Undergraduate Course: Helmsdale 3rd Year Field Excursion and Interpretation Exercise (EASC09041)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | The exposures of Jurassic rocks along the coastline near Helmsdale, NE scotland, are world-class examples of fault-related clastic sedimentation. A study is made of the structural, sedimentological and stratigraphic relationships exposed. The interpretation exercise focuses on seismic reflection profiles constrained by knowledge of the structures and sedimentary succession at the basin margin near Helmsdale. |
| Course description |
- basic field geology;
- petroleum geology (reservoirs and seals);
- sedimentology especially in relation to fault tectonics;
- use of industry-standard seismic interpretation software (PETREL);
- volumetic calculation for oilfield
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Any Third Year Earth Science student would have the experience to take this elective. |
| Additional Costs | The cost of this fieldtrip in 2013/14 was £130. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Evidence of experience in field or basic geology required to the satisfaction of the Course Organizer. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
98 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam: 0%, Course Work: 100 %, Practical Exam: 0%.
The assessment is based on 2 reports:
Fieldwork (maximum 1500 words excluding any references). It should include:
- field observations, tied to locations;
- photographs and / or field sketches. All photos must be accompanied by an explanatory sketch; except for close-up photos of e.g. fossils. Photos and sketches must have a caption;
- Basic interpretations of the observations such as sedimentary environment; suitability of the strata as reservoir or seal;
- Short summary or conclusions
A literature review is not expected, though key papers can be cited in support of interpretation. Standard scientific notation should be used for references.
Interpretation Exercise (maximum 1500 words excluding references). It should include:
- interpreted seismic sections;
- volumetric calculation for best structure;
- assessment of the quality of the volumetric assessment.
Assessment deadlines
Digital and paper-copy hand-in dates:
Field Excursion: Monday week 5, 19th October 12 noon
Interpretation exercise: Monday week 6, 26th October 12 noon. |
| Feedback |
Students work in the field with a high ratio of staff:students (max. 8 - 10 students per staff person), with staff permanently available for questions, and opportunity for informal assessment of notebooks, or of observations and interpretation.
Evening work again has all staff present for questions and informal notebook review, and we review the days work giving students the chance to self-assess their understanding of the fieldwork. The formative assessment of field notebooks (peer-group marking exercise) gives informal feedback on progress and encourages the students to consider what makes a good notebook.
The interpretation exercise has staff and demonstrator available for the entire exercise, for questions and feedback.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Use of onshore outcrops to build up an overall picture of a sedimentary basin - how and when rifting initiated, sedimentary facies, susidence history.
- Understand the effect of fault segmentation of the Helmsdale Fault on sediment dispersal within the basin.
- Understand how geological constraints impact on the seismic interpretation.
- Practice and enhance basic field geology skills including field observation; keeping a notebook; synthesis of observations into geological history.
- Gain basic familiarity with industry-standard seismic interpretation software (PETREL) including a simple volumetic calculation for an oilfield.
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Reading List
There is a guide book to the area (Excursion guide to the geology of East Sutherland and Caithness by Nigel Trewin and Andrew Hurst; either 1st or 2nd edition is fine)
Otherwise, Geological field Techniques by Angela Coe (not in library?) is good (the sedimentary section, not the rest of it).
There are also:
*Sedimentary Rocks in the Field (Geological Field Guide) by Maurice E. Tucker,
*The Field Description of Sedimentary Rocks (Geological Society of London Handbook Series) by Maurice E. Tucker (same book but older?)
The excursion always has students with a wide range of field expertise, we do expect some people without much geology. The books below on general sedimentology would be suitable background reading (these are in library):
*Understanding the Earth (Chapter 15, Sedimentary Basins; Chapter 16, Clastic Sediments)
*Earth's Dynamic Systems 9th Edition (Chapter 5, Sedimentary Rocks; Chapter 10, Weathering)
*Sedimentology & Sedimentary Basins, from Turbulence to Tectonics (M. Leeder) (Part 6: Continental sediments, Part 7: Marine sedimentss)
*Elements of Petroleum Geology, Selley, R.C., 2nd Edition, 1998 (Chapter 6: The Reservoir)
Finally, there are a number of papers on the area, which are a bit more tricky but might help, the most reelvant is PALEOECOLOGY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY ACROSS A JURASSIC FAULT SCARP, NE SCOTLAND, 1993, WIGNALL, P.B. & PICKERING, K.T., JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY v. 150 p.23-340.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Report writing; working in groups |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
For 2015/16 field excursion runs from Tuesday 8th to Friday 11th September. NOTE this is before the start of Semester 1.
Residential excursion, with 3 nights in the Belgrave Arms Hotel, Helmsdale (Tel. 01431 821 242), bed, breakfast and evening meal. You buy your own lunches.
The weather can be cold and wet, please bring warm and waterproof clothing.
Notebook, hand lens, tape measure etc required. |
| Keywords | Helmsdale_Field_trip,Interpretation,geophysics,exploration,geology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Mark Wilkinson
Tel: (0131 6)50 5943
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Casey Hollway
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: |
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