N252 Reservoir Geology of Deepwater Systems: Processes, Architecture and Reservoir Quality Analysis (Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, SE France)
N252 Reservoir Geology of Deepwater Systems: Processes, Architecture and Reservoir Quality Analysis (Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, SE France)
The course assembles a good working knowledge of the key processes that build deepwater clastic systems, and develops the skills needed to make informed depositional interpretations of these environments. It will entail detailed facies analysis of turbidites, linked to system architecture, with focus of the effects of bathymetric confinement, characterisation of sheet and incisional channel architectures and the processes that cause spatial and temporal transitions between these architectural styles.
A seven-day field and classroom course in Maritime and Haute Alpes of S.E. France. Classroom lectures will detail the links between facies and depositional process that are necessary for interpretation of deepwater clastic deposits. In addition, the field areas and study focus for each field day will be outlined and the key learning outcomes summarised. Fieldwork will entail detailed studies of facies variability linked to sedimentary architecture in the context of known basin constraints. The proportion of field and classroom time is approximately 90:10.
Participants will learn to:
Deepwater clastic depositional processes are almost uniquely complicated, involving process transformations between laminar and turbulent flows and vice versa, the development of variable system geometry (including aggradational and incised channel architectures, sheet architectures and both spatial and temporal transitions between architectural styles), and bathymetric effects at a range of scales.
The Gres d’Annot field locality includes a full spectrum of particulate gravity current deposits, including high and low concentration turbidites, mass transport deposits and transitional flow deposits. These can be placed in the context of local basin geometry, and the effects of flow interaction with subsea bathymetry in terms of facies and facies architecture examined in detail. During the course, participants will learn to characterise and appraise deepwater clastic deposits based upon an informed process understanding, and will acquire the approaches needed to relate facies and architectural variations to both local and basinal contexts. They will also gain experience in assessing the appropriateness of analogues for use in modelling subsurface scenarios.
Itinerary
Day 0:
Day 1: Field and Lectures
Day 2: Field and Lectures
Day 3: Field and Lectures
Day 4: Field and Lectures
Day 5: Field and Lectures
Day 6: Field and Lectures
Day 7: Summary Lectures; Course Feedback
Geoscientists who have worked with deepwater clastic depositional systems and want to further improve their understanding, interpretation skills and predictive ability of the reservoir properties encountered within such depositional environments, especially through a deeper understanding of the processes that build deepwater clastic systems.
Participants must have some interpretation experience with deepwater clastics systems in order to derive maximum benefit from this course. There are no prerequisites for this course but a basic understanding of clastic sedimentation and stratigraphy acquired via N155 and N156 (at Basic Application Competence Level) on the Nautilus Training Alliance programme, is assumed.
This course is complementary to other deepwater courses in the Nautilus Training Alliance Clastics programme at Skilled Application Competence Level including N009, N028, N033, N315 and N107. Course N112 (Basin-Scale Analysis of a Confined Turbidite System (Gres d’Annot, SE France)) visits some areas in common with this field course but focuses on the fill history and links between a suite of structurally confined deep water sub-basins.
The physical demands for this course are HIGH, according to the Nautilus Training Alliance field course grading system. There will be walks on most days, the longest being 13 kms (8 miles), with an ascent/descent of approx 1000 m (3,280 ft). Due to an altitude of up to 2,500 m (8,202 ft), fatigue and shortness of breath may be felt more than for activity at lower altitudes. Typical alpine style mountain roads will be experienced and, therefore, the capacity for motion sickness.
Our Safety Management Systems ensure that every course is risk managed appropriately to enable quality, safe and enjoyable learning to take place in the field environment.
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