GEO 163
Sedimentology and Depositional Environments of Deep-water Deposits
COURSE OVERVIEW
A good understanding of how depositional processes control the distribution of deep water reservoir and non-reservoir rocks in the subsurface is of fundamental importance to sound EP decision making. This applies throughout a field’s life-cycle, all the way from the exploration phase, through appraisal, field development and finally field abandonment. This is a 5 day course covering the theory and application of sedimentology and depositional environments of deep-water deposits. The course comprises an extensive series of topic-related modules, with provision to include workshops on Client &/or student datasets. The course can be concluded with a multiple choice test.
COURSE SCHEDULE
| Code | Date | Location | price (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEO 163 | 19 - 23 Jan 2026 | Online | 3300 |
| GEO 163 | 17 - 21 Aug 2026 | Trondheim | 4400 |
COURSE OUTLINE
5 days
Day 1: Why soft rock geology matters to the Oil industry
o Deepwater petroleum systems overview
o Deepwater petroleum systems & source rocks
o Significance of stratigraphy & sedimentology to the E&P sector
o Impact of reservoir heterogeneity on fluid flow
o Sedimentary characteristics as a control on poroperm
o Fundamentals of reservoir modeling workflow
o Overview of sedimentary systems
o Correlation of well data and building the fluid flow model
Day 2: Deepwater mass-flow depositional mechanisms
o Introductory overview and review of gravity-flow / mass-flow sediment transport mechanisms [slumps / debris flows / grain flows / turbidites]
o Three main settings
o West coast California / sea level low-stands with deltas reaching shelf slope / seismically induced shelf slope collapse & Grand Banks case study
o Tectono-sedimentary setting as a control on mass-flow sediment transportation
o Review of slumps / debris flows / grain flows / turbidites and likely reservoir characteristics; turbidites - vertical [Bouma sequence] and lateral depositional characteristics
o Dimensions of turbidite systems; mud-rich / mixed sand-mud / sand-rich as a control of type of submarine fan
o Overview comparison clastic versus carbonate deepwater deposits
Day 3: Reefal build-ups as sources of deep water carbonates
o Comparison clastic & carbonate depositional systems
o Bahama platform
o Sea level as key control on carbonate sedimentation
o Main types of carbonate factory - Tropical factory / Cool water factory / Mud mound factory
o T-factory & M-mound factory
o Common sources of deep water carbonates
o T & M factory during Phanerozoic
o T-factory reefal systems - geometry & distribution
o Slope & basin floor fan systems - Gulf of Mexico clastics case studies
o Gulf of Mexico depositional system
o Salt diapirism as a control on sea floor topography
o Sea floor topography and turbidite sedimentation & distribution
o Turbidite classification & depositional architecture
o Value of inversion modeling for reservoir characterization
o Slope systems Angola - clastics case study
o stratigraphic & sedimentological setting; seismic expression
o Reservoir heterogeneity
o Core / log characteristics
o Reservoir characteristics
o Proximal slope & basin floor settings North Sea - clastics case studies
o Brae field - coarse grained proximal fan
o Reservoir heterogeneity & recovery
o Schiehallion field - channelized turbidites
o Reservoir connectivity
o Nelson field - channelized basin floor fan
o Delayed development of a 400+ million barrel UR field due to not understanding a 'dry hole'
o Impact of sea floor topography on sand distribution
o Crestal versus flank well control
o Impact on volumetrics of T/Z variation between crest and flank
o Impact of shaley sands on volumetrics
Day 4: Slope & basin floor fan systems - Nigeria - clastics case studies
o Niger delta - depositional and structural characteristics
o Growth faulting & shale diapirs
o Slope mini-basins versus outboard plays
o The outboard play - Bonga; reservoir heterogeneity
o 4D seismic & fluid displacement
o Mini-basin play
o Depositional architecture & shale diapirism
o Stratigraphic reservoir compartmentalization
o Stratigraphic reservoir compartmentalization
o Shaley sands evaluation and production performance
o Reservoir compartmentalization & drive mechanisms
o Carbonate mass flow deposits - case studies
o Devonian reefs [Canning Basin - NW Australia]
o Fore reef setting - debris flows & olistostrome deposits
o Mixed clastic & carbonate system
o Jurassic carbonate platform - slope - basin [Marocco]
o Proximal slope channel deposits versus distal basin plain deposits
o Cretaceous fore reef deposits [Poza Rica / Golden Lane system - Mexico]
o Seismic expression
o Reservoir characteristics
o Seismic facies & prediction of reservoir characteristics
o Cretaceous Chalks [North Sea]
o Pelagic deep water carbonates
o Cretaceous 1st order high sea-level stand & carbonate sedimentation
o Allochthonous versus autochthonous chalks & reservoir quality
o Impact of Chixculub K/T event on reservoir quality
o Modern Bahama platform - distribution of deep water mass flow deposits
o Comparison clastic & carbonate deep water deposits
o Key characteristics & dimensions of carbonate slope deposits
Day 5: Optional modules upon request
o Module: Sea level & Eustacy fundamentals
o Module: Sequence stratigraphy concepts
INSTRUCTOR
Instructors Profile
PetroTeach instructor graduated in geology at Utrecht University in 1976. After a spell in the Dutch army he joined Shell International Petroleum Company in 1978. He worked in various functions (petroleum engineer, production geologist, petrophysical engineer, unitisations) in Oman, the Netherlands, UK and Gabon. He completed his career in Shell in 1999 as sub-surface coordinator for an HPHT project in London. Evert is currently active as technical consultant on short assignments for eg. Shell Nigeria and running courses related to all aspects of Development Geology.
FAQ
DESIGNED FOR
o Geoscientists who need to fully understand the origins of deep-water sedimentary systems.
COURSE LEVEL
o Intermediate
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The lecture modules are supported and complemented by a number of paper-based exercises that are mostly built around correlation problems.
In addition to a full set of print-outs of the lecture materials & exercises, the book "Petroleum systems of deep water settings" by P. Weimer & R.M. Slatt, 2004 , SEG / EAGE is handed to the students [NB subject to availability from the publishers & to timely advice by the Client on the required number of copies].
REGISTER
Registration is now OPEN!
Ph.D. students, group and early bird registrants are eligible to DISCOUNT!
For more details and registration please send email to: register@petro-teach.com
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