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Master of Science in Petroleum Geoscience

(JPT/BPP(R3/0532/7/0003)07/26)(A7175) ​



Introduction

Petroleum Geoscience is an interdisciplinary field that applies geoscience principles and quantitative methods in the search and development of commercial oil and gas fields. It includes interpreting, predicting and managing risks and uncertainties in exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon resources. At Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, the Master of Science in Petroleum Geoscience programme is tailored to train young graduates and professionals from the industry in the full range of approaches, methods and techniques to explore and evaluate new oil and gas fields and to characterise reservoirs.

The programme is designed to meet the capability requirements for oil and gas industry specialist, exploration and reservoir geoscientist which include field geologist, seismic interpreter, quantitative geophysicist as well as E&P subsurface risking leaders. 

This is achieved through 6 core technical modules, 4 specialisation electives either in subsurface imaging or reservoir geoscience, 3 non-technical modules and an industrial project. Throughout the programme, there is a high​ degree of geological fieldwork and computer programming usage, both for project and teaching-learning activities. Each of the module is being taught by established academician and industry experts within Petroleum Geoscience domain.

Programme Objectives

1. Petroleum geoscientist specialist with insights to articulate complex industry problems and solutions.
2. Industry leaders with integrity towards sustainable development through continuous improvement and innovation for the betterment of society.​​

Programme Outcomes

1. Demonstrate continuing and advanced knowledge in petroleum geoscience and have the capabilities to further develop or use these in new situations or multi-disciplinary context.
2. Analyse and evaluate critically problems in petroleum geoscience, particularly in situations with limited information and to provide solutions through application of appropriate tools and techniques.
3. Appraise available information and research evidence in petroleum geoscience and apply it in the engineering context.
4. Plan and perform research undertakings in petroleum geoscience professionally, ethically and responsibly.
5. Report technical findings in both written and oral forms.
6. Recognise the needs for continuing professional development in petroleum geoscience.

Programme Highlights


1. Demonstrate continuing and advanced knowledge in petroleum geoscience and have the capabilities to further develop or use these in new situations or multi-disciplinary context.
2. Analyse and evaluate critically problems in petroleum geoscience, particularly in situations with limited information and to provide solutions through application of appropriate tools and techniques.
3. Appraise available information and research evidence in petroleum geoscience and apply it in the engineering context.
4. Plan and perform research undertakings in petroleum geoscience professionally, ethically and responsibly.
5. Report technical findings in both written and oral forms.
6. Recognise the needs for continuing professional development in petroleum geoscience.


Programme Details

​Department: Department of Geosciences 

Intakes: January, May, and September

Mode of Deliverance: 

Modular
Min 1 year, Max 3 years
Full Time (Conventional or ODL)
Entry Requirements
i. Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field from a recognised university with a CGPA of 2.50 - 2.74 or its equivalent OR;
ii. Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field from a recognised university with a CGPA of 2.00 - 2.49 or its equivalent will require 5 years of working experience and internal rigorous assessment
iii. Candidates without a qualification in the related fields or working experience in the relevant fields must undergo appropriate pre-requisite courses and meet the minimum CGPA based on (i) to (ii)

Apel.A field:
Applicable
English Requirements

A minimum TOEFL score of 500 or equivalent
A minimum IELTS score of 5.0 or equivalent
Native English speakers or holding a degree with English as the medium of instruction may be exempted from this requirement

Pre-requisite courses
Bachelor’s Degree from non-geoscience / earth science related programme will have to take pre-requisite courses as below:
Physical Geology
Seismic Method
It will be conducted 100% online
Estimated Total Cost Fee

RM 29,550 (Malaysian)
RM 38,600 (International)

Career Prospects

Petroleum Geoscientist, Geologist, Geophysicist, Geotechnical Consultant

Programme Curriculum Structure and Programme Module Synopsis

​The curriculum is meticulously developed with inputs drawn from the oil and gas industry experts in Malaysia and other parts of the world. The programme is also designed to accommodate working professionals who would be able to utilise their work experience in projects. For fresh graduates, there will be opportunities to work on real projects with various petroleum companies. All the modules are designed to be completed over 3 semesters period, with each technical module taking place within 2-3 weeks duration. Examinations are held at the end of the semester. ​

Courses​ Credit Hours
​Compulsory Core​
​Basin & Structu​ral Dynamics
​3
​Applied Sedimentology & Stratigraphy
3​
​Petroleum System & Basin Modelling
3​
​Applied Geophysics
3​
​Formation Evaluation & Petrophysics
3​
​Life of Field & Subsurface Risking
3​
​Specialisation (Choose 2)
Advance Seismic Technology
​3
​Quantitative & Computational Geophysics
3
​Reservoir Modelling and Characterisation
​3
​Reservoir Engineering
​3
​Project
​Individual Industrial Project I
3
​Individual Industrial Project II​
7
​​National Requirement
​Research Methodology
​2
University Requirement
​Project Management
​2
​​Data Analytic
3
​Total​
41

S​ubject by Semester

​​Semester 1
​Course Name
​Credit Hours
​Basin & Structural Dynamics
​3
​Applied Sedimentology & Stratigraphy
​3
​Petroleum System & Basin Modelling
​3
​Research Methodology
​2
​Project Management
​2
​Total
​13


 

​​Semester 2
​Course Name
​Credit Hours
Applied Geophysics
​3
Formation Evaluation & Petrophysics
​3
Life of Field & Subsurface Risking
​3
Individual Industrial Project I​
​3
​Total
​12


 

Semester 3
​​Course Name
​Credit Hours
Course 1 of Specialization I / II
3
Course 2 of Specialization I / II​
​3
Data Analytic
3
Individual Industrial Project II​
7​
​Total
16
Total Credit Hours​
41


 specialization.png



Programme Module Synopsis

The curriculum is meticulously developed with inputs drawn from the oil and gas industry experts in Malaysia and other parts of the world. The programme is also designed to accommodate working professionals who would be able to utilise their work experience in projects. For fresh graduates, there will be opportunities to work on real projects with various petroleum companies. All the modules are designed to be completed over 3 semesters period, with each technical module taking place within 2-3 weeks duration. Examinations are held at the end of the semester.

 

Course Code Module Credit Hour
QCM5013​
Basin and Structural Dynamics 3 credits

This course addresses structural analysis of basin formation and development in the framework of regional plate tectonics dynamics. It provides an overview of the architecture of the different types of sedimentary basins, and related structures and includes exercises of seismic interpretation to correctly reconstruct their evolution with time.


 

Course Code Module Credit Hour
QCM5023​
Applied Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 3 credits

This module covers selected central topics within sedimentology and stratigraphy - such as a detailed analysis of various sedimentary palaeoenvironments, interpretation of sediment petrography and geochemistry, understanding of trace fossils, practical use of sequence stratigraphic.

 

Course Code Module Credit Hour
QCM5033​
Petroleum System and Basin Modelling 3 credits

Petroleum system analysis comprises detailed review of the seven critical elements required for hydrocarbon accumulation. Workflow encompasses compilation of input data needed to build 3D basin model. Lectures and presentations will illustrate the basin evolutionary processes & the hydrocarbon plumbing mechanism from source kitchen to traps. Practical use of a routinely used 3D basin modelling software, e.g. PetroMod integrate seismic, well logs, lab analysis etc. New perspectives & recent developments in petroleum system analysis and basin modelling will be highlighted & discussed. With advancement of computational memory, petroleum system analysis and basin modelling will increasingly become a 'must have" rather than a “nice to have" to QA/QC prospect maturation workflow. Its favorable impact on exploration successes will be profound.

 

Course Code​ Module Credit Hour
QCMB5043 Applied Geophysics 3 credits

This course imparts knowledge on the application of geophysical techniques for hydrocarbon resource exploration. Theoretical background, fundamental principles, routine applications as well as the latest advances of each of the geophysical techniques will be presented. The techniques discussed are seismic, gravity, magnetics and electromagnetics.

 

Course Code Module Credit Hour
QCM5053​
Formation Evaluation & Petrophysics 3 credits

This course focuses on the study of the physical properties of rocks focusing on the storage and flow of the fluids contained within them. It also provides the fundamental basics of coring, well site geology and the conventional geological and petrophysical log interpretation. Log data acquisition for some advanced tools will be presented in order to highlight the significance of the recorded parameters and the impact of uncertainties on the evaluation results. The student will get some basic knowledge on core analysis, will understand methodology used to carry out different petrophysical property measurements in lab and using logs, and will become familiar with qualitative and quantitative well log interpretations and core-log calibration. He should be able to prepare and use this information for integrated geological work flows in flow units, basin analysis and reservoir characterization.

 

Course Code​ Module Credit Hour
QCM5063 Life of Field & Subsurface Risking 3 credits

The module integrates the learning outcomes of previous taught module. The main aim is to adapt and develop a petroleum potential exploration/appraisal plan based on given data. The main learning outcomes are expected to enhance cognitive and core skills: developing problem solving strategies etc. The case study subsurface data provided include key petroleum systems elements, to enable sensitivity analysis of subsurface risks and evaluation of volumetrics uncertainties. The ensuing techno-commercial exploration proposal will be negotiated to satisfy the stakeholders' contractual requirements and management approval. Each candidate will consolidate the final recommendation using a decision tree framework and present the finding in front of module leader for feedback and endorsement. A pre-drilling and post-discovery comparative resource assessment will be analyzed.

 

Course Code Module Credit Hour
QCM5073​
Advance Seismic Technology 3 credits

The module addresses the current and advanced techniques in subsurface seismic data processing and imaging. An overview of the acquisition methodologies as well as mathematical theory behind the processing application will be given in brief. Throughout the module, comprehensive and state-of-the-art processing sequences are explained with the aid of hands-on practical exercises and projects. A particular attention is paid to the signal processing / imaging tools. Data processing and imaging exercises are done with the help of a commercial processing software available in-house.

 

Course Code Module Credit Hour
QCM5083​
Quantitative & Computational Geophysics 3 credits

An important skill that students in geophysics specialization need to acquire is the ability to analyze geophysical data based on the quantitative, computational method and computer program. This course provides an introduction to various interpretation methods, numerical methods applied at various sizes and complexity of the geophysical data for building the earth sub-surface images includes solution techniques, modelling, tomography and inverse problems.

 

Course Code Module Credit Hour
QCM5093​
Reservoir Modelling & Characterization​​​​

3 credits

This course comprises of reservoir characterization and modeling routinely used in the industry. The presentation will illustrate the stochastic and volumetric modeling, volumetric and uncertainties calculations. Geomodelling tools are used to assist in data integration among seismic production and well logs. New perspectives in reservoir characterization and modeling are highlighted.


 

Course C​ode Module Credit Hour
QCM5103 Reservoir Engineering 3 credits

This course provides fundamental knowledge of reservoir engineering in terms of reservoir geology: rock properties, reservoir fluid properties, volumetric and non-volumetric calculation with MBE. At the end of the course, the students will have practical/ industry-oriented knowledge to describe the behavior of a reservoir and understand the principles of reservoir engineering.

 

Course Code Module Credit Hour
QCM5113​
Individual Industrial Project I 3 credits

The projects are provided by industry in topics among others are basin evaluation, reservoir modelling, seismic technology, prospect maturity and non-seismic techniques. In the first part of the project, students are required to gather the information (conduct literature review), defend the research project proposal, and carry out preliminary works, prior to Industrial Individual Project II.

 

Cour​se Code Module Credit Hour
QCM5127 Individual Industrial Project II 7 credits

The projects are provided by the industry in topics among others are basin evaluation, reservoir modelling, seismic technology, prospect maturity and non-seismic techniques. The total duration of the project is 4 months with months of project proposal and examination and preparation of final report on dissertation.

 

Course Code Module Credit Hour
DAM5362​​​​​​​​​​

Data Analytics 3 credits

In this course we explore key data analysis techniques, which can be applied to massive datasets to enable real-time decision making. In particular, we examine the software tools that make possible the efficient analysis of data in near real time. Students are expected to make use of said tools to design highly scalable systems that can process and analyze big data for a variety of scientific, social, and environmental challenges.​


Contact

Programme Manager
Ts Dr Abdul Halim Abdul Latiff
Email: abdulhalim.alatiff@utp.edu.my
Direct Line: +6053687127

Academic Executive
Mr Elmi Johar A Rahman
Email: elmi.rahman@utp.edu.my
Direct Line: +6053687434

General Inquiries
Ms Nurul Asmira Sulaiman
Email: asmira.sulaiman@utp.edu.my
Direct Line: +6053688192​