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COURSE INFORMATION

Introduction to Petroleum Geology
Type:
Training Course

Length:
2 Days
CEU:
1.6
PDH:
16

Fee:
$1695 CAD

Upcoming Sessions
Location:
Calgary, Alberta

Date:
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
   
Thursday, November 19, 2026
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Register before October 19th and receive $100 off! Use the promo code EarlyBird
Course Description
Geology is the foundation of the petroleum industry. This two-day introductory course will provide non-geologists with a basic understanding of the principles used by petroleum geologists in the search for oil and gas. This course will review the process of petroleum exploration and the rationale behind the methodology. The class will introduce the non-geologist to the concepts, tools, techniques, and terminology used by geologists in the search for oil and gas. The tools and language of the petroleum geologist will be emphasized throughout the course. Understanding the vocabulary of petroleum geology will aid in communication between geoscience team members and those in other departments.

Topics include identifying and classifying rocks - source rocks, reservoir rocks, and seals; the origin, nature, and occurrence of oil and gas; the basic principles of petroleum systems; the difference between conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons; the methods used in studying geologic history and basin evolution; the relationship of depositional systems, sedimentology, stratigraphy, sedimentary facies, and reservoirs for oil and gas; structural geology, folding, faulting, and the formation of petroleum traps; surface and subsurface mapping methods; and the philosophy and methodology of subsurface exploration. Other topics touched on briefly include seismic methods, wireline well-logging and formation evaluation, geochemistry, and wellsite geology.

On successful completion of this course students will:


Who Should Attend
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to petroleum geology for industry professionals with little or no geological background. Participants will gain an overall understanding of how geology influences hydrocarbon exploration, development, and production, making it ideal for land staff, geotechnicians, accountants, managers, administrators, IT professionals, and other support personnel. This course is for anyone who is geology-curious and wants to learn the concepts, tools, techniques, and terminology geologists use in the search for oil and gas.
Day 1
  • Introduction to Geology and Geo-philosophy - How Geologists Think
  • Introduction to the Petroleum System - How to make an oilfield
  • Plate Tectonics, Basin Formation, and Application to Exploration - How the Earth works
  • The Principle of Uniformity – “The present is the key to the past”
  • Oilpatch mineralogy, chemistry, and lithology
  • Identifying and Classifying Rocks - Source Rocks, Reservoir Rocks, and Seals
  • Clastic, Carbonate, and Chemical Rocks
  • Sedimentology and Sedimentary Environments
  • Origin, Nature, Occurrence, and Distribution of Petroleum
  • The Oil Window, Migration of Petroleum
  • Sedimentary Basins, and Petroleum Systems
  • Unconventional Resources: Oil Sands, Oil Shale, Shale Gas
  • Horn River, Montney, Duvernay plays
  • Class exercises: examining, describing, and identifying source, reservoir, and seal rocks.

Day 2
  • Introduction to Stratigraphy
  • Fossils - Telling time and interpreting environments
  • Unconformities and traps for oil and gas – Weyburn Midale Field, Saskatchewan
  • Geologic Time and Dating Geologic Events
  • Depositional Environments and Reservoir Rock Prediction – Pembina Field, Alberta
  • Correlating Columnar Sections, Building Fence Diagrams
  • Stratigraphy and Geologic History of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin
  • Structural Geology - Folding and Faulting
  • Surface and Subsurface Mapping Methods
  • Structural and Stratigraphic Cross-sections
  • Structure Maps, Isopach Maps
  • Petrophysics - Working with Logs
  • Geochemistry in Exploration
  • Overview of Seismic Techniques: 2D, 3D, 4D, Multi-azimuth, VSP, and Microseismic
  • Sources of Data: Log Libraries, Land Maps, Scout Tickets
  • Well Site Geology, Sample Examination, Mud Logs and Oil Shows at the Wellsite
  • Formation Evaluation, Drill Stem Tests
  • Class exercises: Relative dating of geologic events; correlating stratigraphic columns; constructing fence diagrams and facies maps; reading and interpreting geologic maps; constructing and correlating cross-sections; contouring exercises; picking tops and interpreting lithology; finding the pay from well logs.
Paul H. Pausé, P.Geol., C.P.G.
Paul H. Pausé is an independent petroleum geologist and geologic consultant in Midland, Texas, centrally located in one of the world’s most important and prolific oil and gas regions, the Permian Basin of west Texas and southeast New Mexico.

Paul received his bachelor's degree in geology from the University of California at Berkeley, and his master's degree in geology at UCLA.

He began his career as a petroleum geologist with AtlanticRichfield Company, and moved to Midland, Texas, with ARCO in 1977. After leaving ARCO, he worked for JM Huber, Davis Oil, and HCW Exploration. He was president of the Permian Basin Graduate Center, a non-profit, professional continuing education school, from 1986 – 2004. An independent geologist over 35 years, Paul now consults on exploration and development projects, generates and sells his own prospects, and teaches courses in petroleum geology at the Petroleum Professional Development Center in Midland and worldwide through public and in-house offerings.

He is a Licensed Professional Geologist with the state of Texas, and a Certified Petroleum Geologist with the Division of Professional Affairs of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Paul is an active member of several professional societies including the American
Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Geological Society of America, the Geological Society of London (Fellow), the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists (SIPES), and the West Texas Geological Society (WTGS).

He is a past president of both the WTGS and the Permian Basin Section SEPM, and has also served as chairman of the Midland Chapter of SIPES. His other professional activities include serving as President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Southwest Section of AAPG, and Secretary and Vice President of the Division of Professional Affairs (DPA) of the AAPG.

Paul has received the Dedicated Service award from the WTGS and the Permian Basin Section SEPM and has been awarded Honorary Life Membership in both organizations, their highest recognition. Paul is a recipient of the A.I. Levorsen Award for Best Paper Presentation at the Southwest Section meeting of the AAPG.



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