GEO3240 – Seismic Interpretation
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Explore the world of reflection-seismic data. This course is designed to equip you with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
We begin by reviewing the basic principles of the seismic method. The course will then guide you through the key steps of seismic interpretation, with a focus on travel time and amplitude-based approaches. You will use selected seismic attributes to enhance interpretation across scales, from near-surface features to basin evolution and deep structures.
A significant portion of the course is dedicated to the interpretation of 3D-seismic data. You will conduct interactive interpretation on industry-standard workstations with data from Norway and other global geological settings. This hands-on experience is designed to provide you with a foundation in seismic interpretation, with applications for petroleum exploration, CCS, marine minerals, and offshore wind.
The course is completed through project work analyzing 3D-seismic datasets with a presentation of the results in written reports.
Learning outcome
After completing this course, you will be able to
- understand the fundamental principles of seismic reflection and its role in subsurface exploration
- explain basic principles associated with the interpretation of seismic data
- perform 3D-seismic data interpretation using industry-standard software and workstations
- identify various geological features in seismic data from shallow to basin scale
- present project work and results in a written report
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
- Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2)
And in addition one of these:
- Mathematics R2
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
Mathematics R2 was a requirement up until and including the study year 2021/2022, as part of a trial arrangement. From and including the study year 2022/2023, Mathematics R2 is no longer a requirement.
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
Recommended previous knowledge
- MAT1001 – Mathematics 1 (discontinued) / MAT1100 – Calculus or equivalent
- FYS1001 – Introduction to Physics / FYS1000 – Physics- the foundation of natural sciences and medicine (continued) or equivalent
- GEO1020 – Geological processes and materials (discontinued)?/ GEO1100 – Evolution of the Earth + GEO1110 – Earth Processes
- GEO2140 – Solid Earth Geophysics / GEL2140 – Geophysics and global tectonics (continued)
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with GEO4240 – Seismic Interpretation.
Teaching
The course consists of lectures and seminars in combination with mandatory practical exercises. There will be three small projects which end with a written project report. These three projects are mandatory exercises, and the project report counts towards the final grade.
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Student?administration (studieinfo@geo.uio.no).
We reserve the right to change the teaching?form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.
Examination
- Mandatory exercises must be approved before you can sit the final written exam.
- A written report on three interpretation projects counts 40% (10+20+10) towards the final grade.
- The final written exam counts 60% towards the final grade.
- All component parts must be passed separately to pass the course.
Mandatory assignments are valid for 5 semesters starting from the semester they were approved the first time.
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
It will also be counted as 1 of the 3 attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for the following course:
Examination support material
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are?offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.