Specialisation

MSc Programme

Reservoir Geology

Applied Earth Sciences

Faculty of Civil Engineering

and Geosciences

In the coming decades, oil and gas will

continue to play an essential role in our energy
supply. The search for new oil and gas
reservoirs and the process of taking them into
production will continue unabated. Before
reservoirs can be taken into production, their
shape, size and spatial distribution must be
determined in detail. The specialisation in
Reservoir Geology teaches students how to do
this. The knowledge and skills that students
acquire can be used in the oil and gas industry,
as well as in hydrology or other related fields.

Programme specialisation
The specialisation in Reservoir Geology is one of two
specialisations within the Petroleum Engineering and
Geosciences track. The other specialisation is Petroleum
Engineering. Although both specialisations pertain to
oil and gas fields, each has its own emphasis. The
specialisation in Reservoir Geology emphasises the
geological processes that led to the development of oil
and gas reservoirs, while the specialisation in Petroleum
Engineering delves deeper into the technology and
organisation of oil and gas production.

Reservoir models
Reservoir geologists play an important role in the oil
and gas industry. They develop 3D reservoir models
based on geological knowledge, seismic data and
drilling data, which indicate the distribution of reservoir
rock in the bedrock and the position of any extant
fractures. These detailed geological models provide
the input with which petroleum engineers prepare field
development plans, which determine where wells are
to be located and how oil and gas will be produced.

Knowledge of the past

and understanding
for the future

Expanding knowledge
The development of 3D models is not the only thing that
reservoir geologists do. They also study contemporary
sedimentation processes in the field in order to increase
their fundamental knowledge of sediment transport and
deposition mechanisms, in addition to improving their
understanding of how reservoirs developed in the past.
Reservoir geologists also model processes at reservoir
and grain scale.

Excellent preparation
The distinguishing characteristic of reservoir geologists is their
ability to combine geological and engineering knowledge, thus
making them highly suitable for multidisciplinary work and
preparing them for current and future problems. They work
in the oil and gas industry, at research institutes and for
organisations and companies involved in hydrogeology.
Their knowledge of the deep sub-surface, fluid flows and
modelling is also well suited to solving groundwater problems.

The curriculum
During the first year, students receive part of their education
together with students from the specialisation in Petroleum
Engineering. For example, both groups take modules on the
characteristics of hydrocarbons and other liquids in oil
reservoirs, on the interaction between fluids and rocks, and
on the geological interpretation of seismic data. In addition,
specialisation modules address a variety of topics, including
Reservoir Sedimentology, Advanced Structural Geology,
Geological Modelling and Analysis of Sedimentological data.
These modules provide knowledge concerning geological
processes (e.g. sedimentation in river basins), which
determine the structure and properties of oil and gas
reservoirs. The first year also includes three weeks of field
work in Huesca (Spain).
The second year starts with the Field Development Project
module. This module entails drawing up a plan for the
development of an oil reservoir, drawing upon the knowledge
acquired during the first year. This year also allows space
for a number of elective modules, although it centres on the
nine-month graduation project.

Opportunity to explore
After completing my Bachelors degree in
Geophysical Engineering from ITB in Indonesia,
I worked for Schlumberger, where I carried out
duties related to geological modelling. I then
started a Masters degree programme in
Reservoir Geology, which provided me with the
opportunity to explore other areas within the
applied earth sciences, including reservoir
engineering and geophysics. The integration of
these disciplines is important in order to help
students become familiar with the oil and gas
industry. This integration was evident in the
Field Development project that we carried out
through teamwork during the second year.
Hands-on experience
This programme turned out to be an excellent
choice. I like the multic ultural atmosphere of
this Masters degree programme, as well as the
hands-on experience that we gained during
the geological excursions abroad. This was
particularly evident during the weeks of
intensive fieldwork in Huesca, Spain, which
provided insight into the geological processes
that are the crucial to building geological
architecture.
Valuable experience
Another valuable experience I gained during
my studies is my participation in a global
competition the IBA-Imperial Barrel Award
along with four other students. We worked
on an exploration project for two months,
analysing hydrocarbon potential and prospects
using the dataset provided, and we presented
our results to a panel of industry experts in
Prague. We learned a great deal from this event,
and we had the opportunity to meet other
geology students from around Europe.

Huesca model

Ade Shita Nasution

(Indonesia)

Curriculum Reservoir Geology

First Year
1 st semester

2 nd semester

Image Analysis (1 EC)

Reservoir Engineering (2 EC)

Matlab / Programming (2 EC)

Log Evaluation (2 EC)

Properties of Hydrocarbons & Oilfield Fluids (3 EC)

Geological Fieldwork (3 EC)

Rock Fluid Physics (3 EC)

Reservoir Characterisation & Development (4 EC)

Modelling of Fluid Flow in Porous Media (3 EC)

Advanced Structural Geology (3 EC)

Seismic Interpretation (3 EC)

Geological Modelling (4 EC)

Exploration Geology (including Remote Sensing) (3 EC)

Reservoir Geological Fieldwork (6 EC)

Reservoir Sedimentology (3 EC)

Analysis of seismic data (3 EC)
Sedimentary Systems (3 EC)
Geostatistics (2 EC)
Quantification of Rock Reservoir Images (1 EC)
Petroleum Geology (3 EC)
Electives (3 EC)

Second Year
Electives (6 EC)
Final Thesis (45 EC)
Field Development Project (9 EC)
1 EC = 28 hrs study, according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). On academic year = 60 EC Total number of credits in the MSc specialisation in
Reservoir Geology= 120 EC

For more information on all courses: www.studyguide.tudelft.nl.

Graduation thesis topics

Career prospects

Topics for the graduation thesis are usually proposed by

members of the permanent faculty staff, although ideas
proposed by the students can be considered as well. In general,
these ideas can be categorised as being oriented primarily
towards research (usually linked to an existing research
project) or as being more focused on industry-related subjects
(often combined with an internship at an oil and gas company).
In most cases, there is a link to field application, with some
studies involving more modelling while others include
fieldwork. The thesis is presented orally in public after its
completion, following a total project period of nine months.

The specialisation in Reservoir Geology is a degree programme

with an excellent reputation throughout the world. The academic
staff members have numerous links and collaborations with
universities and industrial partners.
The research group cooperates closely with foreign institutes
and maintains excellent contacts with the oil and gas industries.
After graduation, students with this specialisation are well
prepared to find employment in the oil and gas sectors, in
engineering firms and in companies in the fields of ground
water, soil pollution, underground energy storage and
geothermal heat.

Admission requirements
and application procedures

For further information

Students can enrol in the Masters degree programme

specialisation in Reservoir Geology if they have
completed a Bachelors degree from a reputable
university. Applicants should be familiar with concepts
addressed in the exact sciences and earth sciences.
A convergence course is provided during the first six
weeks of the Masters programme, in order to help
students remedy any potential shortcomings, as
assessed by the curriculum coordinator during once
the student has been admitted to the programme.
Furthermore, students should be conversant in English
and should have good writing skills. Non-Dutch students
are required to submit an essay in English motivating
their decision to select this specialisation. For qualified
students, there is the possibility of applying for a
scholarship.

For all details, complete requirements,

deadlines and contact information,
please visit the webpage:
www.aes.msc.tudelft.nl

BSc degree from a Dutch university:

www.doorstroommatrix.nl
tudelft.studielink.nl
Degree from a Dutch university of applied
sciences (Dutch HBO):
www.hbodoorstroom.tudelft.nl
tudelft.studielink.nl
International applicants:
www.admissions.tudelft.nl

Stefan Luthi, Section Head of Applied Geology

The specialisation in
Reservoir Geology integrates
geoscience and engineering.
Our graduates have a sound
theoretical foundation and
necessary practical
knowledge. During the Field
Development Project in the
second year, students go
through the entire process of
creating a development
planfot a reservoir, from
interpreting the seismic data
to production and determining
economic feasibility.

Dr Gert-Jan Weltje, Masters Coordinator

T +31 (0)15 27 85722
E G.J.Weltje@tudelft.nl
CEG Faculty
Stevinweg 1
2628 CN Delft
www.facebook.com/TUDelft
@DelftUniversity