Oil and Gas
Oil and Gas | Stratigraphy
Seismic and Sequence Stratigraphy for Subsurface Exploration and Development
Format and Duration:
4 days
8 sessions
This course provides a strong theoretical background and hands-on practical examples to demonstrate how the principles of seismic and sequence stratigraphy can be applied in subsurface mapping, correlation and prediction, across a range of scales, in both siliciclastic and carbonate settings. The course delivers a refresher on basic sequence and seismic stratigraphy, and then builds on this to develop deeper understanding of the key aspects that define and determine the subsurface predictive power of the seismic and sequence stratigraphic method and model. The course also provides an update on all of the latest developments in seismic and sequence stratigraphy, including use of numerical stratigraphic forward modelling methods to demonstrate and explore key elements, and finishes with an appraisal of the uncertainty inherent in the methods and models and how this impacts on subsurface prediction.
Business impact: Seismic and sequence stratigraphic methods allow interpretation and prediction of reservoir, seal and trapping at basin, play and prospect scale, guiding exploration and production planning processes.
Schedule
Duration and Training Method
A classroom course comprising lectures, practical exercises, and case studies.
Course Overview
Learning Outcomes
Participants will learn to:
- Understand how accommodation and supply are fundamental controls on how strata accumulate.
- Understand how determining accommodation and sediment supply controls on siliciclastic and carbonate strata allows prediction of petroleum system elements and subsurface heterogeneity across a wide range of basin types and sedimentary environments, even with few data, and understand the various sources of uncertainty associated with these predictions.
- Apply the principles of seismic and sequence stratigraphy to evaluate regional basin-scale seismic sections, defining significant boundaries, megasequences, key geological intervals, predict the distribution of source rocks, reservoirs and seals, and construct plays and leads on the basis of this sequence stratigraphy, with little or no well control.
- Appraise sequences and system tracts on seismic data and well logs for use in predicting reservoir, source and seal heterogeneity.
- Appraise sequences and system tracts on seismic data and well logs for use in identifying stratigraphic trapping potential in different basins.
- Understand the assumptions that underpin the sequence stratigraphic method and models and critically assess how these impact on uncertainty in subsurface interpretation and prediction.
Course Content
- Course Introduction and Controls on Strata
- Exercise: Relative sea-level modelling in Excel
- Basin types, style of fill, simple petroleum system predictions
- Exercise: Basic sequence stratigraphy and Chronostratigraphic diagram exercises
- Siliciclastic sequence models & method
- Exercise: Correlation exercises
- Carbonate sequence stratigraphic model - how is it different?
- Exercise: Manual and numerical Stratigraphic Forward Modelling carbonate modelling part 1
- Siliciclastic and carbonate seismic stratigraphy
- Exercise: Seismic stratigraphy exercises (including Ottway rift)
- Siliciclastic sequence model subsurface predictions
- Exercise: Numerical SFM with Javascript - standard sequence geometries
- Exercise: Barrow delta exercise - bypass to a detached fan
- Carbonate sequence model subsurface predictions
- Exercise: Carbonate build-up and sequence stratigraphy
- Exercise: Manual and numerical SFM carbonate modelling part 2 - predictions
- Sequence model assumptions and subsurface predictive power
- Exercise: Barrow delta exercise - how good is the slug?
- Exercise: Offshore Morocco - where is the siliciclastic sand?
- Developments in siliciclastic sequence stratigraphic subsurface prediction
- Developments in carbonate sequence stratigraphic subsurface prediction
- Exercise: Numerical SFM variable sediment supply etc
- Exercise: Correlation of 2D versus 3D models: why 3D is so critical
- Pragmatic sequence stratigraphy - things that work best.
- Summary & discussion - consequences for subsurface prediction and mapping
Who Should Attend and Prerequisites
Geoscientists who require a working knowledge of stratigraphic principles applied to play fairway analysis, basin analysis, and reservoir description.
Experienced geoscientists who wish to broaden their knowledge of these principles in the application of exploration and development subsurface analysis and prediction.
Instructors
Peter Burgess
Background
Peter’s post-doctoral research was at Caltech working with Mike Gurnis using numerical models of mantle convection linked to stratigraphic forward models. After Caltech, Peter’s postdoc was at Liverpool University with Steve Flint working on the Jurassic strata and petroleum systems of the Neuquen basin, Argentina.
For four years, Peter taught sedimentary geology and tectonics at the University of Cardiff. While teaching he also conducted research using seismic data, and created numerical models for carbonate and siliciclastic deposystems.
Peter joined Shell in 2002 to attain industry experience and worked on several projects around the world. In 2008, Peter returned to academia and in 2010 to take up a position at Royal Holloway, University of London as Professor of Sedimentary Geology where he teaches sedimentary and petroleum geology, and sedimentary basin tectonics and became the Head of the Earth Sciences Department in 2014. In 2016, Pete moved to the University of Liverpool.
Affiliations and Accreditation
PhD University of Oxford
MSc University of Keele
BSc University of Nottingham
Courses Taught
N269: Sequence Stratigraphy and Subsurface Prediction: Methods, Limitations and New Developments (Isle of Wight, UK)
N402: Seismic and Sequence Stratigraphy for Subsurface Exploration and Development
Accreditation and Certification
CEU: 3.5 Continuing Education Units
PDH: 35 Professional Development Hours
Certificate: Certificate Issued Upon Completion
RPS is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. We comply with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognised internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices.
We issue a Certificate of Attendance which verifies the number of training hours attended. Our courses are generally accepted by most professional licensing boards/associations towards continuing education credits. Please check with your licensing board to determine if the courses and certificate of attendance meet their specific criteria.