Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LH Exploring the Energy Transition
School	School of Geog Earth & Env Sci
Department	Earth and Environ Sciences
Module Code	03 36415
Module Lead	Stephen M Jones
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-10 hours Practical Classes and workshops-40 hours Guided independent study-150 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	A transfer from hydrocarbon production to carbon sequestration is projected for the coming decade. The suite of techniques that were traditionally used to explore for oil and gas will still be needed for sequestering carbon. The same exploration techniques are used when planning academic expeditions to recover core for climate reconstruction studies. This module gives a practical introduction to how we use borehole and seismic data in combination to explore sedimentary basins for industrial or academic purposes, in the context of the Energy Transition and the Climate Emergency. Most of the course time is devoted to extended practical exercises that give students grounding in industry-standard analysis techniques and software.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Demonstrate understanding of how sedimentary basin exploration exacerbates and mitigates the Climate Emergency, and how industries are responding to the Energy Transition. Use palaeo-water depth reconstruction, burial and maturation analysis techniques in sedimentary basin exploration for industrial and academic purposes. Use seismic datasets, including within industry standard software, to explore a sedimentary basin for industrial and academic purposes. Correlate seismic and borehole data, including wireline logging data, and plan boreholes in industrial or academic contexts.
Assessment	36415-01 : Assignment 1 : Coursework (40%) 36415-03 : Examination : Exam (Centrally Timetabled) - Open Book (60%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: In-course assessment based on practical exercises (40%); end of module examination (60%; 2 hour) Reassessment: by failed components
Other
Reading List