GEO5682 – Azerbaijan Summer School: Mud Volcanism and Fluid migration systems

How and why do fluids migrate through sedimentary basins, and under which conditions do they produce spectacular mud volcanoes and violent clastic eruptions? In this course you are introduced to fluid migration mechanisms in sedimentary and hydrothermal systems, from source rocks and reservoirs to surface degassing. You will explore how these processes are linked to petroleum systems, seismicity and methane release to the atmosphere - one of the largest natural sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

The course combines introductory lectures with field-based activities around Baku, where you can explore active and fossil mud volcano systems, methane-burning eternal fires, practice fluids sampling, and compare field data with satellite imagery and subsurface seismic data. The school is open to bachelor’s and master’s students, PhD candidates and professionals who want a hands on introduction to sedimentary volcanism and its role in energy systems and gas emissions impacting our planet.

After completing the course, you can

• describe the main fluid migration mechanisms in sedimentary basins and hydrothermal systems
• explain how mud volcanism relates to petroleum systems and methane degassing to the atmosphere
• identify the key tectonic settings associated with sedimentary volcanism
• explain the rheology and flow mechanisms of mud flows and associated clastic eruptions
• describe the coupling between mud volcanism and seismicity
• outline examples of hybrid systems on Earth and extraplanetary sedimentary volcanism

Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

The courses GEO9682 and GEO5682 has a joint admission and capacity.

If there are more applicants than places for GEO9682/5682, applicants will be ranked after the following categories:

1. PhD candidates at the MN faculty

2. Master's students at one of the following programmes / programme options (not prioritized order):

   • Geosciences (master)
   • CS: Geoscience (programme option)
3. Visiting PhD candidates at the MN faculty
4. Others

The course includes mandatory fieldwork. A health-and-safety course for safety in the field must be passed before you can participate in this:

• HMS0504 – Field Safety

Participants receive a field guide containing practical information and academic instructions.

The course includes one day of seminar teaching, held in an auditorium at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. This is followed by four days of field teaching, with lectures and supervision conducted in the field.

Attendance on the field course / excursion is compulsory.

Towards the end of the course, students give final presentations based on the field activities they have carried out. Each student must also work on and submit a written report summarizing the fieldwork, activities, and learning outcomes from the summer school that counts towards the final grade.

General information about excursions at the Department of Geosciences

As the teaching involves laboratory and/or fieldwork, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.

• Field activities and oral presentation: This will be the evaluations of the performance during the course activities and the oral presentation provided at the end of the course.
• Field report: This is a written report of the field activities, which is to be delivered after the end of the course.

Attendance on the field course / excursion is obligatory.

It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for the following course:

• GEO9682 – Azerbaijan Summer School: Mud Volcanism and Petroleum Systems