Sequence Stratigraphy of Clastic Reservoirs

Course Objectives

The course provides attendees with knowledge and a thorough coverage of the basic and advanced principles, practices and applications of Clastic Sequence Stratigraphy. The lectures and practicals covered in this course should help earth scientists of all branches develop more sound models for the prediction of the presence, architecture, continuity and trend of the reservoir, and help managers make educated decisions when faced with proposals from their development and exploration geologists concerning such reservoir aspects. Similar knowledge is gained concerning source and seal rocks through principles discussed in the class.

By the conclusion of the course it is expected that all participants should:

• At least have acquired working knowledge of basic principles and practices of clastic sequence stratigraphy.
• With individual wireline logs, and with help from sedimentological core descriptions, recognize facies tracts, parasequences and their stacking patterns.
• Correlate stratigraphic cross sections based on sound sequence stratigraphic practice. This in addition to utilizing sedimentological core descriptions, you should be able to recognize sequence boundaries, flooding surfaces and the various systems tracts. When correlating these entities from well to well a clear logical picture should emerge concerning the depositional history of the area concerned.
• Be able to breakdown a complex stratigraphy into its genetically packaged units. The sequences.
• Map the spatial distribution of the genetic units and understand their temporal succession.
• Predict distribution of source, seal and reservoir rocks from above maps.
• Understand the architecture and plumbing of the reservoir rocks from following sound con-cepts of sequence stratigraphy.

Course Content

Basic Concepts & Controls

Controls on Sedimentary Depositional Systems
Accommodation Space
Sediment Supply
Sea-Level Change
Transgression & Regressions
Transgression & Ravinement
Concept of Shoreline Trajectory

The Shallow Marine Depositional System

Overview of Marine Depositional Systems

Parasequences in the Shallow Marine Realm

Parasequence Sets, Stacking Patterns and their Significance

Sequences: The Basic Model

Lowstand Systems Tract

Transgressive Systems Tract

Highstand Systems Tract

Falling Stage Systems Tract/Forced Regressive Systems Tract

Marine Sequence Stratigraphy: Advanced Concepts

Modifications to the basic model Use of Biostratigraphy in sequence stratigraphy Glacial sequence stratigraphy

Driving Mechanisms, Sequence Hierarchy And Alternative Sequence Models

Driving mechanisms for sea level changes

Sequence hierarchy

Alternative sequence stratigraphic models

The Non-Marine Depositional Systems

River types and their deposits

Floodplains and importance of soils

Alluvial fans and playas

Lacustrine systems

Aeolian systems

Sequence Stratigraphy Of Marginal And Non-Marine Systems

Base level and fluvial response to base level change

Sequence boundaries and systems tracts in the non-marine

Channel geometries and connectivity

Parasequences in the non-marine

Sequence Stratigraphy In Tectonically Active basins

Foreland basins

Extensional basins

Growth faulted basins

Sequence Stratigraphy & Reservoir Modelling

Course Summary & Discussions

Course Format

Class meetings will consist of lecture style coverage of the basic principles and practices of the subject. This is followed by practicals consisting of correlation problem solving that require an adequate understanding of the principles covered in each of the subjects.

Course Material

The course manual contains the following:

• All necessary text and graphics to clearly cover all concepts and items seen in table of contents below.
• Most of the projected material in the course is duplicated in the manual for ease of note taking.
• Sets of material for use in exercises that follow major sections covered in the classroom.