Simon Oldfield

Profile

Working in the Basin Structure Group of the Institute of Applied Geoscience at Leeds, my principal research interest is geological controls on fluid movement in the subsurface. Having previous worked in mining and hydrocarbons, application in these fields is often considered in my research.

Graduating from with a Masters in Geology in 2007 I joined Capita Symonds, supporting geoscience work for the Department of Communities and Local Government (then the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister). We reveiwed application of mineral planning policy in the UK (MPS1), specifically with respect the the aggregates industry. After several months I moved to East Africa to work in mining exploration.

In 2010, I commenced an MSc Structural Geology with Geophysics at the University of Leeds. I was recruited onto the BG Group Graduate Development programme in 2010, completing my MSc thesis with them on stress analysis and elastic dislocation modelling in the Santos Basin. Joining them in 2011, I undertook the two-year graduate develoment programme working in Exploration in the South China Sea, the Integrated Reservoir Modelling Team, US Lower 48 Unconventionals Resources Exploration and as a wellsite and operations geologist with the Knarr Development, Norwegian North Sea.

Responsibilities

• TF for MSc Geology with Subsurface Intelligence
• TF for MSc Structural Geology with Geophysics

Research interests

• Structural geology and geomechanics
• Controls on fluid flow in the subsurface
• Seismic forward modelling of complex geometries
• Fracture analysis and prediction
• Hydrocarbon exploration, appraisal and production
• Petroleum geology

Qualifications

• MSc Structural Geology with Geophysics, University of Leeds
• MGeol Geology

Professional memberships

• Geological Society of London
• American Association of Petroleum Geologists
• European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers
• Petroleum Exploration Society of great Britain
• Society of Exploration Geophysicists
• European Geosciences Union

Student education

Currently, my role includes delivery of teaching on modules in:

• Applied Structural Models
• Geodynamics
• Integrated Subsurface Analysis (Reservoir Modelling, Petrophysics and Geophysical Interpretation)
• Geomechanics & Fault Modelling

These modules are delivered as part of the MSc Structural Geology with Geophysics and MSc Geophysics with Prospect Generation.

I also provide guest lectures on other modules, titled:

• Drilling and geomechanics
• Geomechanics in unconventional resources
• Introduction to reservoir modelling
• Introduction to unconventional resources

As a PhD student, I was actively engaged in teaching, demonstrating on the following modules:

• Introductory Geology for BSc Petroleum Engineering
• Reservoir Engineering for BSc Petroleum Engineering
• Deformation mechanics and processes for various BSc Geoscience programmes (Geology, Geophysics etc.)
• Applied Structural Models for MSc Structural Geology with Geophysics
• Geodynamics for MSc Structural Geology with Geophysics
• Geomechanics for MSc Structural Geology with Geophysics
• Sequence Stratigraphy and Hydrocarbon Implications for MSc Exploration Geophysics
• Spanish Pyrenees Fieldtrip
• Southwest England Fieldtrip

Research groups and institutes

• Applied Geophysics
• Geodynamics and Tectonics
• Institute of Applied Geoscience
• Petroleum Leeds
• Basin Structure
• Planetary Exploration