H205 GAS PRICES AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY (3 cr.) NMNS Gas prices and correlation with factors involving geology, prospecting, drilling, refining, transportation and political realities; origin and accumulation of petroleum in sediments; plate tectonic inevitability and predictability of oil accumulation. Current affairs.

Description : This freshman level course, in seminar format, combines geology, costs associated with exploration, extraction, transportation and political realities that largely determine gas prices. The content is focused on the science of the origin and occurrence of petroleum inside the earth at the present time. We explore the geological inevitability of concentrating anomalously high accumulation of petroleum only in a few regions of Earth. A large deposit is economically viable only if the cost of exploration, extraction and delivery to consumers is not prohibitive because of natural and political strife. Students discuss and debate geological and other factors controlling gas prices we pay at the pump.

Without assigned textbooks, students will be required to obtain information from the library and websites (government agencies, newspapers, peer-reviewed journals, oil-company reports) and formulate written questions to ask the instructor and for debates. Students will work in groups to obtain information, write individually to submit reports, and collaborate as debating teams to argue about factors that control gas prices.

Outside of classroom experiences may include, if funds are available, an optional Saturday trip to oil-drilling activities in southern Indiana.

EXAMINATIONS AND GRADING: All examinations, lab reports, papers etc. are OPEN BOOK, OPEN NOTES. Grading will be on an "A-F" scale; "S-F" will not be permitted and an "I" will be allowed only for medical reasons and extremely extenuating circumstances.
Three Lab Examinations 30%
Three in-class Examinations 15%
Two Papers 30%
Final Examination 10%
Homework 10%
Quality of discussion in class 5%

COURSE OUTLINE AND LOGISTICS FOR SPRING, 2008

Textbooks: None.

Compulsory reading:
Surely, You're Joking Mr. Feynman (Bantam; 1986; pp 191-198)
      Additional Resources:
      Grotzinger, Jordan, Press, Siever (GJPS): Understanding Earth (2007; 5th Ed)
      Dott and Prothero: Evolution of the Earth (1994; 5th Ed)
These three are on Reserve in the Geology Library

Other Recommended Readings:
Articles (or parts thereof) from Scientific American, American Scientist, Science, Nature; NY (Science) Times and other newspapers; sections of freshman textbooks; course-packet.

Tentative Schedule for Two one-hour Lectures and One one-hour Laboratory (per week for 15 weeks):

*Tentative EXAMPLE of a Possible Draft for Homework I
DRAFT of Homework I (Weeks 1 and 2): Find from the web or any other source (keep your bibliography) the following since 1960.
     Rise and fall of 'petrol' aka 'gas' prices.
     Rise and fall of car (type) sales and gas mileage.
     Rise and fall of crude spot-prices, NY Harbor prices, refinery capacities.
     Rise and fall of industry needs of energy.
     Rise and fall of coal, nuclear power, solar power, and wind turbines.
     Rise and fall of Governments/Rulers of a few countries.
     Rise and fall of hemline of skirts and the solar cycle.
     Rise and fall of birth rate in Germany and the number of storks in German zoos.
Is there any positive or negative correlation between the data sets?

STAFF:

Instructor: Abhijit Basu; Email: basu@indiana.edu
Office GY 521 Ph. 855-6654/855-5913
Office Hours: MTW 10:30-11:30 a.m.