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Sedimentary Basins and Resource Analysis (GEOL90048)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
August
Overview
| Availability | August |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will show how to assess sedimentary basins for their resource potential, particularly those resources dependent upon porosity and permeability, such as geothermal energy, water, hydrocarbons and gas/CO2-storage. The skills taught come primarily from the petroleum industry, including seismic interpretation, borehole analysis, core-logging and temperature measurement, but are applied to assess all resources. Students will assess the ESE (economic, social and environmental) value of the resources. Students will each present and promote a farm-out investment opportunity and will be given an investment portfolio. Each student will be required to rank the opportunities against their portfolio. Practically, this will be achieved by comparing and contrasting eastern Australia basins of different types; the Palaeozoic Drummond Basin in Queensland, and the Mesozoic-Tertiary Gippsland-Otway Basins in Victoria. The key assignment will be to analyse the origin, fill, sediment properties and tectonic history of each basin and to assess its resource potential. The subject will include a one-day field excursion to Peninsula Hot Springs geothermal bathing and spa resort on the Mornington Peninsula.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Investigate the nature and origin of sedimentary basins;
- Interpret the basin fill and sedimentary environments from core and recorded data;
- Identify the controls on basin temperature distribution and heat input through geological time;
- Evaluate geothermal, hydrocarbon, gas/CO2 storage and water resources;
- Implement basic exploration techniques, strategy and farm-out evaluation;
- Interpret seismic data, electric logs and geohistory curves to define potential resources.
Generic skills
Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Undertake rigorous and independent thinking;
- Adopt a problem-solving approach to new and unfamiliar tasks;
- Develop high-level written report and/or oral presentation skills;
- Interrogate, synthesise and interpret the published literature; and
- Work as part of a team.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
Recommended background knowledge
A knowledge of third-year geology is recommended.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Geochemistry and geohistory Practical
| Due at the end of Monday in Week 2 of the teaching period | 15% |
Geothermal Practical
| Due at the end of Monday in Week 2 of the teaching period | 15% |
Core-logging and interpretation - Practical
| Due at the end of Thursday in Week 2 of the teaching period | 15% |
Seismic interpretation Practical
| Due at the end of Wednesday in Week 3 of the teaching period | 15% |
Assignment: Investment portfolio assessment
| Due at the end of the last week of the teaching period | 10% |
Assignment: Gippsland-Otway-Drummond basins resource potential
| Due at the end of the teaching period | 30% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- August
Coordinator Ralf Haese Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total of 80 contact hours over 3 weeks (10 working days) : 9 x all-day seminars (x4hrs lectures & x4hrs practicals per day); one day field excursion. Day 1: All-day seminar, Day 2: All-day seminar, Day 3: All-day seminar, Day 4: All-day seminar, Day 5: all-day seminar, Day 6: All-day seminar, Day 7: One-day field excursion, Day 8: All-day seminar, Day 9: All-day seminar, Day 10: All-day seminar Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 5 August 2024 to 23 August 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 August 2024 Census date 16 August 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 August 2024 Assessment period ends 30 August 2024 August contact information
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
Basin Analysis, by Allen P.A. & Allen J.R. 2006.
- Subject notes
Students should bring the following equipment to all practicals: Hand lens, calculator, ruler, coloured pencils, sharpener, eraser.
- Incidental costs
Transport costs related to the field trip.
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024