GEOL40660 Stratigraphic prediction (2.5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Peter Haughton

Autumn Trimester

A module focussing on how to build stratigraphic correlations and predict lithology using core and well data. It will introduce core-to-log ties and correlation strategies including surface based correlations in 3D using sequence stratigraphic principles. The module will also cover the application of bio-, chemo- and cyclostratigraphy in setting up correlation frameworks. Examples from deeper subsurface reservoir analysis, behind-outcrop coring, and shallow geotechnical and groundwater-related projects will form the basis of a series of related practical sessions.

Lecture 1: Introduction to stratigraphic principles
Lecture 2: Facies concept – 1D to 4D
Lecture 3: Generating stratigraphy
Lecture 4: Modern coastal settings – what lies beneath?
Lecture 5: Biostratigraphy 1.
Lecture 6: Biostratigraphy 2
Lecture 7: Introduction to sequence stratigraphy
Lecture 8: Parasequences and sequence sub-division
Lecture 9: Surface-based correlation in practice
Lecture 10: Additional stratigraphic tools

Practical 1: Predicting stratigraphic relationships away from a vertical section. 
Practical 2: Cocco delta exercise. Reconstructing Holocene history from Google Earth imagery.
Practical 3: Biostratigraphic exercises.
Practical 4: Surface based correlation exercises.
Practical 5: Ferron Sandstone correlation and generation of GDE maps.

GEOL40530 Applied Structural Geology (2.5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Conrad Childs

Autumn Trimester

This module will provide the background required to constrain the structural geological aspects of subsurface geomodels. Starting from an introduction to the most important structures, the module will consider how these structures form, the conditions under which they form and the controls on their deformation style and geometrical properties. The module will consider how the subsurface can be structurally characterised from different data sources and over a range of scales. Methods for constraining subsurface 3D structure and constructing and testing geometrically realistic and geologically plausible structural models of the subsurface will be reviewed.

Lectures
1. Stress and rock failure
2. Fractures and their interpretation
3. Fault geometry and displacement distribution; normal faults
4. Fault geometry and displacement distribution; thrusts and strike-slip faults
5. Fault rocks and fault zones
6. Shear zones and ductile deformation
7. Fold geometry and folding mechanisms
8. The scaling of geological structures
9. Controls of pre-existing structure and fault reactivation
10. Structural associations and timing of structures

Practicals
1. Orientation analysis using stereonets
2. Structural mapping from boreholes
3. Structural evolution from seismic data/displacement mapping
4. Fault Seal Analysis
5. Structural validation and restoration

GEOL40760 Geofluids and Geomechanics (5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Tom Manzocchi

Autumn Trimester

This 5-credit module concerns the behaviour of fluids, stresses and temperatures in the subsurface as a function of natural geological processes and in response to human-induced perturbations. The principal topics covered include fluids, stresses and rock properties in subsiding and exhumed basins, geomechanical behaviour and rock failure in the subsurface, physical properties of multiphase fluids in porous media, the mechanics of groundwater or hydrocarbon production, CO2 sequestration and geofluid storage, and methods in fluid and heat flow modelling. Lectures focus on understanding the physical or numerical principals of the topics covered, while practical classes explore how these principals can be used to solve questions about the fluids and stresses in the subsurface, using paper- or spreadsheet-based methods.

Lecture 1: Mechanical compaction in sedimentary basins
Lecture 2: Formation, migration and trapping of hydrocarbons
Lecture 3: Heat flow and chemical compaction
Lecture 4: Fluid expulsion and hydrodynamic flow
Lecture 5: Stress in the crust
Lecture 6: Induced seismicity
Lecture 7: Rheology of geomaterials
Lecture 8: Two-phase fluid / rock properties
Lecture 9: Chemical and physical properties of oil and gas
Lecture 10 Primary and secondary production drive mechanisms
Lecture 11: Viscous, Capillary and Gravity scaling in two phase flow
Lecture 12: CO2 sequestration associated with enhanced hydrocarbon production.
Lecture 13: CO2 sequestration in saline aquifers and depleted reservoirs
Lecture 14: Introduction to flow modelling
Lecture 15: Principals of finite difference flow modelling
Lecture 16: Finite Difference flow modelling Part 2

Practical 1: Oil and Gas migration, trapping and leakage
Practical 2: Oil Reservoir Pressures and hydrodynamic fluid contacts
Practical 3: Elastic rock behaviour and brittle failure
Practical 4: Physical observations in fluid/fluid/rock behaviour
Practical 5: Fluid contacts, PVT properties and hydrocarbon volume calculations
Practical 6: Analysis of groundwater flow using flow nets
Practical 7: Construction of a 2D Pressure solution in a pumping well.
Practical 8: 2D crustal heat flow modelling

GEOL40790 Minerals System Geoscience (5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Koen Torremans

Spring Trimester

This module explores the fundamental principles and processes that govern mineral systems, focused on metallic mineral deposits. Building from core geoscientific concepts, students will develop insights into how mineral systems form across a variety of geological settings. Content will be focused on practical applications of geochemical, mineralogical, hyperspectral, geophysical, and field techniques employed in modern mineral exploration and production. Students will put these learning in practice on real deposits in the field. The Irish Orefield is a world-class Zn-Pb-Cu carbonate-hosted ore province, with several historic and active mines. A 3-day field-based course will unravel the structural evolution of the Irish Missisippian rift basin, the influence of this rifting on carbonate host rocks deposition, and the formation of Zn-Pb mineralisation across various deposits. Activities will include a mine visit, drillhole and outcrop-based data collection and analysis in Ireland.

Teaching and Learning is done through a series of foundational lectures with associated practical classes, typically using digital data and occasional use of 3D data analysis and visualisation software.

In addition to the lecture and practical classes there is a 3-day residential fieldtrips to relevant mine and mineral exploration sites in Ireland. Principal methods for teaching and learning in the field will be training in the collection of typical mineral exploration and mining data, borehole logging, outcrop interpretation in field outcrops, field note taking, supplemented by evening seminars. Field work exercises will typically be done in groups of 2 or 3 students. Information meetings before field work will prepare students for the field class.

GEOL40820 Fieldwork (5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Peter Haughton

Spring Trimester

A 10 day field course in the Spanish south-central Pyrenees, an area where spectacular surface geology can be combined with subsurface seismic and borehole datasets. The course will involve a series of one and two-day exercises built around depositional architecture, stratigraphic prediction, structural analysis, tectonic-sedimentary interactions, fractured rock characterisation and geomodelling.

The geology of the South-Pyrenean foreland basin system records an extended history of deformation and sedimentation adjacent to the evolving Pyrenean mountain belt. Deformation stepped deeper into the foreland in the region south of the central Pyrenees generating a series of interconnected wedge-top sub-basins. This 10-day field–based course will track the tectonic and depositional history of these interlinked basins, working from east to west along the sediment dispersal path from mountain source area across the shoreline and downslope into deep-water.

GEOL40750 Methods in Geomodelling (2.5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Tom Manzocchi

Autumn Trimester

The module introduces and reviews the main methods used in the estimation of geomaterial properties and the construction of surface maps or subsurface models for use in geoscience and geoengineering. Methods discussed include data preparation and statistics, computer mapping and property estimation (triangulation, contouring, kriging, sequential Gaussian simulation), 3D computer geomodelling (extrusion-based methods, surface and framework modelling, explicit and implicit approaches) and an introduction to dynamic modelling approaches. The main emphasis is on forward modelling using data and a conceptual model. However, inverse modelling and the use of generative AI tools are also addressed, with reference to example static and dynamic geomodelling studies.

Lecture 1: What is geological modelling?
Lecture 2: Introductory geostatistics
Lecture 3: Property estimation and mapping
Lecture 4: Stochastic modelling of property distributions
Lecture 5: Approaches to 3D surface geomodelling
Lecture 6: Framework and Implicit surface geomodelling
Lecture 7: Applications and examples of static modelling
Lecture 8: Methods and application of dynamic modelling

Practical 1: Geostatistical data analysis
Practical 2: Geostatistical estimation and simulation
Practical 3: Data preparation for implicit modelling
Practical 4: 3D modelling using GemPy

GEOL40810 Geostatistics and Geomodelling (5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Tom Manzocchi

Spring Trimester

Using a geomodel to quantify the value of a resource or to forecast its future behaviour often requires assigning geometrical and physical properties to the model. This module reviews the methods used to extract statistics from subsurface data and addresses how they are used in geomodelling, with a focus on models of porous clastic or fractured reservoirs or aquifers. Lectures are focused on providing a grounding in the principals of the methods, while practical classes are devoted to construction and analysis of geomodels using industry-standard software. Emerging machine learning methods in geomodelling are also addressed. The module concludes with an autonomous geomodelling exercise conducted by pairs of students using data collected in the field.

The 14 lectures follow the workflow of geostatistical characterisation and modelling guided towards construction of sub-surface flow simulation models.
Lecture 1: Distributions and averages
Lecture 2: Sampling and sample statistics
Lecture 3: Variograms and spatial statistics
Lecture 4: Property modelling
Lecture 5: Practical geomodelling workflows
Lecture 6. The 3D reservoir model
Lecture 7: Subdivision of the reservoir model
Lecture 8: Facies modelling
Lecture 9. The flow simulator model
Lecture 10: Approaches to subsurface characterisation and modelling
Lecture 11: Representative properties: scale and connectivity
Lecture 12: Machine leaning in characterisation and geomodelling
Lecture 13: Describing naturally fractured reservoirs
Lecture 14: Fracture modelling for fluid flow applications

The seven practical classes follow the work-flow used to characterise and model flow units for flow simulation modelling, based on published datasets and modelled in Petrel.
Practical 1 3D data analysis
Practical 2. Property modelling in a simple grid
Practical 3. Structural framework and grid modelling
Practical 4. Facies modelling
Practical 5. Property modelling in multiple facies
Practical 6. Fault property modelling and flow simulation model export
Practical 7. Examination of the dynamic flow model

The autonomous modelling exercise allows pairs of students to collect fracture data and built a discrete fracture network model based on their own preferred workflow.
One day’s fieldwork collecting fracture data
Autonomous model construction
Presentation and discussion of the model

GEOL40800 3D Modelling of Ore Systems (5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Koen Torremans

Spring Trimester

This module will provide students with an opportunity to develop their modelling skills through learning and using state-of-the-art software and building 3D geological, resource and production models of mineral systems. The key stages of model building will be covered including data entry, data quality checks, analysis of common geological, geochemical and geophysical data, 3D geological interpretation, through to construction of gridded and implicit models. Subsequently, students will learn the practical application of resource and production modelling on a world-class mineral system. They will present their resource estimation to an expert panel. As part of this module students will receive training in industry standard software packages (e.g. Seequent’s Leapfrog) for visualising and organising geographical and geological data, 3D visualisation of subsurface data, data interpretation, horizon mapping and construction of 3D static models using geological and geophysical data. The software and modelling skills learned in this module will be applied in other modules and projects.

GEOL40780 Seismic Interpretation (5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Lawrence Amy

Autumn Trimester

This module will introduce students to the physical principles behind, and the practical application of seismic reflection, a geophysical method commonly used to image the subsurface. Students will be introduced to how seismic reflection data is acquired and processed through a seismic acquisition exercise on campus where they can collect, process and interpret their own data. They will gain an understanding of how to assess the information content and resolution of geophysical images/models as well as of the importance of underlying physical principles in Earth model building. Further, they will learn key aspects of interpreting seismic data in order to make robust geological interpretations and be able to recognise common artefacts and potential pitfalls for interpreters.

In the second part of the module, students will be taught how to use Schlumberger’s Petrel software package: a state-of-the-art computer application used widely across industry for seismic interpretation and geomodelling. They will then develop their interpretational skills during a hands-on, student-driven, exercise, covering the key stages involved within a typical seismic interpretation project. The project will generate mapped faults and horizons required to build robust subsurface models (i.e., seismic-conditioned structural framework model and property models).

Lectures
1 Basics of Seismic Waves (Dr Ivan Lokmer)
2 Seismic Reflection Method (Dr Ivan Lokmer)
3 Seismic Velocities in Rocks (Dr Ivan Lokmer)
4 Seismic Reflection Processing (Dr Ivan Lokmer)
5 Seismic Interpretation I: Geophysical Principals (Dr L. Amy)
6 Seismic Interpretation II: Interpretation Principals (Dr L. Amy)
7 Seismic Artefacts & Pitfalls (Dr L. Amy)
8 Seismic Attributes & Geomorphology (Dr L. Amy)

Practicals
1 Seismic field survey (Dr Ivan Lokmer)
2 Velocity analysis exercise using VELSPEC (Dr Ivan Lokmer)
3 Seismic-to-well tie paper exercise (Dr Ivan Lokmer)
4 Seismic interpretation of reflection data (Dr L. Amy / Dr Ivan Lokmer)
5-12 Petrel Seismic Interpretation Project (Dr L. Amy / Dr Ivan Lokmer)

GEOL40550 Drilling and well logging (2.5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Kara English

Autumn Trimester

This module addresses drilling techniques, graphical logging and open hole log interpretation. The module will also focus on interpretation of commonly used drill data and how they are used to constrain sediment, fluid and rock properties in the subsurface.

Lecture 1 : Drilling Processes
Lecture 2 : Drilling data and applications
Lecture 3 : Core and core evaluation
Lecture 4 : Radioactive logs
Lecture 5 : Porosity logs
Lecture 6 : Resistivity logs
Lecture 7 : Image logs
Lecture 8: Formation Testing

Practical 1. Investigation of drilling data (datums, cuttings, temperature data)
Practical 2. Core data and gamma ray
Practical 3. Porosity, resistivity and water saturation
Practical 4. Image Logs

Field Trip
National core store depository. Access to cores from mineral exploration, oil and gas and geotechnical wellbores.

GEOL40770 Digital Field Skills and GIS (2.5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Eoghan Holohan

Autumn Trimester

Digital mapping and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are routinely used in geoscience industries for site surveying and geospatial analysis. The purpose of this module is to provide an overview of how to obtain, organise, analyse, integrate and present geoscientific data in digital and spatial contexts. Classes cover the fundamentals of cartography, digital geospatial data, and positioning via modern Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Students get hands-on training in essential GIS functions for display, integration, analysis and export of geospatial datasets. A 1-day field trip in the Dublin area provides instruction in: (i) recognition, collection and digitisation of key geological data related and (ii) use of a differential GNSS receiver for high accuracy positioning in site surveys.

Class 1 Introduction to Cartography and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Class 2 Field Exercises at Malahide
Class 3 Vector Data Operations in a GIS
Class 4 Raster Data Calculations in GIS – Part 1
Class 5 Raster Data Calculations in GIS – Part 2

GEOL40570 Geocomputation (2.5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Ivan Lokmer

Autumn Trimester

Modern industry requirements inevitably include numerical, digital and data visualisation skills. This module will introduce students to the methods and techniques for digital data manipulation, visualisation and information extraction using simple scripting routines. The practical skills and applications of these methods will be achieved through the use of Python programming language, assisted with Jupyter notebooks. The student will become familiar with the basics of these versatile packages and upon finishing the module, they will have a solid basis for importing, manipulation, the analysis, and visualisation of different types of Earth-related datasets. This would also facilitate some of the final projects, requiring basic scripting skills.

Computer-based lectures and practicals with a high level of hands-on component, focusing on:
- Introduction to Python and automatic data import
- Importing of different data formats
- Loops and statements (making the tasks more efficient)
- Automatic data import from multiple data files
- Making sense of data (e.g. summarising, converting, synthesizing)
- Making a regular grid from irregularly sampled dataset (interpolation)
- Geodata visualisation (different plot types)
- Data regression

GEOL40720 Near Surface Geophysics (2.5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Aline Melo

Spring Trimester

This module will introduce students to the physical principles and the practical application of the geophysical techniques commonly used to image the subsurface (gravity, magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic methods). Emphasis will be placed on the processing, analysis and interpretation of geophysical data with a focus on shallow geophysical applications. Students will gain an understanding of how to assess the information content and resolution of geophysical images/models as well as of the importance of underlying physical principles in Earth model building.

The module combines lectures and practical classes covering the following:

Theme 1: Exploring patterns in geophysical data
Theme 2: Physical properties of rocks
Theme 3: Magnetic and gravity methods
Theme 4: Electrical, electromagnetic, and radiometric methods
Theme 5: Data interpretation and integration

GEOL40580 Remote Sensing (2.5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Eoghan Holohan

Spring Trimester

This 2.5-credit module provides an overview of how remotely sensed data are used to constrain surface and sub-surface attributes of the Earth. The module will summarise the nature, advantages, and limitations of the various active and passive Earth Observation platforms, such as satellites, aircraft and drones. It will in tandem provide a synopsis of the main types and geo-scientific applications of remote sensing data (e.g. optical, multi-spectral, thermal, hyperspectral, gravity, electro-magnetics, synthetic aperture radar, Global Navigation Satellite Systems, LiDAR). An overview of how to access and process remotely-sensed data will also be provided. The module will also explore how such data can be used to make three-dimensional images of the Earth’s surface and to characterize changes and motions of the ground surface in time. The use of remote-sensing data to constrain sub-surface properties, geometries and deformation sources will also be explored. The module will include several practical opportunities to analyse and synthesise various remotely sensed data sets by using a Geographical Information System (GIS) and open source processing tools.

Lectures:
1. Nature, propagation and scattering of electromagnetic waves
2. Optical and Multispectral imaging
3. InfraRed and Hyperspectral imaging
4. Photogrammetry
5. LiDAR
6. Gravity and magnetic remote sensing
7. Radar and SAR
8. InSAR and GPS
9. Summary of remote sensing as applied to surface and sub-surface characterisation.
10. Overview of Earth Observation platforms and data - past, present & future

Practicals:
1. Multispectral satellite image processing and analysis
2. Generation of Digital Surface Models from photogrammetry of drone-captured optical data
3. Geological mapping with Multi-/Hyperspectral imagery
4. SAR image analysis
5. Measurement and analysis of fault/volcano deformation with InSAR

GEOL40650 Careers in Geoscience (5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Lawrence Amy

Autumn Trimester

This module provides an overview of industry sectors that employ geoscientists for a wide range of purposes (e.g., resource extraction, energy production, subsurface storage, water and environmental management and engineering). An overview is provided of each sector and the roles of geologists and geomodellers in these sectors. The various commercial and social-environmental drivers are explored in the context of global challenges and Sustainable Development Goals. As part of this module students will have the opportunity to hear perspectives from professional geoscientists from companies and will receive careers advice/guidance.

Lectures

1 Global challenges and geoscience in the 21st Century
2 Energy: past, present and future
3 Raw materials: past, present and future
4 The petroleum industry: key geoscience principles
5 The petroleum industry: overview of the sector
6 Geothermal energy sector: overview of the sector
7 Geothermal energy sector: key geoscience principles
8 The renewable sector: overview of the sector
9 The renewable sector: key geoscience principles
10 Carbon capture and storage I
11 Carbon capture and storage II
12 The groundwater sector: overview of the sector
13 The groundwater sector: key geoscience principles
14 Environmental geology & contaminated land
15 Subsurface storage sector
16 Natural hydrogen
17 The geotechnical sector: overview of the sector
18 The geotechnical sector: key geoscience principles
19 Minerals and raw materials sector
20 Minerals and raw materials sector
21 Careers: perspective on having varied geoscience roles
22 Mapping geophysics to the UN Sustainable development goals
23 Careers: perspective on what it takes to be a successful geoscientist
24 Natural hazards and risk
25 The future of geoscience

Practicals

1 Global challenges exercise
2 Metal for a green world
3 Career advice with UCD career & skills consultant
4 Project presentations

GEOL40620 Team-based modelling I (2.5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Tom Manzocchi

Spring Trimester

In this hands-on module, teams of students compete to operate a producing oil reservoir in real-time. Initially, well data and maps are used to define a field development plan which is implemented in a flow simulator for each team by the module coordinator. Wells are drilled and operated according to the instructions of the team, and well performance data are provided back to the teams and inform their subsequent field management decisions.

This is a hand-on module. Following an introduction to the dataset, pairs (usually) of students work together over the course of a week to develop the reservoir. The module coordinator is available throughout for informal discussion with the teams and, more formally, twice-daily when the students submit their operational plans. At the end of the operation period, the students are presented with a flow model of their reservoir which forms the basis of the post-mortem analysis.

GEOL40630 Team-based modelling II (2.5 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Aline Melo

Spring Trimester

In this module, students work in teams on a competitive exercise involving the appraisal of the potential of an area for having mineral deposits. Teams will be supplied with regional geological map, regional geophysical data (magnetic, gravity and one seismic line), and a budget for acquiring detailed geophysical data. The teams will need to rank the areas with higher potential for new mineral deposits and plan drill holes to test their ideas. Students will construct a 3D model based on the geophysical data and drilling results and present their finds in a poster format to an external industry panel and documenting their work and the outcomes in a technical memo.

Session 1: Fundamentals of mineral exploration. Main concepts of Porphyry, Irish-type, and IOCG deposits. The physical properties of different ore types and their expected geophysical responses. Geology of the study area of the team exercise, interpretation of the geophysical data, budget and costs for acquiring more data and drilling.
Session 2: Inversion of the geophysical data available and interpretation of the results.
Session 3: Planning of drill holes and construction of 3D subsurface models.
Session 4: Poster preparation.
Session 5: Poster printing and presentation to the industry panel.

GEOL40610 Applied research project (30 credits)
Module Co-ordinator: Tom Manzocchi 

Summer Trimester

Students will undertake a three-month applied research project in the technical area of their choosing. Projects will be selected and developed in consultation with relevant staff members and will have an industry focus in terms of the issues addressed, the data on which the project is based, or, where possible, an internship. The results will be reported as minor thesis, and all students will give a final exit presentation.