Fundamentals of Siliciclastic Sequence Stratigraphy

INSTRUCTOR :

John Holbrook, University of Texas at Arlington, TX

DATES:

June 14, 2013
September 21, 2013

LOCATION:

Norris Conference Center, Fort Worth, TX

TUITION:

Member: $500.00
(if purchased individually)
Registration for the entire week is $1,795 for members, $2,095 nonmembers. Goes up to $1995/$2295, and/or individual course prices increase by $50/course day after 5/13/2013. Includes refreshments and buffet lunch each day in addition to course notes.
No refunds for cancellations after 5/13/2013.

CONTENT:

.75 CEU What is a CEU?

Who Should Attend

Geologists, geophysicists, and engineers seeking techniques for improved subsurface mapping and prediction of lithology distribution within siliciclastic reservoir intervals. The course teaches sequence stratigraphy as a tool for interpreting seismic and borehole data from slope, shelf, coastal, and/or continental deposits. An entry-level understanding of these depositional environments is anticipated.

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will gain an overview of the fundamental concepts supporting the science of sequence stratigraphy, and have the following applied skills.

• Identify and correlate sequence-stratigraphic surfaces in seismic and borehole data sets for purposes of subdividing reservoir systems into high-resolution sequence-stratigraphic units
• Develop predictions for distribution of reservoir vs. non-reservoir facies from distribution of sequence-stratigraphic units interpreted from borehole and seismic data sets
• Interpret and predict variations in reservoir stratigraphic architecture between different fields, pay intervals, and prospects through a newly gained understanding of the natural variations typical of sequence depositional controls
• Relate outcrop and modern analogs of sequence deposition to subsurface sections
• Improve production evaluations through a better understanding of reservoir dimensions and porosity structure

Content

The course will cover the full range of topics needed to develop a foundational understanding of siliciclastic sequence stratigraphy and to apply this skill to practical reservoir interpretation. The first part of the course will cover fundamental concepts in sequence stratigraphy and application of sequence stratigraphy to seismic data sets. This part will also address historical development of sequence stratigraphy as an interpretive tool. This part will also teach basic principles and stratigraphic components of the sequence stratigraphic model, including: processes generating systems tracts and parasequences, lapping relationships, recognition of sequence stratigraphic surfaces and systems tracts within seismic data, and predictability of porous and non-porous facies distribution in marine and fluvial units. In this part we will also expand upon the fundamental controls on sequence deposition through discussion of accommodation, sediment supply, cyclisity, and basin physiography. Imparting this added insight into the origins of sequences is intended to provide a basis for understanding and predicting variations in sequence architecture between pay intervals and fields. The second part of the course focuses directly on the recognition and correlation of sequence stratigraphic surfaces in borehole and outcrop data sets. We will examine the facies, wireline, and lapping character of the approximately nine sequence stratigraphic surfaces commonly used to correlate sequences and to subdivide sequences into higher-resolution systems tracts. We will explore lateral variations and correlation of these surfaces as well as evaluate contrasting interpretive value of these different surfaces. Lastly, we will analyze the relative utility of the contrasting sequence-stratigraphic approaches currently available (i.e. depositional sequence stratigraphy, genetic sequence stratigraphy, T-R sequence stratigraphy).