COURSE OVERVIEW:

Conventional and Unconventional Play Types and Physiographic Controls is a comprehensive course that explores the diversity of hydrocarbon accumulations through the lens of their geological and geographical settings. This course provides a detailed comparison between buoyancy-driven conventional traps and the continuous, low-permeability accumulations known as unconventional plays. By understanding the physiographic factors such as basin architecture, climate, and tectonic history, participants can better predict the distribution and economic viability of various petroleum systems.

The scope of this training involves the systematic classification of plays, including structural, stratigraphic, and hybrid types in the conventional realm, alongside shale gas, tight oil, and coal-bed methane in the unconventional realm. Participants will learn how the physiographic setting of a basin—such as its proximity to sediment sources, paleo-latitude, and water depth—influences the deposition of organic-rich source rocks and high-quality reservoirs. This environmental context is essential for building predictive models in frontier exploration areas where data may be sparse.

Furthermore, the course addresses the technical and economic thresholds that define different play types. Attendees will examine how physiographic controls like terrain, infrastructure accessibility, and environmental sensitivity impact the development strategies for both play categories. By the end of this course, geoscientists and engineers will be able to synthesize regional geological data to identify the most promising play types within a basin and assess the external controls that will determine their long-term commercial success.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

• Define and differentiate between conventional and unconventional petroleum systems.
• Identify the primary physiographic controls on sedimentary basin development.
• Classify conventional traps into structural, stratigraphic, and combination categories.
• Describe the geological characteristics of shale gas and tight oil plays.
• Analyze the impact of paleoclimate on the deposition of source and reservoir rocks.
• Evaluate the role of tectonic setting in creating play-defining structural architectures.
• Understand the concept of "continuous accumulations" in unconventional systems.
• Map play fairways based on physiographic and depositional trends.
• Assess the impact of sediment supply and accommodation on play diversity.
• Identify the risk factors associated with different play types across various basins.
• Integrate remote sensing and GIS data to visualize physiographic controls.
• Compare the drainage mechanisms and recovery factors of different plays.
• Utilize play-based exploration techniques to rank global investment opportunities.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Exploration Geologists, Basin Modelers, Asset Managers, and Petroleum Engineers involved in regional play assessment and portfolio diversification.

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximise the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and at the end of the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants completing a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.