GEO 145
Seismic Interpretation and Mapping
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course is specifically designed for senior exploration geoscientists currently active in prospect mapping. Due to current routines of seismic interpretation dominated by automated mapping processes, seismic interpretation can easily become mechanical and lacking in solid geophysical and geological conceptual underpinning. The lack of coherent geological- and geophysical story lines underpinning the prospect evaluation is often apparent in volumetric assessment and well placing review sessions.
The course is designed to assist participants to optimise conceptual geoscience input into technical evaluation: link interpretation to fundamentals of geology and geophysics and produce technically coherent models, with particular attention to an understanding of structural styles and evolution, depositional systems and their implication to sedimentary basinfill. Attention is paid to a thorough understanding of the merits of geophysical techniques in prospect evaluation.
COURSE SCHEDULE
| Code | Date | Location | price (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEO 145 | 26 - 30 Jan 2026 | Online | 3300 |
| GEO 145 | 7 - 11 Sep 2026 | Amsterdam | 4400 |
COURSE OUTLINE
5 days
Day 1:
o Introduction
o Plate Margins and Basins
o Link plate margins and sedimentary basins; tectonic activity map
o Tethys reconstruction example
o Exercise - Arabian Plate.
o Team Exercise: Basin Settings and Trap Styles
o Selection of regional lines for team evaluation and discussion.
o Petroleum Systems, Hc Plays and Prospects
o Petroleum systems definition; hc play and prospect definition; play and prospect elements; event chart; basic volume equation; prospect volumetric uncertainties; PBE; play maps.
o Exercise - prospect risk ranking.
o Madagascar RL poster discussion Megasequences and link with plate tectonic phases; hc plays - what happened?
Day 2:
o Principles of Rock Physics and DHI's
o Objectives, elastic moduli, fluid properties, Biot-Gassmann.
o Exercise on fluid replacement
o Principles of QI: Seismic Inversion
o Application & advantages, acoustic vs elastic impedance, various approaches
o Discussion on techniques for shale exploration/exploitatation
o Seismic Stratigraphy
o Seismic reflections what do they represent; some pitfalls; seismic strat.
o Nomenclature; depositional sequences and systems tracts; sand distribution.
o Exercise - Ebro Delta RL seismic stratigraphic interpretation and play evaluation
Day 3:
o Divergent Margins
o Examples of extensional regimes.
o Exercise - North SeaGullfaks: basement induced normal faulting; alternative Interpretations.
o Exercise - Niger delta growth fault setting
o Depositional Systems in Passive Margin Deltaic & Rift-fill Settings
o Delta processes and classification; sand body geometry; structural controls; stacking patterns and seismic facies.
o Exercise - well correlation and pitfalls
o Rift Settings and basin fill; alluvial stacking patterns.
o Exercise - Nova Scotia RL; key horizons and faults; evaluate structural and stratigraphic history.
o Exercise - Madagascar Graben-fill - review core, log and seismic data.
Day 4:
o Convergent Margins
o Compressional settings; toe-thrust settings.
o Exercise NW Borneo.
o N. Tarim (W. China) foredeep case history.
o Exercise: Pyrenees - outcrop, RG profile, wells & seismic
o Oblique Convergent and Strike Slip Margins
o Oblique convergent settings - examples from California, Egypt Western Desert and Levant.
o Exercise - Central Atlantic.
o Exercise - Bohai Sina farm-out opportunity.
o Inversion & Wrenching Structures
o Examples
o Exercise - Broad Fourteens lines - plenary discussions
Day 5:
o Salt Basins
o Ebro Basin Cordona example; depositional environment of salt; salt basin settings; major salt basins examples; deformation styles; why is salt important in exploration.
o Exercise - North Sea Permian Salt Basin structuration.
o Exercise thermal conductivity impact.
o L05 End of Course Interpretation Exercise
o Guided team exercise with plenary report-out per team
o North Sea L05 structure:
1) Lower Cretaceous play, volume calculation,
2) Triassic DHI and discussion trapping mechanism,
3) Permian prospect assessment of strengths and weaknesses.
INSTRUCTOR
Instructors Profile
Course has 2 instructors:
The first instructor has 35+ years’ experience as Exploration Geologist for Shell in a/o Egypt, NW Borneo, Middle East and North Africa, China, Madagascar, North Sea, Oman and The Netherlands – Geology Research and Teaching. He has strong exploration evaluation and project leader skills, and has also a lot of experience with Opportunity Screening and Near Field Exploration / Appraisal. He is also specialised in Seismic Stratigraphy and Reservoir Characterization, including sedimentology and diagenesis. Through the years, instructor has developed solid supervisory, teaching, and coaching competencies. He has a strong interest in Depositional Systems, Regional and Reservoir Geology and in general Petroleum Geology Learning.
The second instructor is an experienced geophysicist with a background in geology, geophysics, and economics, who began his career with Shell in 1977. He held international roles in seismic interpretation and contributed to early 3D and shear-wave seismic innovations.
Since 1997, he has worked as an independent consultant on global geophysical projects and training programs. He has also contributed to scientific publishing, serving as Editor-in-Chief of Geophysical Prospecting and holding roles in EAGE.
FAQ
DESIGNED FOR
Senior geoscientists with (ca. 6-8 years' work experience) in geoscience fields and well-versed in seismic interpretation projects.
COURSE LEVEL
o Intermediate
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants will be exposed to hands-on extraction of geological and geophysical information from variable data types and integration of this information in order to produce a consistent subsurface model to support their work at regional, prospect or reservoir scale. "Let the data tell their story" is the key learning theme in this course.
The exercises are table-top and generally executed in team mode.
Report-out and discussion is a key learning tool.
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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