If you work in oil and gas but aren’t a geologist, you’re often expected to interpret subsurface data, communicate across disciplines, and make decisions that depend on geology—without ever being formally trained in it.Read more...
This course bridges that gap.
Designed for engineers, operations staff, managers, and non-geoscience professionals, this course delivers a practical, field-focused understanding of petroleum geology—without unnecessary theory.
You’ll learn how rocks form, how reservoirs work, and how hydrocarbons are generated, trapped, and produced—so you can confidently interpret data, collaborate with geoscientists, and make better technical and business decisions.
What You’ll Learn
• Core geologic concepts and industry terminology
• How depositional environments control reservoir quality
• The full petroleum system: source, migration, trap, seal
• How to interpret logs, maps, and subsurface data
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Who Should Take This Course
• Engineers working with subsurface data and production
• Field operators and production technologists
• Technical professionals transitioning into upstream roles
• Business, finance, or land teams supporting oil & gas
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Why This Course Works
• Built for non-geologists—clear, practical explanations
• Focused on real-world application, not academic theory
• Aligns geology concepts with operational decision-making
• Structured for immediate use in field and office settings
Course contents
Chapter 1 - Course Introduction
Chapter 2 - History and Principles of Geology
- 02-01 - Introduction to the Geosciences (9 min.)
- 02-02a - History & Principles of Geology - Part 1 (12 min.)
- 02-02b - History & Principles of Geology - Part 2 (24 min.)
- 02-02c - History & Principles of Geology - Part 3 (11 min.)
- 02-03a - Geologic Time & Time Scale - Part 1 (25 min.)
- 02-03b - Geologic Time & Time Scale - Part 2 (30 min.)
- 02-04a - Stratigraphy (10 min.)
- 02-04b - Stratigraphic Correlation (18 min.) Quiz
Chapter 3 - Earths Geology, Plate Tectonics and Basins
- 03-01 - Structure of the Earth, Rocks, Rock Cycle (21 min.)
- 03-02 - Plate Tectonics (19 min.)
- 03-03 - Plate Boundaries (13 min.)
- 03-04 - Sedimentary Basins - Extensional (18 min.)
- 03-05 - Sedimentary Basins - Compressional (28 min.)
- 03-06 - Paleogeology (28 min.) Quiz
Chapter 4 - Sedimentary Rocks and Selected Environments of Deposition
- 04-01 – Sedimentary Rock Types - Clastics (24 min.)
- 04-02 - Sedimentary Rock Types - Carbonates (25 min.)
- 04-03 - Sedimentary Rock Types – Coal and Evaporites (32 min.)
- 04-04 - Sedimentary Environment of Deposition – Fluvial (28 min.)
- 04-05 - Sedimentary Environment of Deposition – Shoreface (28 min.)
- 04-06 - Sedimentary Environment of Deposition – Deepwater (33 min.)
- 04-07 - Sedimentary Environment of Deposition – Carbonates (21 min.) Quiz
Chapter 5 - Elements of a Hydrocarbon System
- 05-01 - Hydrocarbon Systems – Source, Migration and Trap (35 min.)
- 05-02 - Hydrocarbon Systems - Seal and Timing (21 min.)
- 05-03a - Hydrocarbon Systems - Reservoir – Conventional – Clastics - Part 1 (16 min.)
- 05-03b - Hydrocarbon Systems - Reservoir – Conventional – Clastics - Part 2 (25 min.)
- 05-04 - Hydrocarbon Systems - Reservoir – Conventional – Carbonates (29 min.)
- 05-05 - Hydrocarbon Systems - Reservoir – Unconventional (32 min.) Quiz
Chapter 6 - Geoscience Datasets
- 06-01a - Geologic Datasets – Logs and Petrophysics Part 1 (13 min.)
- 06-01b - Geologic Datasets – Logs and Petrophysics Part 2 (28 min.)
- 06-02a - Geologic Datasets – Core - Part 1 (10 min.)
- 06-02b - Geologic Datasets – Core - Part 2 (30 min.)
- 06-03 - Geologic Datasets – Seismic (36 min.) Quiz
Chapter 7 - Geoscience Interpretation
- 07-01 - Geologic Maps and Cross Sections (32 min.)
- 07-02 - Subsurface Uncertainty (31 min.)
- 07-03 - Geomodeling (33 min.) Quiz
Chapter 8 - Geoscience applied to Exploration
- 08-01 - Exploration Skillset and Definitions (27 min.)
- 08-02 - Petroleum Systems in Exploration (22 min.)
- 08-03 - Risking and Volumetrics (13 min.)
- 08-04 - Lookback Reviews (26 min.) Quiz
Chapter 9 - Geoscience applied to Field Development
- 09-01 - Development Skillset and Definitions (19 min.)
- 09-02 - Reservoir Characterization (29 min.)
- 09-03 - Geologic Operations and Geosteering (33 min.) Quiz
Chapter 10 - Geoscience applied to Field Production
- 10-01 - Production Geology Skillset (23 min.)
- 10-02 - Production Monitoring (24 min.)
- 10-03 - Optimization and Infills (34 min.) Quiz
Chapter 11 - Oil and Gas Fields of the World – Case Studies
- 11-01 - Conventional – Clastic - Cardium (21 min.)
- 11-02 - Conventional – Clastic – Mannville Heavy Oil (25 min.)
- 11-03 - Conventional – Clastic – Guyana (25 min.)
- 11-04 - Unconventional – Clastic – Piceance (33 min.)
- 11-05 - Conventional – Carbonate – Leduc (27 min.)
- 11-06 - Conventional – Carbonate – Tengiz (20 min.)
- 11-07 - Unconventional – Bakken (35 min.)
- 11-08 - Unconventional – Montney (33 min.)
- 11-09 - Unconventional – Permian (34 min.) Quiz
Chapter 12 - Geology of Emerging Energy Sources
- 12-01 - CO₂ Sequestration (45 min.)
- 12-02 - Helium and Hydrogen (32 min.)
- 12-03 - Geothermal (34 min.) Quiz
Chapter 13 - Course Summary
- 13-01 - Wrap-Up (11 min.) Quiz