Fluvial & Shallow Marine Depositional Systems: Modern Analogs for Subsurface Characterization Field Course
- Disciplines
- Geoscience
- Category
- Conventional Reservoir • Field Course • Foundational • Geoscience • Reservoir Characterization • Subsurface
- Format
- Field Course
- Available
- Public • Private
Who Should Attend
Entry level geoscientists and engineers working in the subsurface characterization of fluvial and clastic shallow marine depositional environments.
Description
Geoscientists and Engineers are responsible for characterizing the subsurface and often, with limited datasets. The use of analogs is critical for understanding the geologic variability that can and does occur.
The Texas Gulf Coast provides an excellent modern analog for fluvial and shallow marine reservoirs in the subsurface. Modern analogs provide spatial context for the areal geometry and variability that occurs within their respective depositional environments. This course will provide participants with a hands-on experience to understand how depositional environments and processes influence geometries and preservation potential of these systems to aid in their characterization in the subsurface as aquifers, reservoirs, and storage.
Learning Outcomes
· Introduction to fluvial/shallow marine processes, depositional environments and preservation potential.
· Spatial understanding of geometries for these depositional systems as they relate to subsurface characterization.
· Fundamental concepts of facies and their impact on reservoir quality, distribution and volumetric calculations.
Course Content
Day 1:
7:00am Leave SCA Offices in Houston
Stop 1 – Brazos River Overview
· Brazos River Valley Overview (guidebook)
- Incised Valleys vs rivers
- Historical overview- Point bar
· Fluvial processes and facies
· Types of fluvial systems
- Meandering, braided anastomosing (does it matter?)
· Issues
- Connectivity, lateral continuity of shale barriers/baffles
· Exercise: calculating oil in place
Stop 2 – Brazos Delta, Quintana Beach, Freeport
· Lunch
· Brazos Delta Overview, processes and facies
· Types of Deltas Systems
- Wave, Fluvial, Tidal
· Issues
- Connectivity, lateral continuity of shale barriers/baffles
· Exercise: trenching to identify delta facies
Stop 3 – San Luis Pass County Park
· Transgression vs. Regressions
· Barrier Island overview, processes, Facies
· Tidal Classification
· Issues
- Preservation potential
· Exercise: Calculating oil in place
Evening lecture (GOM Evolution) Group dinner
2024 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77550
Day 2:
Morning Lecture(breakfast) – Predictive Stratigraphy
Stop 1 – Bolivar Peninsula – Barrier Islands (review)
Stop 2 – Anhuac – Bayhead Delta River Overview
· Lunch
· Transgressions vs Regressions
· Trinity Valley Overview
· Estuarine processes and facies
· Exercise: Core description and prediction
Stop 3 – Trinity River, Liberty, TX
· Trinity River Valley Overview
· Incised valleys vs. rivers
· Comparison to Brazos River, Importance of provenance
· Dimensional Analysis
· Exercise: calculating dimensions in fluvial systems
Day 3:
Core Workshop at BEG
11611 West Little York Rd, Houston, TX 77041
· Core Description Exercises over environments covered on Modern Trip
Start with observations, then make interpretations
· Almond Formation – Washakie Basin, Wyoming
· Wilcox Formation – Cooley Field, TX
* Maximum 10 registrations
In-Person
- Length
- 3
Upcoming Events
Check back in periodically for updated Public and Live Online course dates!
In-House
This course is also available as a private, onsite course upon request. Contact us for details and pricing.
Request Private/In-House TrainingInstructor
