PGE358, Spring 2022

Principles of Formation Evaluation

(Formerly PGE368, Fundamentals of Well Logging)
(Unique No. 19750)

SYLLABUS
Instructor
Carlos T. Verdín, PhD (he/him/his)
Professor
Brian James Jennings Memorial Endowed Chair in Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
and
Zarrow Centennial Professorship in Petroleum Engineering

The University of Texas at Austin

Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
200 E. Dean Keeton, Stop C0300
Austin, TX 78712-1585

Office: CPE 5.186A

Telephone: (512) 471-4216
E-mail: cverdin@austin.utexas.edu
Personal Web Page: https://faculty.engr.utexas.edu/torresverdin/home

NB: Unless otherwise specified, all times below are US Central Times (CT)

Schedule and Location of Lectures

Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Room: CPE 2.204

Due to current COVID-19 conditions, UT Austin has mandated that the first two weeks of instruction
be performed remotely. Therefore, and unless otherwise noticed, between January 18 and January
27, 2022, all PGE358 lectures will be conducted through Zoom/Canvas, and broadcast and recorded
by the instructor from our designated classroom (CPE 2.204, which is equipped with advanced
recording capabilities).

Instructor Office Hours

The instructor will be available for class consultation during the office hours shown in the table below.
Special office hours will be held to satisfy high demand before exams. Office hours other than those shown
below can be granted by previous appointment. Students are strongly encouraged to make effective use of
office hours. Technical discussions and questions by e-mail should be kept at a minimum. Unless in case of
an emergency, the instructor will not answer e-mails on weekends, holidays, or after 6 PM on week
days.

Location Tuesdays Thursdays

CPE 5.186A 4:00 – 5:30 PM 4:00 – 5:30 PM
Course Website
CANVAS will serve as the general repository of information and course organization. Copies of lecture
presentations and notes will be posted on Canvas ahead of time. Students will be responsible for checking
the class web site periodically to keep themselves abreast of course updates and special announcements.

Course Description
This is a hands-on undergraduate-level course on modern formation evaluation techniques using open-hole
logs, rock-core measurements, geological information, and the physics of fluid-flow in porous media.
Multiple single-well data sets will be used to illustrate, reinforce, and apply the technical concepts discussed
in class. The emphasis of the course will be on the integration of physical properties of rocks, geological
information, and borehole measurements to diagnose rock types and saturating fluids, and to quantify
petrophysical properties such as porosity and hydrocarbon saturation.

Diagram showing some of the basic elements of formation evaluation projects, including geological context
and information, core samples, thin sections, well logs, seismic amplitude data and cross-sections, and well-to-
well correlations, among other (illustration courtesy of Steve Walkinshaw).

Objectives and Expectations

At the end of this course, students will be familiar with the
acquisition and processing of individual well logs and with their role
in identifying and quantifying key petrophysical properties of rock
formations. Specifically, based on borehole measurements and
rock-core measurements, students will be able to identify dominant
lithology (dominant solid composition of rocks), porous and
permeable fluid-bearing units, and types of saturating fluids.
Students will also be able to quantify porosity and fluid saturation of
fluid-bearing rock units. Finally, students will be able to assess the
quality of well logs and to make inferences about the spatial
continuity of petrophysical properties in the context of hydrocarbon,
geohydrology, CO2 sequestration, and geothermal projects.
Course Philosophy
Learning by doing! Learning with actual field examples and data! Practice, and more practice! All concepts,
exercises, homework projects, and exams have been designed with professional practice in mind.

PGE358 Student Bill of Rights

 You are the most important part of this course! Without you, we would not be here.
 You have a right to a learning environment that supports mental and physical wellness.
 You have a right to respect.
 You have a right to be assessed and graded fairly.
 You have a right to freedom of opinion and expression.
 You have a right to privacy and confidentiality.
 You have a right to meaningful and equal participation, to self-organize groups to improve your
learning environment.
 You have a right to learn in an environment that is welcoming to all people. No student shall be
isolated, excluded or diminished in any way.

With these rights come responsibilities:

 You are responsible for taking care of yourself, managing your time, and communicating with the
teaching team and with others if things start to feel out of control or overwhelming.
 You are responsible for acting in a way that is worthy of respect and always respectful of others.
 Your experience with this course is directly related to the quality of the energy that you bring to it,
and your energy shapes the quality of your peers’ experiences.
 You are responsible for creating an inclusive environment and for speaking up when someone is
excluded.
 You are responsible for holding yourself accountable to these standards, holding each other to these
standards, and holding the teaching team accountable as well.

General Statement About COVID-19

Students are the most important component of this University. We (instructors) are here because of you.
Right now, your health and wellbeing, as well as the health and wellbeing of those close to you, is our most
important concern. Accordingly, I will implement a very flexible class/homework/exam policy to deal with
and account for unexpected situations and contingencies/life disruptions associated with COVID-19. We are
in this together! Please let me know if we can do anything to help you during these very difficult times. I am
willing to further adjust the format and expectations of the course as your personal situations and
challenges change in the ensuing weeks. Let us maintain good communication through this process. And I
will rise to the occasion to provide you with the best education possible under the current circumstances.
Feel free to make suggestions and comments to improve the learning experience. Your voice is important!

Classroom Safety and COVID-19

If you have concerns about the safety or behavior of fellow students, TAs or professors, contact BCCAL (the
Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line) at https://safety.utexas.edu/behavior-concerns-advice-line
or by calling 512-232-5050. Confidentiality will be maintained as much as possible, however the university
may be required to release some information to appropriate parties.

To help preserve our in-person learning environment, the university recommends the following:
 Adhere to university mask guidance. Masks are strongly recommended, but optional, inside
university buildings for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, except when alone in a private
office or single-occupant cubicle.
 Vaccinations are widely available, free and not billed to health insurance. The vaccine will help
protect against the transmission of the virus to others and reduce serious symptoms in those who
are vaccinated.
 Proactive Community Testing remains an important part of the university’s efforts to protect our
community. Tests are fast and free. We encourage the use of the Protect Texas App each day prior
to coming to campus.
 Visit utexas.edu for more information.
  If you develop COVID-19 symptoms or feel sick, stay home and contact the University Health
Services’ Nurse Advice Line at 512-475-6877. If you need to be absent from class, contact Student
Emergency Services and they will notify your professors. In addition, to help understand what to do if
you have been had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, see
this University Health Services link.
 Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line (BCCAL) remains available as the primary tool to
address questions or concerns from the university community about COVID-19.
 Students who test positive should contact BCCAL or self-report (if tested off campus) to University
Health Services.
 Visit Protect Texas Together for more information.

Course Communications
Canvas will be used for class communications and file transmittal. We will also be using Zoom for
interactive instructor and TA sessions (see below). Please feel free to e-mail me or the TAs questions as we
progress through the semester. We will strive to answer your e-mails promptly.

Lecture Format
All lectures will be recorded and promptly posted on Canvas. Via Canvas announcements and ahead of
time, the instructor will communicate the lecture plan to students for a given week/day and will post lecture
summaries after each lecture. Likewise, the instructor will clearly indicate which lectures, concepts, and
examples will be the basis of homework projects, pop quizzes, and/or exams.

Note on Class Recordings

Class recordings are reserved only for the use of members of this class (students, TAs, and the instructor)
and only for educational purposes. Recordings that involve students should not be shared outside the class
in any form. Violation of this restriction could lead to Student Misconduct proceedings.

Interactive Zoom Sessions During Instructor Office Hours

The instructor will hold interactive Zoom sessions with students to answer questions about lectures,
homework projects, and exams. These sessions will take place during the days and time allotted for
instructor office hours (see above) and will be broadcast from my office in CPE to make use of enhanced
internet bandwidth and modern teaching resources. Students are required to show their real-time faces
during Zoom sessions.

Teaching Style
Lectures will be given using the whiteboard, overheads,
PowerPoint presentations and YouTube videos. The instructor
will consistently encourage participation and discussion with
students. Handouts will be provided on a regular basis
covering and extending the topics discussed in class.
Numerous examples will be given from actual oilfield
applications and well logs. Interpretation projects will be
assigned on a regular basis to give students hands-on
experience with concepts and techniques.

Prerequisites
Undergraduate standing in either the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, or the
Jackson School of Geological Sciences, or else explicit approval by the instructor. Working knowledge is
required in the areas of (a) petrophysics and (b) sedimentary geology and processes.

Reading Assignments
Periodic reading assignments will be given to extend the topics discussed during regular lectures. Such
assignments will not be part of the class grade but will be considered to generate questions for pop quizzes,
and midterm and final exams.
Grading Policy
The final grade will be determined according to the following distribution:

ITEM % DATE

Pop Quizzes* 15 N/A

Homework Projects*** 15 N/A

Midterm Exam # 1** 20 Thursday, March 3, 2022, 6:00 PM

Midterm Exam # 2** 20 Tuesday, April 26, 2022, 6:00 PM

Final Exam 30 Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 9:00 AM -12:00 Noon

The final class grade will be curved by the instructor in a flexible manner to minimize the deleterious effects
of remote instruction and environmental/personal/health disruptions associated with COVID-19. Again, this
is the time to help and be compassionate and not the time to be inflexible and insensitive to students’ needs
and tribulations.
Instead of assigning the same weight to both midterm exams, the instructor will implement the formula

(40/100)*[0.7*Maximum{Exam No. 1, Exam No. 2} + 0.3*Minimum{Exam No. 1, Exam No. 2}]

to assign the total number of points for the two midterm exams. The instructor will also eliminate from
grading consideration the homework project and pop quiz for which a student had the lowest score. Cutoff
values for assigning letter grades (plus/minus grading system) will be decided by the instructor after the final
exam. It is hoped that the relaxed grading policy will give students the ability to concentrate on their
education and enjoy the learning experience during the hardship of COVID-19!

*Pop quizzes will consist of conceptual questions

and/or brief exercises with well logs to be solved
in no longer than 10 minutes. Solution sets for
pop quizzes will not be provided by the instructor
because they will be used to generate exam
questions. All pop quizzes will be implemented
on Canvas during class.

**Midterm and final exams will consist of

exercises and questions intended to probe the
conceptual understanding of the topics covered
in class. Technical material contained in the
reading assignments will also be considered to
generate exam questions. Exams will involve qualitative and quantitative exercises with well logs and rock-
core measurements and will be implemented on Canvas. Students are required to plan ahead of time to
secure a quiet place with good and reliable internet connection where you will be able to take the exam
away from distractions and interferences. The duration of exams will be 2 hours for midterm exams and 3
hours for the final exam; students will be given additional time to prepare and submit their solutions in digital
form to the instructor. Ancillary material required to solve the exam, such as plots of well logs, interpretation
charts, formulas, etc., will be posted ahead of time on Canvas

An announcement will be made ahead of time by the instructor concerning the topics and material to be
covered in exams together with a recommended study guide.
***Homework projects will be handed out roughly every week. They
will consist of: (a) conceptual questions and (b) practical exercises
with well logs designed to reinforce the theory and concepts covered
during lectures. Homework projects will follow a sequential order of
increasing complexity typical of multi-well formation evaluation
projects carried out in professional formation evaluation projects. In
addition, homework projects will be designed as preparation
exercises for exams. The majority of exam questions, both
conceptual and practical, will be prepared in close resemblance to
homework questions and exercises. Even though the percent grade
assigned to homework projects is relatively low, students are
encouraged to complete all of them to perform well in exams.
Students will submit homework projects on Canvas before or at the
due date. All submissions will be digital; PDFs of scanned hard
copies are preferred but the TAs are willing to consider other forms of digital submission if arranged ahead
of time with them. Graded homework will be returned via e-mail too.

Homework assignments will typically be uploaded on Canvas on Fridays.

There might be exceptions to this schedule, which will be communicated
to the students. The deadline for the assignments will be one week after
posting the assignment, on Thursdays before 11:00 PM (US central time
zone) on Canvas. Homework assignments will be considered late if they
are turned in after 11:00 PM on the due date. Late or not, all
assignments must be turned in. Late homework assignments should be
e-mailed to the TA. The e-mailed late assignments will only receive
partial credit if submitted before the solution set is posted online. A
course grade of “Incomplete” might be given if any assignment is
missing, and this grade will be changed only after all required work has
been submitted. DISPUTES AND CORRECTIONS OF HOMEWORK
GRADES WILL ONLY BE ADDRESSED WITHIN ONE WEEK OF THE
DATE OF RETURN. No exceptions will be made when applying this
rule!

Grading and Regrading Policy: The rules/policies for grading and regrading of exams and homework
assignments are as follows:
a. Homework assignments and exams will be graded on the basis of answers only — partial credit, if
given, is solely at the discretion of the instructor.
b. All work requiring calculations should be properly and completely documented to receive credit.
c. All grading will be done by the instructor, or under the instructor’s supervision; decisions made by the
instructor will be final.
d. Only in very rare cases will exams be considered for regrading; e.g., when the total number of points
deducted is not consistent with the assigned grade. Partial credit (if any) will not be subject to
appeal.
e. Work, which, while supported by a correct answer, cannot be logically or legibly followed by the
instructor will be deemed incorrect and will not be considered for a grade change. The instructor
cannot guess all intermediate steps of an answer; students should not expect partial credit for an
answer which is not fully supported by written and logical arguments.
f. When disputing exam grading, students should submit a regrading request to the instructor with
specific arguments and descriptions.

Any conflicts or problems with the dates and times of exams must be reported by the first week of
classes. The final exam will take place at the time indicated by the Registrar’s Office in the course
schedule. There will be no additional exams given to students who fail to take the exams at the pre-
convened times. If there is a special and sound reason that precludes a student from taking a given exam at
a pre-convened date, please advise the instructor at least four weeks ahead of time to explore practical
alternatives. NO LATE EXPLANATIONS WILL BE DEEMED VALID!! DISPUTES ABOUT AND
CORRECTIONS TO EXAM GRADES WILL ONLY BE ADDRESSED WITHIN ONE WEEK OF THE DATE
OF RETURN. Valid excuses for not being able to attend an exam ARE NOT the following: weddings, family
and friend reunions, vacation trips, previously-bought plane tickets, field trips, geology field trips, music
rehearsals, athletic meets, job interviews, job site visits, student and social activities, and other extra-
curricular academic and social functions. Plan your activities around exams and not vice versa!

Teaching Assistants
The Teaching Assistants (TAs) for PGE358 this semester will be Ms. Daria Olszowska and Mr. Mohamed
Bennis. Both of them are PhD students working on research topics related to formation evaluation; their TA
duties will include:

 To help students with conceptual and technical questions outside the classroom.
 To guide students in the solution of homework assignments.
 To help students in the preparation of exams.
 To prepare solutions for homework and computer exercises.

TA office hours are as follows:

DAYS HOURS
Mondays 12:00 Noon - 2:30 PM
Tuesdays 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Wednesdays 12:00 Noon - 2:30 PM
Thursdays 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Fridays 12:00 Noon - 2:30 PM
or else by appointment.

Ms. Daria Olszowska’s coordinates are as follows:

E-mail: daria.olszowska@utexas.edu
Phone number: 512-576-5781

Mr. Bennis’s coordinates are as follows:

E-mail: mbennis@utexas.edu
Phone number: 512-758-1702

Unless otherwise noticed, all TA consulting sessions will be held through Zoom.

Tutoring Program
The following senior undergraduate students who have previously taken PGE358 and done well (A) will
serve as tutors for the course:

NAME EID EMAIL

Reuben Thomas Rjt987 00rthomas@gmail.com
To be announced

You are encouraged to take advantage of their knowledge, motivation, experience, and patience to guide
your studying of PGE358.
 Topical Outline
1. Course introduction: objectives, expectations,
road map, and course materials.
2. Introduction to the engineering discipline of
Formation Evaluation.
3. Display of well logs, graphical conventions. The
“fabric” of a well log. Plotting conventions and
measurement scales.
4. Basic elements of well-log interpretation:
“gluing” multiple well logs for interpretation.
5. Inference of dominant lithology and rock fluid
content in clastic rocks.
6. Wellbore environment, LWD, wireline, and
cased-hole borehole measurements.
7. Caliper and temperature logs.
8. The physics of mud-filtrate invasion.
9. Spatial distribution of fluids due to capillary
equilibrium.
10. Natural gamma-ray logging, principles and applications
11. Spontaneous electrical potential (SP) logs, principles and applications.
12. Density logging and litho-density logs, principles and applications.
13. Neutron logging, principles and applications.
14. Joint interpretation of density and neutron logs.
15. Estimation of total and non-shale porosity from combinations of well logs.
16. Electrical properties of rocks and Archie's equations.
17. Resistivity logs. Modern resistivity logging instruments.
18. Estimation of total and non-shale fluid saturation from combinations of well logs in clastic
sedimentary rocks. Petrophysical interpretation of well logs acquired in shaly sandstones.
19. Principles of sonic logging and applications.
20. Principles of magnetic resonance (NMR) logging.
21. Petrophysical interpretation of well logs acquired in carbonate rocks.
22. Principles of formation evaluation in non-conventional rocks.
23. Conclusions and course summary.

Expected Course Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:
 Read well logs, be familiar with their plotting conventions and
measurement scales.
 Identify the borehole instruments/tools used for well-log
acquisition and understand their limitations as well as some of
their data processing methods.
 Assess the quality of well logs and recognize the impact of
drilling and environmental borehole conditions on them.
 Identify clastic and carbonate sedimentary sequences from well
logs.
 Identify presence of shale and clay minerals in rocks from well
logs.
 Complement well logs with core measurements and contextual
drilling, geological, geometrical, fluid, and mechanical
information.
 Calculate rock porosity from well logs.
 Calculate water/hydrocarbon saturation from well logs in clastic
and carbonate rocks. Become familiar with the practical implementation of Archie’s equations and their
limitations.
 Identify geological continuity and hydraulic communication from well logs and pore-pressure
measurements.
 Assess petrophysical and flow quality of rocks from well logs and core measurements.
  Estimate elastic properties of rocks from density and sonic logs.
 Understand the basic principles and added value of magnetic resonance logs.
 Be familiar with the petrophysical and mechanical evaluation of unconventional rocks from well logs
and core measurements.

Textbook
The instructor is the process of writing his own textbook titled
Modern Formation Evaluation for Geoscientists. A preliminary
draft version of the textbook will be available to students and
posted on Canvas. The textbook is intended only for the use of
members of this class (students, TAs, and the instructor) and
only for educational purposes. It should not be shared outside the
class in any form. Violation of this restriction could lead to
Student Misconduct proceedings.

Suggested Bibliography
The instructor will provide his current set of class notes (book) at
no cost in the form of a PDF file. While there is not a single
textbook that encompasses all of the topics discussed in this
course and at the same time approaches the subject of formation
evaluation in the manner the instructor intends to do, the
following list of books is meant as a summary of material that
could be used both for consultation as well as for broadening the
topics discussed in class:

 Bassiouni, Z., 1994, Theory, Measurement, and Interpretation of Well Logs. SPE Textbook Series
Vol. 4.
 Rider, M., 2004, The Geological Interpretation of Well Logs. Rider-French Consulting, Ltd.
 Western Atlas International, 1992, Introduction to Wireline Log Analysis.
 Ellis, D. V. and Singer, J., 2007, Well Logging for Earth Scientists. Springer-Verlag.
 Luthi, S. M., 2001, Geological Well Logs: Their use in reservoir modeling. Springer.
 Hearst, J. R., and Nelson, P. H., and Paillet, F. L., 2000, Well Logging for Physical Properties: A
handbook for geophysicists, geologists and engineers. John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.
 Dewan, J. T., 1983, Essentials of Modern Open-Hole Log Interpretation. PennWell Publishing
Company.
 Pirson, S. J., 1983, Geologic Well Log Analysis. Gulf Publishing Company.
 Tittman, J., 1986, Geophysical Well Logging. Academic Press, Inc.

Handouts
Class handouts will be given on a regular basis. Additionally, the
instructor will make available his live class notes in PDF.

Required Instructional Material

The instructor has organized all the well-log examples and outcrop
photographs that will be used during the instruction of PGE358 into
two separate binders. One binder will be free and distributed in
class, while students are required to gain access (purchase) the
second binder from

Jenn’s Copy and Binding

2518 Guadalupe Street
Austin, Texas
(Corner of Guadalupe and Dean Keeton; binders are to be picked
up at the location next to Madam Mam's, across the street from the
UT CMA building).
Phone: 512-482-0779
http://www.jennscopies.com/
e-mail: info@jennscopies.com

Long Semester Hours:

Mon-Thu 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday and Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed Sunday

Or through the weblink

https://jennscopiespacket.com/product/pge-358-torres-verdin/

Note that students can make arrangements with Jenn’s Copy and Binding to have the binder mailed to their
home.

The total price of the binder including tax is $39.00. Please note that the actual selling price of this
binder is approximately $107.00. However, the instructor is subsidizing the difference ($68.00
dollars per binder) using his Chair account so that the final price is more accessible to students.
What an incredible deal!

Jenn’s Copy and Binding have approximately 75% of the total class binders currently printed and ready for
sale. The rest will be printed on a request basis, but they need a 4-hour turnaround time for additional runs.

Additional Instructional Material

The instructor will give students access to PDFs of class notes and class lectures (posted on Canvas).

YouTube Lectures
Some of the lectures have been pre-recorded by the instructor and can be accessed through YouTube. The
latter are intended to expand the topics and explanations covered in class but are not compulsory.
Additional lectures will be added on the instructor’s YouTube channel during the semester as time permits.

Course Copyright
Handouts and data used in this course are copyrighted. The designation "handouts" includes all the
materials generated for this class, which include but are not limited to syllabus, quizzes, exams, solution
sets, laboratory problems, in-class materials, PowerPoint presentations, PDF files, review sheets, and
additional problem sets, digital material, and data. Because these materials are copyrighted, students
do not have the right to copy them, reproduce them (including digital reproductions), post them on
the web, or share them with anyone by either manual or electronic means unless you are expressly
granted permission by the instructor.

Optional Instructional Material

Lectures will be supported with interactive instructional material in the form of CD ROM's. Students will have
access to the following CDs available in PGE’s Reading Room:
  Petrophysics Distance Learning Module. First Edition, 1999, prepared by Shell International
Exploration and Production B.V., and Schlumberger.
 Introduction to Wireline Log Analysis, Western Atlas International, 1992.

Course/Instructor Evaluation Plan

An official course/instructor evaluation will be performed by the students during the last week of classes.
This evaluation is mandatory and will be carried out with official forms provided by UT Austin's
Measurement and Evaluation Center (MEC).

Useful Internet Links

General Well Logging Resources:
http://www.spwla.org/
Checkout a very useful wiki:
http://petrowiki.org/PetroWiki
Schlumberger’s Oilfield Glossary:
http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/

Important Dates and Special Announcements

Midterm and final exam dates (see above).

Class Etiquette
Texting or any other form of smart-phone, electronic tablets, and wireless communication, including
web browsing and phone calling is not allowed during class. Unless explicitly required and approved
by the instructor, laptop computers should not be used or kept open during class. Distracting and loud
verbal communications among students are not allowed during lectures. Lastly, taking trips in and out of the
classroom during lectures will only be permitted because of health reasons. Students are required to
observe these basic behavioral manners to make the most efficient use of their time during lectures.

Urs
Academic Guidelines and Resources
e Policies and Disclosures
Dropping Courses
An engineering student must have the Dean's approval to add or drop a course after the fourth-class day of
the semester. Adds and drops are not approved after the fourth-class day except for good cause. "Good
cause" is interpreted to be documented evidence of an extenuating nonacademic circumstance (such as
health or personal problems) that did not exist on or before the fourth class day. Applications for approval to
drop a course after the fourth-class day should be made in the Office of Student Affairs, Ernest Cockrell, Jr.
Hall 2.200.

Special Student Adjustments and Resources for Students with Disabilities

Any student with a documented disability who requires academic accommodations should contact Services
for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 512-410-6644 (Video Phone) as soon as possible to
request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations.

Students with disabilities may also request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of
Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities. For more information,
contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 512-471-6259 or the College of Engineering Director of
Students with Disabilities at 512-471-4321. Additional information can be found in the following websites:
http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd
https://www.utexas.edu/disability/
If you have a disability that requires special attention, you are urged to contact the instructor as soon as
possible and preferably within the first week of classes. Students with special needs, including those who
require special time and space accommodations for exams, should let the instructor know as early in the
semester as possible but no later than two weeks before a given exam so that the instructor can secure the
pertinent accommodations recommended by UT Austin.

Special Testing Requirements

See the previous item.

Counseling and Mental Health

As a student, you may experience a range of challenges that can interfere with learning, such as strained
relationships, increased anxiety, substance use, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of
motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may diminish your academic performance
and/or reduce your ability to participate in daily activities. Services are available here at UT, and treatment
does work. The UT Counseling and Mental Health Center (http://chmc.utexas.edu/) provides counseling,
psychiatric, consultation, and prevention services that facilitate students' academic and life goals and
enhance their personal growth and well-being. The CMHC crisis line is available 24/7/365 at 512-471-2255;
our COFA Care Counselor Nathan Langfitt can be reached at the direct line 512-471-0392. A wonderful
resource at the CMHC is the MindBody Lab, a self-paced environment designed to help UT students
explore various resources for improving their emotional and physical health. The Lab currently features
audio and video instruction on a variety of topics, including sleep issues; food and body image; health and
well-being; relaxation and meditation. Most of this material is experiential, enabling students to follow along
and practice the skills as they are being discussed.

All students, Staff and Faculty are Bound by the Honor Code of the University of
Texas!
The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning,
discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility.
Each member of the University is expected to uphold these values
through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and
community.

“As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall abide by the

core values of the University and uphold academic integrity.”

For more information and resources about how to uphold the Honor
Code, visit the website of the Office of the Dean of Students - Student
Judicial Services.

Scholastic Dishonesty
The University defines academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, falsifying
academic records, and any act designed to avoid participating honestly in the learning process. Scholastic
dishonesty also includes, but is not limited to, providing false or misleading information to receive a
postponement or an extension on a test, quiz, or other assignment, and submission of essentially the same
written assignment for two courses without the prior permission of the instructor. By accepting this syllabus,
you have agreed to these guidelines and must adhere to them. Scholastic dishonest damages both the
student’s learning experience and readiness for the future demands of a work-career. Students who violate
University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of
failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. For more information on scholastic dishonesty,
please visit the Student Judicial services Web site at
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs
The following document include a brief guide to avoid plagiarism:
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/cwgs/_files/pdf-4/ai2012.pdf
Discussion of the general approach to a difficult homework problem with fellow students is encouraged; you
should solve as much of the work yourself as possible before consulting others. All work turned in
(homework, exams, and/or computer problems), however, should be your individual work. Working in
teams is not an excuse for duplicate work.

Note the following from University Policies: Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated; incidents of
dishonesty will be reported to the university authorities. Anyone who copies from a fellow student, former
student, copyrighted material, etc. will automatically receive a failing grade and be reported to the Dean of
Judicial Affairs.

Under no circumstances it is permissible to transfer any document electronically among students taking
PGE358, to print a document and share the hard copy with another student taking PGE358, or else to
obtain and/or distribute electronic and/or paper documents used for similar courses at UT Austin or
elsewhere.

Students are required to take reasonable steps to protect their work from being copied or reproduced either
advertently or inadvertently. These steps include but are not limited to erasing any copies of their work
stored on departmental machines. Collaboration on exams will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in an
appropriate manner for academic dishonesty. Any student in PGE358 caught in an act of scholastic
dishonesty will be given an F for the final course grade and will have his/her case referred to the
Dean of Students Office for additional disciplinary action.

The following is a list that includes (but not limited to) examples of cheating:

 Using cell phone or any other electronic device not permitted by the instructor during an exam. Usually,
calculators are allowed in exams but they cannot be “programmed.”
 Using any external material during an exam (e.g. books/notes). All tests are closed book/notes unless
stated otherwise.
 Copying homework, projects, or computer programs from another student or source. Although
discussion with classmates is permitted, all homework should be unique and distinguishable from other
students.
 Copying homework, projects, or computer programs from previous semesters or published online, in
other texts, etc.

Religious Holidays
Religious holidays sometimes conflict with class and examination schedules. If you miss a work assignment
or other project due to the observance of a religious holiday you will be given an opportunity to complete the
work missed within a reasonable time after the absence. It is the policy of the University of Texas at Austin
that students must notify the instructor at least 14 days prior to the classes scheduled on dates you will be
absent to observe a religious holiday.

University Electronic Mail Notification Policy

All students should become familiar with the University’s official e-mail student notification policy. It is the
student’s responsibility to keep the University informed as to changes in his/her e-mail address. Students
are expected to check e-mail on a frequent and regular basis in order to stay current with University-related
communications, recognizing that certain communications may be time-critical. It is recommended that e-
mail be checked daily, but at a minimum, twice per week.
The complete text of this policy and instructions for updating your E-mail address are available at
http://www.utexas.edu/its/policies/emailnotify.html
In this course E-mail will be used as a means of communication with students. You will be responsible for
checking your e-mail regularly for class work and announcements.

Safety in the Classroom

Students are expected to review the following recommendations regarding emergency evacuation from the
Office of Campus Safety and Security (tel. 512-471-5767):

a. Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus are required to evacuate
buildings when a fire alarm is activated or an official announcement is given.
 b. Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of each classroom and building you may occupy. Remember
that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the building.
c. Students requiring assistance in evacuation shall inform their instructor in writing during the first
week of class.
d. During an evacuation, follow the instructions of faculty or class instructors.
e. Do not re-enter a building unless given instructions by the following: Austin Fire Department, The
University of Texas at Austin Police Department, or the Fire Prevention Services.
f. Link to information regarding emergency evacuation routes and emergency procedures can be found
at www.utexas.edu/emergency
g. Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL): 512-232-5050

Additional safety-related information can be found at www.utexas.edu/safety

UT-Austin Campus Carry Policy – Handguns on Campus

Pursuant to SB11 http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/billtext/pdf/SB00011F.pdf and UT-Austin Campus
Carry Policy (https://campuscarry.utexas.edu/ and https://policies.utexas.edu/policies/campus-concealed-
carry), persons with a current legally valid Concealed Carry License may carry a concealed legal handgun
on or about their person in this class.

With the exception of concealed handguns, no weapons may be brought into the classroom. This exclusion
applies to knives, clubs, spears, machetes, metal knuckles, explosive or incendiary devices, and any other
device designed to injure or kill people. Course participants with a license to carry a handgun must keep it
concealed and on their person at all times. If a gun or any other weapon becomes
visible, the person who sees the weapon should leave the classroom and call 911 so that law enforcement
personnel can take appropriate action and restore an atmosphere conducive to learning. Course
participants will be called upon at unpredictable times to move about the room, go to the front of the room
and participate in a presentation, or otherwise be separated from their belongings. University policy and the
implementation of the law would be violated by the separation of the gun owner from their weapon that
would result from these required classroom activities. No weapons of any kind may be brought into the
instructor’s office. Course participants will be given oral notice excluding handguns from the office before
they meet with the professor. They may be required to sign a statement that they have received legally-
binding oral notification that guns are not permitted in the professor’s office.

Inclusion and Diversity

(The following text is from Dr. Monica Linden, Brown
University)
There may be both overt and covert biases in the class
materials due to the lens with which they were written, even
though the material is primarily of a scientific nature.
Integrating a diverse set of experiences is important for a
more comprehensive understanding of science. Please
contact the instructors or submit anonymous feedback if you
have any suggestions to improve the quality of the course
materials. Furthermore, we should collectively strive to
create a learning environment that supports a diversity of
thoughts, perspectives and experiences, and honors your
identities (including for example race, gender, class,
sexuality, religion, and ability). To help accomplish this:
 If you have a name and/or set of pronouns that differ
from those that appear in your official university records,
please let me know!
 If you feel like your performance in the class is being
impacted by your experiences outside of class, please
don't hesitate to come and discuss with the instructors.
We are a resource for you. Remember that you can
also submit anonymous feedback (which might lead to
 a general announcement to the class, if necessary, to address your concerns). If you prefer to speak
with someone outside of the course, the Division of Diversity of Community Engagement
(ddce@utexas.edu) and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
(vpsa@austin.utexas.edu) are excellent resources.
 The instructors, like many people, are continually learning about diverse perspectives and identities. If
something was said in class by anyone that made you feel uncomfortable, please talk to the instructors
about it. Anonymous feedback is always an option.

Title IX Reporting
Title IX is a federal law that protects against sex and gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment,
sexual assault, sexual misconduct, dating/domestic violence and stalking at federally funded educational
institutions. Sexual Harassment includes but is not limited to: quid pro quo, hostile work environment
(behavior unwanted & egregious), sexual misconduct, interpersonal violence, stalking/cyber stalking,
discrimination based on pregnancy/nursing/parenting, and sexual assault.
UT Austin is committed to fostering a learning and working environment free from discrimination in all its
forms. When sexual misconduct occurs in our community, the university can:
1. Intervene to prevent harmful behavior from continuing or escalating.
2. Provide support and remedies to students and employees who have experienced harm or have
become involved in a Title IX investigation.
3. Investigate and discipline violations of the university’s relevant policies.
All UT Employees are mandatory reporters this includes but is not limited to: Faculty, Staff, Coaches,
Teaching Assistants, Graduate Research Assistants, Undergraduate Research Assistants, Tutors and
Resident Assistants are mandatory reporters. Concerns involving Title IX: employee’s failure to report a title
IX incident resulting in termination and a class C misdemeanor.
Your instructor is a Responsible Employee and must report any Title IX related incidents that are disclosed in
writing, discussion, or one-on-one. Before talking with a faculty or staff member about a Title IX related
incident, be sure to ask whether they are a responsible employee. If you want to speak with someone for
support or remedies without making an official report to the university, email advocate@austin.utexas.edu.
For more information about reporting options and resources, visit titleix.utexas.edu or contact the Title IX
Office at titleix@austin.utexas.edu. Our Department and the University of Texas at Austin has a zero-
tolerance policy for Title IX infractions.

Academic Integrity
A fundamental principle for any educational institution, academic integrity is highly valued and seriously
regarded at The University of Texas at Austin. More specifically, the students are expected to maintain
absolute integrity and a high standard of individual honor in scholastic work undertaken at the University.
This is a very basic expectation that is further reinforced by the University's Honor Code. At a minimum,
students should complete any assignments, exams, and other scholastic endeavors with the utmost honesty,
which requires you to:
a. acknowledge the contributions of other sources to their scholastic efforts,
b. complete their assignments independently unless expressly authorized to seek or obtain assistance in
preparing them,
c. follow instructions for assignments and exams, and observe the standards of your academic discipline,
and
d. avoid engaging in any form of academic dishonesty on behalf of themselves or another student.
For the official policies on academic integrity and scholastic dishonesty, please refer to Chapter 11 of the
Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities.

Sharing of Course Materials Prohibited

No materials used in this class, including, but not limited to, lecture hand-outs, videos, assessments (quizzes,
exams, papers, projects, homework assignments), in-class materials, review sheets, and additional problem
sets, may be shared online or with anyone outside of the class unless you have the instructor’s explicit,
written permission.

Unauthorized sharing of materials promotes cheating. UT Austin is aware of the sites used for sharing
materials, and any materials found online that are associated with you, or any suspected unauthorized
sharing of materials, will be reported to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in the Office of the Dean of
Students. These reports can result in sanctions, including failure in the course.

Land Acknowledgment
The instructor would like to acknowledge that we are meeting on Indigenous Land. Moreover, I the instructor
would like to acknowledge and pay respects to the Carrizo & Comecrudo, Coahuiltecan, Caddo, Tonkawa,
Comanche, Lipan Apache, Alabama-Coushatta, Kickapoo, Tigua Pueblo, and all the American Indian and
Indigenous Peoples and communities who have been or have become a part of these lands and territories in
Texas, here on Turtle Island.

Diagram showing some of the basic elements of formation evaluation projects (illustration courtesy of Steve
Walkinshaw)
Diagram showing some of the basic elements of formation evaluation projects (illustration courtesy of Steve
Walkinshaw).

About the Instructor

Carlos Torres-Verdín completed his BSc degree in Engineering Geophysics at the
National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico. He holds a MSc degree in Electrical
Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin (1985), and a PhD degree in
Engineering Geoscience from the University of California, Berkeley (1991). From
1982 to 1983 he worked for the Mexican Petroleum Institute as Development
Engineer. From 1991 to 1997 he worked as Research Scientist for Schlumberger-
Doll Research in Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA. From 1997 to 1999 he held the
positions of Reservoir Specialist and Product Champion (Special Projects) while
working for the Vice Presidency of Engineering and Technology of the oil company
YPF S.A., in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since August 1999 he has been with the
Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering of The
University of Texas at Austin, where he currently holds the position of Professor. He
teaches undergraduate and graduate courses formation evaluation, well logging,
integrated reservoir characterization, inverse theory, and computer programming. Dr.
Torres-Verdín is founder and director of the Joint Industry Research Consortium on
Formation Evaluation at the University of Texas at Austin, which has been in operation since 2000 and is currently
sponsored by 26 companies. His research work has been sponsored by the US Department of Energy, US National
Science Foundation, American Chemical Society, Afren, Anadarko, Apache, Aramco, Baker-Hughes, BG, BHP Billiton,
BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, COSL, Det Norske, ENI, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Hess, Maersk, Marathon Oil
Company, Mexican Institute for Petroleum, Nexen, ONGC, OXY, Petrobras, PTT Exploration and Production, Repsol,
RWE, Schlumberger, Shell, Southwestern Energy, TOTAL, Weatherford, Wintershall, and Woodside Petroleum Limited,
among others.
He has published more than 225 articles in refereed technical journals, over 230 articles in refereed international
conferences, two book chapters, and is co-author of one book. Dr. Torres-Verdín is co-inventor of 7 US patents. He has
served as Invited Editor for Radio Science, Associate Editor for the Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications,
Technical Editor for SPE Journal (Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE), Associate Editor for Interpretation (Society of
Exploration Geophysicists, SEG), Editor of Petrophysics (Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts, SPWLA),
Chairman of the Editorial Board of the periodical The Leading Edge (published by the SEG), Assistant Editor for
Geophysics (SEG), and is currently VP Technology for the SPWLA. Dr. Torres-Verdín is a member of the research
committee of the SEG, was a member of the technical committee of the SPWLA during two 3-year terms, and was VP
of Publications of the SPWLA for 2 one-year terms. He received the 2020 Virgil Kauffman Gold Medal from the SEG,
the 2019 Anthony F. Lucas Gold Medal from the SPE, the 2017 Honorary Membership from the SEG, the 2017 Conrad
Schlumberger Award from the EAGE (European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers), is a Distinguished
Member of the SPE (2015), received the 2014 Gold Medal for Technical Achievement Award from the SPWLA, the
2008 Formation Evaluation Award from the SPE, the 2006 Distinguished Technical Achievement Award from the
SPWLA, is recipient of the 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 Best Paper Awards by Petrophysics, of the 2020 Best Paper
Award in the Geophysics by the SEG, of two Honorable Mentions for the Best Paper Category in Geophysics by the
SEG in 2015 and 2020, is recipient of the 2006 and 2014 Best Presentation Awards and the 2007 Best Poster Awards
by the SPWLA, and was Distinguished Technical Speaker during 2006-2007, 2013-2014, and 2016-2017 for the
SPWLA.
Dr. Torres-Verdín is recipient of the Texas Ten Award 2018 (annual list of the 10 most inspiring UT Austin professors,
nominated by alumni and selected by the Alcalde magazine, published by the Texas Exes), Lockheed Martin
Aeronautics Company Award for Excellence in Engineering Teaching by the Cockrell School of Engineering, University
of Texas Austin (2017), of the Engineering Foundation Award by the College of Engineering of the University of Texas
at Austin (2001), the 2001-2002 Departmental Teaching Award by the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems
Engineering (University of Texas at Austin), the Dean’s Fellowship by the College of Engineering of the University of
Texas at Austin (Spring 2002), and was named “Outstanding Faculty” in the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems
Engineering and recognized with the Faculty Appreciation Award by the UT Student Engineering Council of the
University of Texas at Austin (2010). Currently, he holds the Brian James Jennings Memorial Endowed Chair in
Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering and the Zarrow Centennial Professorship in Petroleum Engineering. He has
supervised 34 PhD and 46 Master's students at UT Austin. Dr. Torres-Verdín has conducted numerous training courses
for oil companies in the areas of petrophysics, formation evaluation, well logging, geophysical inversion, seismic
amplitude inversion, reservoir characterization, and geostatistics. He has completed 21 officially certified marathons
(including Boston 2007) with a P.R. of 3 hours and 18 minutes, and 16 officially certified half marathons (approximately
420 unofficial half marathons) with a P.R. of 1 hour and 24 minutes, is an avid bicyclist, and a consummate fanatic of
the outdoors.