Petroleum Geoscience Research Group

Group Leader : Dr. Khairul Azlan Mustapha   azlan_0401@um.edu.my    03-7967 4157   Room No : GB 213 (New Building)

Collaborators

• Professor Dr. Sithi Vinayakam A/L Muniandy (Statistical Physics, Theory and Modelling of Plasma)
• Professor Dr. Harry Doust (Utrecht University - Basin Analysis/Exploration Geology)
• Professor Dr. Howard D. Johnson (Imperial College) – Petroleum Geology)
• Professor Dr. Jan de Jager (Utrecht University) – Basin Analysis)
• Professor Dr. Mohamed M.Y. Bakr (Alexandria University) – Reservoir Geochemistry)
• Professor Dr. Randell A. Stephenson (Aberdeen University) – Deep Seismic)
• Associate Professor Dr. Md Aminul Islam (Universiti Brunei Darussalam – Seismic Interpretation)
• Associate Professor Dr. Mohamed Shalaby (Universiti Brunei Darussalam - Petrophysics)
• Dr. Abubakar Muhammad Bello (NCPRD, Nigeria – Petroleum Geology)
• Dr. Liviu C. Matenco (Utrecht University) – Geodynamics)
• Dr. Md Farhaduzzaman (Petrobangla Bangladesh – Petroleum/Coal Geology)
• Dr. Michael J. Pearson (University of Aberdeen) – Organic geochemistry/Basin Modeling)
• Dr. Mohammed Hail Hakimi (Taiz University - Petroleum Geochemistry/Basin Modeling)
• Dr. Muhamad Pedro Barbeito (Former Visiting Professor – Biostratigraphy/Field Geology)
• Dr. Say Gee Sia (Mineral and Geoscience Department – Coal Geology/Petrology)
• Dr. Ralph L. Kugler (Principal Consultant – Reservoir/Development Geology)

Research Direction   

Petroleum Geoscience provides the knowledge, understanding, and assessment of how hydrocarbon resources are formed and where they occur. This provides key information and direction for the design of cost-effective, successful exploration and production projects. This requires fresh ideas regarding depositional systems and the petroleum systems they contain, particularly with regard to the distribution of source rocks and reservoir rocks. The major disciplines of Petroleum Geoscience are Petroleum Geology, Petrophysics, Geophysics, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, Structural Geology and Petroleum Geochemistry. The integration of these various disciplines is presently in place at the Department of Geology, UM, under two working sub-groups i.e. PEAK (Petroleum Exploration Advanced Knowledge) and SEARCH (Source Evaluation And Reservoir Characterisation) units. The Source-Evaluation component of the SEARCH unit is well established, with a productive history of research and publication, described in the "Research Accomplishments and Findings" section below. 

The Reservoir Characterisation component of SEARCH represents a new advanced, long-term, multidisciplinary research initiative within the Petroleum Geoscience Group. This programme provides a support framework for the new MSc in Petroleum Geology by 70% Research as well as the existing MSc and PhD by Research programmes. The programme builds on the technical expertise represented by the recent expansion of petroleum geology staff. Components of the programme will include quantitative digital outcrop modeling of reservoir analogs pertinent to Malaysia, particularly heterolithic clastic reservoirs and naturally fractured reservoirs, as well as investigations in reservoir quality/diagenesis. Thus, issues from field-scale to pore throats will be addressed in an integrated manner to provide relevant results that can aid planning of improved and enhanced hydrocarbon recovery projects by the local petroleum industry. The capabilities of this research component are enhanced by the recent acquisition of state-of -the-art SEM, XRD, and XRF. Acquisition of additional analytical instrumentation (CT scan, LiDAR, various types of porosimeters/ permeameters, etc.) is an ongoing goal in support of the programme. This programme will lead to increased support by the local and international petroleum industry as well as collaboration with international academic research consortia.

Research Areas       

  1. Basin, geodynamics & petroleum system analysis/modeling     

  2. Conventional and fractured reservoir characterisation and modeling           

  3. Digital core analysis 

  4. Characterisation of oil-prone coals         

  5. Coal resources and quality assessment     

  6. Organic petrological and geochemical characterisation of organic-rich sediments.   

  7. Petroleum source rock evaluation                     

  8. Sedimentary facies and sequence stratigraphy

Research Accomplishments and Findings         

The main accomplishment of PEAK has been the establishment of the capability to provide advanced applied knowledge through teaching, training and field guides/seminars to postgraduate students and offering consultancy services to oil/service companies through specifically designed training programmes and tailored projects for local and overseas participants and companies. For example, a comprehensive, multi-month geology and geophysics training programme was conducted by Department staff for professional personnel from the Equatorial Guinea Energy Ministry. Among SEARCH unit main accomplishments is the ability to obtain oil companies grant (e.g. ExxonMobil) and sponsorship of their staff (e.g. Shell) to undertake research at Geology Department, UM. Members of the unit are embarking on integrated research under Borneo Project, the findings of which would benefit the ever challenging oil and gas exploration activities within the surrounding region. The new, collaborative initiatives of the Reservoir Characterisation component of SEARCH further benefit the Malaysian petroleum industry by addressing topical issues pertinent to production and field development. We are utilizing state of the art software such as Petrel, PetroMod, Roxar RMS, Petrosys, etc in combination with advanced source rock evaluation techniques (e.g. GC-MS, Py-GC, SRA, VR analyses) and reservoir characterisation methodologies (e.g. Interactive Petrophysics, Norsar SeisRox, Midland Valley MOVE, etc). We have studied & characterised major source rock types of NW Borneo basins, performed facies analysis, carried out analogue studies, stratigraphic correlation between onshore and offshore petroleum province, as well as establishing the first MSc Petroleum Geology Programme in Malaysia that has enrolled students from around the world e.g., Pakistan, Libya, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Nigeria, Oman, UAE, Italy and UK.