Oil and Gas

Participants will learn to:

1. Assess the sedimentology, ichnology, and stratigraphic architecture in coastal plain and nearshore settings (wave-dominated deltas, fluvial-dominated deltas and shoreface systems) using core and outcrop.
2. Evaluate and correlate key stratigraphic surfaces and parasequence stacking patterns in shoreline systems, and their use at reservoir scale.
3. Evaluate the sedimentary cyclicity and sequence stratigraphic hierarchy at reservoir to sub-regional scales.
4. Interpret the influences of subsidence, eustasy, and sediment supply in creating stratigraphic architecture in marginal marine settings.
5. Predict reservoir continuity and lateral variability in coastal plain successions, based upon observations in linked marine facies.
6. Predict facies changes in marginal marine settings during changes in relative sea-level and understand the significance of evolving paleogeography for reservoir presence and exploration opportunities.
7. Integrate the stratigraphic stacking patterns observed in the outcrops and in the correlation exercises to predict reservoir presence and trapping configurations in undrilled areas removed from immediate datasets.

Outcrops, cores and subsurface examples will be used to demonstrate stratigraphic architecture, correlation using key surfaces and reservoir applications. Attendees will learn to recognise key marginal marine facies and surfaces, their sequence stratigraphic significance and reservoir implications.

Focus will be on the nature, recognition and correlation of key stratigraphic surfaces and their use at reservoir scale investigations. Reservoir description tools and techniques will be illustrated and explored throughout the course.

The following itinerary may change due to weather or accessibility:

Travel to Price, Utah

• Arrival in Salt Lake City and transfer to Price, UT.
• Outcrop traverse from 'mountains to coast' en route to Price, UT.
• Group dinner.
• Overnight in Price, UT.

Day 1: Introduction to the field area

• Introduction to the course, and sedimentology and stratigraphy of southeast Utah.
• A regional transect through the Kenilworth Member of the Blackhawk Formation.
• Examine the architecture of a prograding shoreline complex and test stratigraphic principals and concepts for dip and strike prediction of lithofacies and reservoir elements.
• Discuss the implications of the observations and how they might impact production and exploration strategies.
• Group dinner.
• Overnight in Price, UT.

  Day 2: Shoreline systems and parasequence patterns

• A field exercise involving reservoir scale architecture of a wave-dominated shoreline complex.
• Recognition of key facies in wave-dominated delta systems and understanding sequence stratigraphic building blocks; observation of cyclicity and vertical and lateral facies changes.
• Participants will interpret outcrop sections and integrate these in a township-scale correlation exercise.
• Group dinner.
• Overnight in Price, UT.

 Day 3: Parasequence correlations

• Classroom and field correlation exercise (continued from previous day) and lectures on stratigraphic tools and concepts.
• Field work comprises sedimentology and stratigraphic architecture in coastal plain and nearshore settings including up and down-dip examination of previously observed parasequences and their stacking patterns.
• Group dinner.
• Overnight in Green River, UT.

Day 4: Ferron Sandstone and fluvial-dominated deltas

• Review of Coal Cliff stratigraphy followed by examination of this fluvially-influenced deltaic system.
• Sedimentology and stratigraphic architecture in coastal plain and nearshore settings are observed and discussed in comparison with the wave-dominated beach-shoreface systems seen on days 1, 2, and 3.
• Travel to Emery, UT.
• Group dinner.
• Overnight in Ferron, UT.

Day 5: Ferron Sandstone reservoir stratigraphy

• Examination of Ferron Sandstone cores and a well correlation exercise and discussion of the distribution and prediction of reservoir quality in marginal settings.
• Correlations from the core and log data are tested and reconciled at outcrop.
• Final evening presentations.
• Group dinner.
• Overnight in Ferron, UT.

Travel day to Salt Lake City

• Group drives from Ferron to Salt Lake City for departure.

Click on following links to view drone-acquired 3-D models of some of the outcrops:

https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/willow-creek-ut-1d72b92069f24b23a446d2b9b5a9c64a

https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/coyote-basin-ut-8e548520caec42f9af230e03241c2d4a

Exploration and development geologists and geophysicists seeking training in deltaic and shallow marine stratigraphy or a refresher course. Reservoir engineers seeking more information about stratigraphic controls on reservoir behaviour and techniques in reservoir zonation. Asset Managers responsible for exploitation of marginal marine clastic reservoirs.