GeosciencePPDC

This intensive, online course will provide basic content material for teachers concerning geology, astronomy, oceanography, and meteorology. Topics include the origin of the universe and the life cycle of stars; the origin of the solar system and its components; the composition and structure of the Earth; plate tectonics; the rock cycle and water cycle, energy resources; the atmosphere, weather, and climate; and Earth’s oceans. Demonstration lessons and application assignments supplement the comprehensive presentations. Extensive, integrated digital resource links will connect participants with lesson plans, videos, animations, and accessible satellite imagery sources. Participants will engage with materials that address knowledge and skills as outlined in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards for High School Earth Systems Science, as well as the Next Generation Science Standards for the same course. Teachers of Environmental Systems and Advanced Placement Environmental Science will also benefit from much of the content materials covered in this workshop.

COST: $1,000 (out-of-state participants add $25 to course fee)
*Scholarships available! Please reach out to the PPDC for more information.

DATES

October 21 – February 28
Location: Online

Registration

COURSE DETAILS

• PTRT 1091
• 60 Hours, 6.0 CEUs
• Minimum of 5 students required to run course

This course is intended for geoscientists, engineers, managers, and others who are seeking a comprehensive introduction to low-permeability (unconventional) reservoirs. It is appropriate for those with no previous experience in tight rocks, those with some experience that want to broaden their understanding, and more experienced hands interested in new technologies and practices.

This course provides an extensive introduction to the exploration, appraisal and development of tight oil and gas reservoirs including shales, sandstones, and carbonates. It identifies the data that need to be collected, how to analyze and interpret them, and how to integrate and apply this knowledge to the decision-making process. Participants will develop a broad understanding of the practices and pitfalls in assessing these reservoirs, and will reinforce this by analyzing case study posters as teams.

Participants will learn 1) How rock and fluid characteristics differ in various oil and gas resource plays; 2) What key geoscience and engineering data need to be collected, analyzed, and integrated; 3) Which drilling and completion techniques are used and why; 4) How wells are forecasted to estimate rates and ultimate recoveries; 5) The key questions to ask and critical uncertainties to be addressed in formulating exploration, appraisal, and development programs; 6) What environmental, leasing, marketing, political, and financial factors need to be considered.

COST: $2,950 (out-of-state participants add $25 to course fee)

DATES

TBA

Registration

COURSE DETAILS

• BUSA 1092
• 32 Hours, 3.2 CEUs
• Minimum 6 students needed to run course

Geology is the foundation of the petroleum industry. This two-day introductory course will provide non-geologists with a basic understanding of the principles used by petroleum geologists in the search for oil and gas. The course provides an overview of the origin and habitat of oil and gas and the sub-disciplines that geologists use to explore and develop hydrocarbon accumulations, especially sedimentology, stratigraphy, and structural geology. The curriculum will include both the scientific background and the practical applications of geology. The tools and language of the petroleum geologist will be emphasized throughout the course. Understanding the vocabulary of petroleum geology will aid in communication between geoscience team members and those in other departments. For a more comprehensive look at the topic, we recommend the 4 day "Geology for Non-Geologists" course. The practice and profession of petroleum geology is firmly rooted in the science of geology itself.

This course will review the process of petroleum exploration and the rationale behind the methodology. The class will introduce the non-geologist to the concepts, tools, techniques, and terminology used by geologists in the search for oil and gas. Topics include identifying and classifying rocks - source rocks, reservoir rocks, and seals; the origin, nature, and occurrence of oil and gas; the basic principles of petroleum systems; the difference between conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons; the methods used in studying geologic history and basin evolution; the relationship of depositional systems, sedimentology, stratigraphy, sedimentary facies, and reservoirs for oil and gas; structural geology, folding, faulting, and the formation of petroleum traps; surface and subsurface mapping methods; and the philosophy and methodology of subsurface exploration. Other topics touched on briefly include seismic methods, wireline well-logging and formation evaluation, geochemistry, and wellsite geology.

COST: $1,000

DATES

October 1 – 2
Time: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Jack E. Brown Conference Hall
Midland College Main Campus
3600 N. Garfield, Midland, TX 79705

Registration

COURSE DETAILS

• PTRT 2005
• 15 Hours, 1.5 CEUs
• Minimum 5 students required to run course

The practice and profession of petroleum geology is firmly rooted in the science of geology itself. This course will review the process of petroleum exploration and the rationale behind the methodology. The class will introduce the non-geologist to the concepts, tools, techniques, and terminology used by geologists in the search for oil and gas. Understanding the vocabulary of petroleum geology will aid in communication between team members and those in other departments. Topics include: Rocks and Minerals, Plate Tectonics and Petroleum Basins, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, Structural Geology, Geologic Time and History of the Earth, Correlating and Mapping Formations, Exploring for Oil and Gas Traps.

The objective of this course is to provide non-geologists with a practical understanding of petroleum geology by reviewing both the scientific background and the practical applications of geology in the search for oil and gas. The tools, techniques, and vocabulary of the petroleum geologist will be emphasized throughout the course. This understanding will enable the non-geologist to communicate more efficiently and perform their job more effectively. Participants will learn about the origin and accumulation of oil and gas, the basic principles of Petroleum Systems and the methods used in studying geologic history and basin evolution and about the relationship of depositional systems, sedimentary facies, and reservoirs for oil and gas.

COST: $1,835 (out-of-state participants add $25 to course fee)

DATES

October 21 - 24
Time: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Jack E. Brown Conference Hall
Midland College Main Campus
3600 N. Garfield, Midland, TX 79705

Registration

COURSE DETAILS

• PTRT 2005
• 30 Hours, 3.0 CEUs
• Minimum 5 students required to run course

INTERESTED?

This five-day course covers the reservoir engineering aspects of waterflooding. The seminar combines geology, rock and fluid properties, and immiscible displacement theory to develop waterflooding prediction techniques and to aid in the evaluation of actual waterflood performance behavior. Detailed procedures for analyzing oil and water producing rates, water injection rates, and recovery efficiency are presented. Selection of waterflood patterns (regular, irregular, peripheral), prediction of sweep efficiency (areal, vertical, and displacement), and an analysis of other variables which control recovery efficiency are discussed in detail. Also discussed are waterflood surveillance techniques such as production plots, WOR analysis, floodable pore volume versus primary depletion pore volume, injection profile testing, pressure transient testing, step-rate testing, Hall plots, pattern balancing, bubble maps, volumetric sweep (reservoir conformance) evaluation, and injection efficiency determination. These surveillance techniques provide the engineer with information required for the efficient management of both new and mature waterfloods. Several waterflood case studies are reviewed.

Participants are encouraged to bring a straight edge and handheld calculator or laptop for exercises.

COST: $3,975 (out-of-state participants add $25 to course fee)

DATES

TBA

Registration

COURSE DETAILS

• PTRT 2005
• 32 Hours, 3.2 CEUs
• Minimum 5 students needed to run course