The goal of this training course is to enhance the value derived from seismic and well data by applying sequence and seismic stratigraphy alongside integrated stratigraphic analysis to refine geological models. This approach can be used to uncover more hydrocarbon plays, improve the assessment of play and prospect risks, and help predict the lithology to be encountered ahead of the drill bit.
This hands-on, 5-day Stratigraphy training course will cover both the foundational principles and practical applications of sequence and seismic stratigraphy. It will also involve exercises and case studies for interpretation, along with group discussions.
Key topics covered in this Energy training course will include:
- The evolution of sequence stratigraphy
- Core models and principles of seismic and sequence stratigraphy
- The factors influencing basin stratigraphy
- Defining sequences using wells and seismic data
- Basics of sequence stratigraphy in carbonate systems
- The role of relative sea level lowstands in reservoir formation
- Applying sequence stratigraphy in lacustrine settings
- Integrating other stratigraphic data such as biostratigraphy, radiometric dating, and chemostratigraphy
By the end of this Stratigraphy training course, participants will be able to:
- Comprehend the essential role of chronostratigraphy in presenting a temporal and spatial representation of depositional packages
- Gain a thorough understanding of sedimentary basin types and their respective depositional patterns
- Identify key sequences on seismic data
- Integrate geological data to recognize sequences and parasequences on well logs
- Become familiar with the terminology and definitions used in sequence and seismic stratigraphy
- Apply sequence and seismic stratigraphy techniques in defining new plays and assisting in the evaluation of play and prospect risks
The Energy training course will be based around PowerPoint presentations for each module followed by interactive and participative individual and team exercises. There will also be workshop sessions based around real exploration and development case studies to get participants to actively become aware of the predictive capabilities of applied sequence and seismic stratigraphy and how to integrate other stratigraphical data. Course participants are also encouraged to bring along stratigraphic data, logs and seismic where appropriate from their own companies so that real working examples can be reviewed and interpreted.
A solid understanding of the principles and application of sequence and seismic stratigraphy is essential for identifying clastic and carbonate hydrocarbon reservoirs and forecasting their distribution. This knowledge is crucial for maximizing exploration efforts and ensuring that previously acquired seismic and well data is utilized effectively, especially when such data has been gathered at significant cost. The organization will benefit in several ways, including:
- Maximizing the value of costly seismic and well data
- Predicting play trends for acquiring new acreage
- Enhancing geological risk assessments for prospects
- Identifying new plays, leads, and prospects
- Developing staff with new skills in oil exploration that can be directly applied to ongoing projects
- Improving accuracy in predicting reservoir presence and performance in both clastic and carbonate plays
- Providing more precise estimations of Expected Monetary Value (EMV) for economic evaluations of prospects
- The ability to recognize and integrate sequences from both well log and seismic data
- Identification of systems tracts, bounding stratal surfaces, and key geometries in shelf-to-basin transects
- Enhanced capacity to predict the presence and distribution of clastic and carbonate reservoirs, as well as identifying new plays, leads, and prospects
- Improved skills in assessing geological risks
- Strengthened oil-finding abilities, leading to greater recognition both within the company and across the industry.
This Energy training course is suitable for exploration and development geologists, seismic interpreters, sedimentologists, petrographers and other upstream subsurface professionals who are interested in optimally utilizing geological data as a predictive tool in sedimentary basins and for identifying hydrocarbon plays in active petroleum systems.
Day One: An Overview and the Use of Chronostatigraphy
- Outline and overview
- The history of sequence stratigraphy and stratigraphic models
- Chronostratigraphy and seismic models
- Condensation surfaces
- Erosion and non-deposition surfaces
- Coastal onlap and eustatics
Day Two: Seismic Stratigraphy and Controls on Basin Stratigraphy
- Principles and the geometry of depositional systems
- Types of seismic reflector terminations
- Changes in accommodation space
- Controls on basin stratigraphy
- Orders of cyclicity
- Types of sedimentary basins
Day Three: The Models and Principles
- The Exxon Model
- Sequence boundary types and systems tracts
- Other systems tract types and variations on the ideal model
- Genetic stratigraphic sequences
- Sequences on seismic
- Sequence boundary recognition
Day Four: Sequence Definition from Wells and Seismic
- The use of well log data
- Definition of surfaces and systems tracts
- Recognition of systems tracts on seismic
- Recognition of stratal surfaces on seismic
- Seismic facies analysis
- Analysis of seismic attributes
Day Five: Sequence Stratigraphy of Carbonates and Relative Sea-level Lowstands
- Carbonate systems overview
- Introduction to carbonate sequence stratigraphy
- Carbonate platform drowning and causes
- Highstand shedding
- Controls on carbonate production and sedimentation
- Relative sea level lowstands, carbonate, evaporate and siliclastic partitioning
