretation
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Top Landana
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(Courtesy: MSc Petroleum Geoscience students, Imperial College, 2009)
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Evidence of Petroleum Migration
(Courtesy: MSc Petroleum Geoscience students, Imperial College, 2009)
Play Summary: Lower Congo Basin
(Courtesy: MSc Petroleum Geoscience students, Imperial College, 2009)
5km
West
Sea Level
East
Pliocene to Recent Sediments
Malembo Marine
Shale Seal
Western Graben
Landana
Mar. Shale
1
Malembo Miocene
Sst. Turbidites
Channels
Eastern Graben
1
Detachment
Surface
2
5km
Pinda
Carbonates
Reservoir
Landana
Mar. Shale
Malembo
Marine Shale
Seal
Iabe Marine Shale
Source & Seal
Raft
Loeme Salt
Weld
Chela Sst Reservoir
3
Pre-Salt
4
Bucomazi Source
Rock
Lucula
Sandstone
Lucula
Sandstone
Post-Salt Migration
1
Malembo Turbidites
2
Pinda Carbonates
Pre-Salt Migration
3
Chela Sandstones
4
Lucula Sandstones
Exploration Process: Prospect Focus
Structure
Segments
Reservoir
Prospect
Inventory
Risk and
Volume
AVO
mmbo
OIL
OIL
OIL
Courtesy: Prof. Al Fraser
Production:
How to do it?
OPERATIONAL AREAS
CORMORANT FIELD
NORTH SEA
DGH903050
© SPE 1986, Stiles & McKee, 1986
Examples of Sandstone Reservoir Architecture
Cormorant Block IV: Fault Pattern Changes
Initial
Development
Plan
Revised
Development
Plan
Later
Development
Plan
Sedimentology, structural geology & rock properties are all
integrated into 3D Reservoir Geological Models
4D Seismic: Monitoring Gas Re-Injection
1993 ( 0 months)
1998 ( 10 months)
1999 ( 20 months)
No injection
12 BCF injection
24 BCF injection
Courtesy of BP
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1.  Background to the oil & gas industry
2.  Geoscience applications in Petroleum E&P
3.  Qualifications & opportunities
This is a good time to join the petroleum
industry………
•  High & increasing demand from all types of employers
•  High & increasing global energy demand
•  Technically challenging E&P projects:
•  Frontier exploration (e.g. deep & ultra-deep water
•  E&P in conventional basins
•  Mature basins & fields
•  Improved oil recovery
•  Enhanced oil recovery
•  Complex &/or deeper reservoirs
•  Application of continuously developing & new technologies:
•  3D/4D seismic
•  Drilling (Extended reach, multi-laterals, deep water, etc.)
•  Downhole surveillance/monitoring
•  Higher resolution modelling capabilities
International Technical Skills Portfolio
Entry qualifications:
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
BSc: possible for technical assistant positions, mud logging, etc.
Masters degrees: essential for professional positions
(international entry level)
MSci: possible to join directly, but usually only with the larger
companies
MSc in Petroleum Geoscience or Geophysics is the prefrerred
graduate entry level qualification for most companies
MSc Petroleum Engineering: e.g. geophysics graduates could
consider this (a high level of numeracy is required)
PhD: essential for those considering a specialist career, such as
• 
Sedimentology
• 
Structural Geology
• 
Biostratigraphy
• 
Geochemistry
• 
Basin modelling
• 
Reservoir modelling
• 
Etc.
Conclusions
MSc Petroleum Geoscience:
Overview of Course Timetable
Production
Geoscience
Exploration
Geoscience
Independent Projects
USA
Examinations
Term 1
October
Development Geology
Wessex Basin Field Trip
Petropyhsics
Sesmic methods
Seismic interpretation
Structural Geology
N. Somerset Field Trip
Petroleum Engineering
Reservoir characterisation
Geostatistics
Reservoir modelling
Wytch Farm Group Project
Term 2
January
Term 3
April
Sequence stratigraphy
Carbonate reservoirs
Clastic reservoirs
Biostratigraphy
Petroleum Geochemistry
Petrol. Systems Analysis
Basin Analysis
Basin modelling
Seismic interpretation
Advanced seismic methods
Barrel Award
May
Summer
June
July
September
Final presentations
Independent Project
Utah & W. Texas
Field Trips
Clastic & carbonate systems
Fluvial-deltaic clastic systemss
Fluvial-aeolian clastic systems
Delta & salt tectonics
Carbonate reefal build-ups
Carbonate reservoirs & diagenesis
Back-Up
The Main Players
National Oil Companies
Saudi Aramco, Gasprom, CNPC, ADNOC, KOC, PDVSA,
PEMEX, Pertamina, ENI-AGIP, Petrobras, Petronas, PDO,
QGPC, etc.
Major Integrated Oil Companies
ExxonMobil , Shell, BP, Total, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ENIAgip, Yukos-Sirfnet, BG Group, etc.
Large Independent Oil Companies
Occidental, Repsol-YPF, Marathon, Hess, etc.
Small Independent Oil Companies
Premier, Perenco, Anadarko, Apache, Talisman, etc.
Service Companies
Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker-Hughes, GeoServices, etc.
Consulting Companies
Gaffney-Cline, Scott-Pickford, RPS, RDS-Helix, etc.
Software Companies
Schlumberger-GeoQuest, Halliburton-Landmark, Paradigm,
Midland Valley, Roxar, IKON, etc.
National Oil Companies
Saudi Aramco
Gasprom (Russia)
CNPC (China)
ADNOC (Abu Dhabi)
KOC (Kuwait)
PDVSA (Venezuela)
PEMEX (Mexico)
Pertamina (Indonesia)
Petronas (Malaysia)
Petrobras (Brazil)
PDO (Oman)
QGPC (Qatar)
ENI-AGIP (Italy)
StatoilHydro (Norway)
etc.
Comments:
•  emphasis on local staff (LS) development
•  excellent training (for LS)
•  expanding international interests
•  growing international staff (IS)
•  variable, often growing, E&P diversity
•  good appliers of technology
•  abundant work opportunities, especially
for experienced staff
•  limited long-term career opportunities for
IS staff
•  excellent long-term career opportunities
for LS staff
•  ENI & StatoilHydro behave more like
independent oil companies
Super Major Integrated Oil Companies
ExxonMobil
Total
Chevron
ConocoPhillips
Shell
BP
Yukos-Sirfnet
BG Group
etc.
Comments:
•  excellent training
•  broad work opportunities
•  good management structures
•  E&P diversity
•  well-organised
•  high quality staff
•  technical excellence (best at the moment)
•  technical leaders with active research
&/or technical centres
•  long-established international outlook
•  large international operations
•  strength in depth
•  relatively abundant, in-house specialists
•  staff carry high-level of professional
respect
Large Independent Oil Companies
Hess
CEPSA
EnCana
Marathon
Nexen
Occidental
OMV
Premier
Reliance
Repsol-YPF
RWE
Suncor
Talisman
etc.
Comments:
•  moderate-very good training
•  early responsibility
•  variable E&P diversity
•  highly focused, broad-based staff
•  good appliers of technology
•  fast decision-making
•  focused international outlook
•  close to points of decision-making
•  benefits of smaller company size
Small Independent Oil Companies
Premier
Perenco
Anadarko
Apache
Endeavour
Talisman
Hardman
Maersk
Lundin
Frontera
Noble Energy
Samson
Spinnaker
Venture
etc.
Comments:
•  limited in-house training, mainly external
•  immediate responsibility
•  variable E&P diversity
•  highly focused, EP staff
•  good appliers of technology
•  very fast decision-making
•  focused international outlook
•  often immediate points of decision-making
•  benefits of small company size with flexible
management
Service Companies
Halliburton
Schlumberger
Baker-Hughes
GeoServices
Expro
PGS
CGG
Veritas
TGS-Nopec
etc.
Comments:
•  excellent in-house training
•  immediate responsibility
•  focused on operational activities
•  highly specialised
•  high technology in operational setting
•  very fast decision-making
•  highly pressured job
•  exciting, but difficult, environments
•  irregular hours, harsh conditions
•  excellent learning experiences
•  highly paid (usually)
•  a good way to start learning the business
Consulting Companies
Gaffney-Cline
Scott-Pickford
RPS
RDS-Helix
Neftex
etc.
Comments:
•  immediate responsibility
•  focused on review studies & outsourced projects
•  highly specialised in some cases
•  broad/generalised in others
•  work is undertaken on behalf of clients (e.g. oil co.)
•  often short-duration projects
•  report back to client(s)
•  lots of travel (often)
•  may involve secondment into companies
•  ideal for specialists or experienced generalists
•  can involve leading-edge work
•  but often working for somebody else
Software Companies
Schlumberger-GeoQuest
Halliburton-Landmark
Paradigm
Midland Valley Comments:
Roxar
•  Ideal for specialists
Platte River
•  Increasing consultancy services
Ikon Science
•  highly specialised software, in some cases
etc
•  work is undertaken on behalf of clients (e.g. oil co.)
•  often short-duration projects
•  report back to client(s)
•  lots of travel (often)
•  may involve secondment into companies
•  ideal for specialists
•  usually involves leading-edge work
•  but often working for somebody else
Petroleum Geoscience professional societies
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
- student chapter in Department
- monthly meetings with guest lecturers
- internet access to AAPG Bulletin and AAPG Explorer
- FREE annual student membership (sponsored by Chevron)
Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain (PESGB)
- monthly lecture meetings in central London
- informal network of UK oil industry contacts
- £17.50 annual student membership (http://www.pesgb.org.uk)
Geological Society of London
- library and research conferences in central London
- Journal of the Geological Society
- £50 annual student membership (http://www.geolsoc.org.uk)
London Petrophysical Society
- monthly lecture meetings in central London
- FREE annual student membership (http://www.lps.org.uk)
Energy Institute
- regular meetings in central London
- graduate membership (http://www.energyinst.org.uk)
Petroleum Geoscience & Engineering:
Some Useful Career Links