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Graduate Studies Calendar 2015-2016 Courses of Instruction Course Descriptions G Geology GLGY
Geology GLGY

Instruction offered by members of the Department of Geoscience in the Faculty of Science.

Department Head - C.M. Henderson

Graduate Courses

Graduate students are urged to read the Geoscience Department section in the Graduate Studies calendar. Only where appropriate to a student's program may graduate credit be received for courses numbered 500-599. Courses numbered 600 are available to fourth-year students who obtain Departmental approval and who have credit for the prerequisite courses.

Geology 601       Advanced Physical Hydrogeology
An advanced treatment of topics covered in Geology 401.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-2)
Prerequisite(s):
Consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s):
Credit for both Geology 601 and 401 will not be allowed.
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Geology 605       Groundwater Flow and Transport Modelling
Review of the partial differential equations and boundary conditions that describe groundwater flow and transport. Introduction to numerical methods. The course emphasizes the practical aspects of building groundwater and transport models using computer exercises and a groundwater modelling project.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-2T)
Prerequisite(s):
Geology 401 or 601.
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Geology 607       Advanced Physical Hydrology
Coverage of more advanced topics in the physical hydrology of surface and subsurface waters including land-atmosphere exchange, vadose zone processes, and watershed hydrology.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s):
Mathematics 253 or 267 or 277 or 283 or Applied Mathematics 219 and Geography 415 and Geology 401.
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Geology 609       Advanced Contaminant Hydrogeology
An advanced treatment of topics covered in Geology 505.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s):
Credit for both Geology 609 and Geology 505 will not be allowed.
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Geology 611       Groundwater Resource Management
Advanced topics related to groundwater resource development and management, including exploration methods, aquifer test analysis, aquifer-aquitard systems, groundwater recharge, and the role of models. Fundamental issues related to regional integrated management of water resources.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(2-2)
Prerequisite(s):
Mathematics 253 or 267 or 277 or 283 or Applied Mathematics 219 and Geology 401 or Geography 415.
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Geology 613       Flow in Porous Media
Fundamentals of fluid flow in porous media: pore structure; capillarity; single phase flow; immiscible and miscible fluid flow; pore level modelling of porous media. Concepts applied to hydrocarbon reservoirs and fluid migration in soils including: characterization of pore space, single phase flow in porous media, capillarity, wettability, routine and advance core analysis, miscibility in porous media. Similarities and differences between hydrocarbon reservoirs and soils. Introduction to enhanced oil and gas processes.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-1T-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Chemical Engineering 331 or Geology 401.  
Antirequisite(s):
Credit for both Geology 613 and either 699.20 or Petroleum Engineering 513 will not be allowed.
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Geology 623       Modern Diffraction and Scattering Techniques
Space groups and principles of X-ray, neutron, and electron diffraction and their applications. Crystal structure determination and refinement using single crystal and Rietveld methods. X-ray and neutron scattering techniques (using the Pair Distribution Function, PDF) to examine local disorder in nano-materials and glasses.  Phase transition and structural evolution with pressure, temperature, and composition.  Analyses of experimental data sets and extensive use of computers.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Geology 523 or equivalent.
Notes:
Offered every alternate Fall Term.
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Geology 627       Advanced Topics in Ore Deposits
A detailed study of ore occurrences with special emphasis on Canadian deposits. Laboratory: the study of comprehensive suites from deposits.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Geology 527.
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Geology 633       Advanced Petrologic Methods
Theoretical and applied problems in petrology, including some or all of: numerical techniques in petrology, phase equilibria, geothermometry and geobarometry, kinetics in petrology, physics and chemistry of magmatic processes. Laboratory will consist of petrographic study of rock suites.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Geology 543.
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Geology 639       Field Laboratory in Groundwater Hydrogeology

Entails a week at a hydrogeology field site in Alberta or British Columbia. Hydrogeology and geotechnical techniques will be demonstrated and will involve hands-on participation by students. After the field work, students will conduct extensive analysis and interpretation of data gathered during the field session, complete exercises and prepare a written report. Relative to Geology 441, Geology 639 requires more sophisticated analyses of data and additional exercises. Geology 639 normally runs for two to three weeks following Winter Term Final Examinations or prior to the Fall Term.


Course Hours:
3 units; H(160 hours)
Prerequisite(s):
Geology 401 or 601 and consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s):
Credit for both Geology 639 and 441 will not be allowed.
Notes:
This course has limited enrolment. This course occurs in rugged field conditions and varying weather, for which participants must be prepared and equipped. Students will be required to cover food and accommodation costs, and a supplemental fee will be assessed to cover the costs of equipment and other resources. 
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Geology 641       Advanced Structural Methods

Analysis of mesoscopic and megascopic structural data; the construction and analytical use of cross-sections, subsurface maps and 3-dimensional models; structural analysis of the Canadian Cordillera.


Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Consent of the Department.
Antirequisite(s):
Credit for both Geology 641 and 541 will not be allowed.
Notes:
There is a weekend field excursion during the term.
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Geology 655       Unconventional Gas Reservoir Characterization and Evaluation
Overview of the unique storage and production mechanisms associated with coalbed methane, tight gas and shale gas reservoirs; adsorbed gas storage and modelling; gas-in-place determination and volumetric reserves estimation; material balance techniques; fracture and matrix flow mechanisms; completion/stimulation methods; reservoir characterization methods including core analysis, rate-transient and pressure-transient analysis; exploration and development concepts.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s):
Petroleum Engineering 523 or consent of the instructor.
Antirequisite(s):
Credit for both Geology 655 and Geology 699.37 will not be allowed.
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Geology 663       Applications of Stable Isotopes
Application of stable isotope techniques with special focus on Hydrogeology, Geology and Environmental Sciences. The use of isotopes to understand the water, carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles is demonstrated. Topics include hydrology, paleoclimates, geothermometry, fossil fuels exploration and recovery, pollutant tracing, food webs, forensic investigations, among others.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(2-1)
Prerequisite(s):
Consent of the Department.
Also known as:
(Physics 663)
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Geology 675       Advanced Topics in Dinosaur Paleontology
Topics related to the paleobiology, paleoecology, and paleoenvironments of the Dinosauria will be covered.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
Prerequisite(s):
Consent of the Department or enrolment in a paleontology-based graduate program.
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Geology 677       Advanced Topics in Oil and Gas Production
Advanced study of the problems related to production of conventional oil, heavy oil, and natural gas; analysis of interactions of oil, water and gas; the effects of fluid properties, rock structure and capillary, gravity and viscous forces acting on the reservoir system; application to the design of improved oil and gas recovery methods. New processes in oil and gas recovery.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Petroleum Engineering 513 or Geology 613.
Antirequisite(s):
Credit for both Geology 677 and either Chemical Engineering 619.26 or 677 will not be allowed.
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Geology 679       Petroleum and Environmental Organic Geochemistry
Origin of petroleum; sedimentation of organic matter and the carbon cycle; diagenesis of organic matter; hydrocarbon generation and migration; kinetic models; creosote contamination; methods; interpretation of geochemical data; applications of geochemical data to geological and environmental problems.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-1)
Prerequisite(s):
Consent of the Department.
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Geology 697       Advanced Geostatistics

Advanced treatment of the topics covered in Geology 597 with special emphasis on reservoir characterization.


Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Mathematics 253 or 267 or 277 or 283 or Applied Mathematics 219 and Mathematics 211.
Antirequisite(s):
Credit for both Geology 697 and 597 will not be allowed.
Notes:
Completion of Mathematics 331 and/or Statistics 357 or 327 is recommended prior to taking this course.
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Geology 698       Reservoir Characterization for Field Development
A team-based, integrated reservoir description experience working with geophysical, geological, petrophysical, and engineering data to produce a field development plan.
Course Hours:
6 units; F(3-0)
Prerequisite(s):
Chemical Engineering 621 and Geology 697 and Human Resources and Organizational Dynamics 789 or equivalent.
Notes:
This course is intended for graduate students in the Master of Engineering with Reservoir Characterization Specialization.
Also known as:
(Chemical Engineering 698)
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Geology 699       Selected Topics in Geology
Courses are offered in specific topics in areas such as geochemistry, hydrogeology, mineralogy, paleontology, petroleum geology, petrology, quantitative geology, sedimentology, structural geology, and surficial geology.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Consent of the Department.
MAY BE REPEATED FOR CREDIT
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Geology 701       Advanced Independent Study
A written report based on laboratory and field studies is required.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(0-6)
Notes:
Open only to graduate students in the Department of Geoscience.
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Geology 703       Readings in Geology
A written report based on a literature review is required.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(0-6)
Notes:
Open only to graduate students in the Department of Geoscience.
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Geology 707       Geology and Geophysics of Western Canada
Topics include stratigraphy, sedimentology, structure, petrology, geophysics and economic geology. Laboratories contain a field component.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(2-2)
Notes:
Open only to graduate students in the Department of Geoscience and compulsory for beginning doctoral students in Geology.
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Geology 709       Seminars on Applied Basin Studies
A seminar-based course that will cover topics that consider the development, evolution, stratigraphic and sedimentologic architecture, and stratigraphic correlation of sedimentary basins. Topics could include biostratigraphy, tectonics and sedimentation, subsurface correlation including sequence stratigraphy,  siliciclastic and carbonate sedimentology, geochronology and petroleum geology. Concepts will be developed from discussions, assigned reading, seminars and field trips to local geological sites.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3S-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Graduate student registration in the Department of Geoscience.      
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Geology 711       Seminars on Applied Basin Field Studies
A seminar-based course that will consider the entire geologic history of a particular basin or sub-basin as well as key sections or geological sites that will be visited at the end of the semester. Topics will range across the full discipline of sedimentary geology with emphasis on applications to Petroleum Geology.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3S-3)
Prerequisite(s):
Graduate student registration in the Department of Geoscience.
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Geology 729       Sedimentary Geochemistry
Application of chemical and isotopic data and techniques to the mineral assemblages observed to form during diagenesis. Water-rock interactions are examined using the thermodynamics of solution-mineral-gas equilibria. Topics may include kinetics, reaction path modelling, fluid flow in sedimentary basins and the relationships between fluid flow and diagenetic events.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-3)
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Geology 733       Analytical Methods in Petrology
Topics may include scanning electron microscope, electron probe, x-ray diffraction and x-ray fluorescence.
Course Hours:
3 units; H(3-0)
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