Postgraduate fieldwork-based teaching

Wessex Geology

This fieldwork-based teaching complements the "Introduction to Petroleum Geology" course, putting concepts and skills into practice. It aims to review the geological processes that result in the generation, migration, entrapment and preservation of hydrocarbons. This is assisted by the Wessex Basin being an exhumed, partly uplifted, petroliferous sedimentary basin. The course will describe the main productive reservoir intervals of the Wytch Farm Oil Field, particularly the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone and the Lower Jurassic Bridport Sands. This information will be used to discuss broader aspects of the development of the Wytch Farm oil field and to make comparisons to the North Sea Fields.

Active Mining Operations

Students will experience fieldwork-based teaching to understand active mining, downstream metal and mineral processing and energy development. The teaching may happen online due to COVID-19 restrictions, and will provide experience of all aspects of the extraction industry.  It also reinforces the practical application of the theoretical material covered in the first two terms.