N005 Tectonic Controls on Basin Development and Petroleum Systems
N005 Tectonic Controls on Basin Development and Petroleum Systems
This course examines the tectonic, stratigraphic and sedimentary controls on petroleum systems in sedimentary basins. The tectonic processes generating sedimentary basins, their structural development, the geometry of each basin type and the development of depositional systems within basins are described. Emphasis is placed on the processes that influence the variability of structural styles, their influence on sediment transport pathways and, hence, trap geometry and reservoir predictions.
A five-day classroom course including lectures, exercises (seismic interpretation and basin analysis) and discussion: the split between lectures and exercises is ca. 50:50. The focus is on regional prospectivity and generalised play types in each basin type. A number of regional seismic lines are examined and discussed as case studies for each basin type.
Participants will learn to:
The plate tectonic processes generating sedimentary basins, the structural development and the geometry of each basin type are outlined and the development of depositional systems within each basin type are described. Emphasis will be placed on the processes that profoundly influence the temporal and spatial structural variability of structural styles, their influence on sediment transport pathways and hence, trap geometry and reservoir predictions. The resultant tectonic and stratigraphic evolution is illustrated by means of strategic basin case studies taken fromvarious prospective hydrocarbon provinces to emphasize the impact of this tectono-stratigraphic evolution on the development of petroleum systems. Attention is focused on integrating sedimentation with stratigraphical architecture and basin dynamics using modern and ancient examples in evolving and mature rift basins and passive margins, foreland basins, convergent margins, structurally inverted basins, salt-prone settings and strike-slip systems.
Exercises will incorporate regional seismic lines from a diverse range of sedimentary basins.
Introduction
Rift Basins and Passive Margins
Foreland Basins
Subduction and Arc-Related Basins
Structural Inversion
Basins Developed in Strike-Slip Settings
Tectonic Styles in Salt Prone Settings
This course is primarily intended for early career geologists and geophysicists in their first six years of working in the oil industry. Technical support staff seeking to increase their geological and interpretation skills will also find the course useful. The course gives a broad overview of petroleum systems in different basin types and can be used as a primer or refresher for specific basin types for more experienced Geoscientists.
There are no prerequisites for this course, although an understanding of basic geological principles and seismic interpretation would be highly beneficial.
Those wishing to expand upon topics covered in this course should consider N138 (Structural Interpretation in Petroleum Exploration and Development) or N090 (Seismic Structural Styles Workshop) as follow-up courses. A linking classroom course is N220 (Structural Geology and Seismic Interpretation for Petroleum Exploration and Production),
Suitable field courses to consider, having completed this course, are N116 (Structural Geology for Petroleum Exploration, SW England, UK), N142 (Structure and Fault Systems in Hydrocarbon Exploration, Southern Pyrenees, Spain) and N407 (Predicting Reservoir and Petroleum Systems in Rift and extensional Basins (New Mexico and Colorado, USA).
Click on a name to learn more about the instructor
Background
Mark is Director of Lurch Oil Consultation Limited and is an Associate member of RPS Nautilus. As well as teaching courses on the Nautilus programme, Mark has been deeply involved in delivering training courses as part of a cohesive exploration capability development programme for a national oil company.
Mark is from Staffordshire in the British Midlands. He went to Cambridge University 1974 to 1977 to do a Natural Sciences degree, specialising in Geology. Mark joined BP straight out of University and successfully developed a career in both exploration and development geology, attaining the position of Senior Exploration Advisor before leaving BP at the end of 2014. He has been involved in many hydrocarbon discoveries worldwide in numerous basins. He was for many years a global coach in BP, where he prepared and taught many internal courses.
Mark’s career has taken him on many postings including Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia and Norway. His main interests include basin analysis, play fairway and prospect analysis. He has published on a wide variety of topics including alternative explanations for depth dependent stretching, heat flow associated with underplating and play fairway analysis. Interests outside geology include walking and orienteering.
Affiliations and Accreditation
MA University of Cambridge - Natural Science, Geology
Courses Taught
N005: Tectonic Controls on Basin Development and Petroleum Systems
N378: Basin Analysis for Petroleum Geoscientists
N380: Seismic Interpretation Workshop: Play Recognition on Passive Margins
N425: Play Analysis for Targeted Prospect Identification
N477: A Systematic Approach to Defining and Evaluating Stratigraphic and Subtle Combination Traps
N522: Charge Access - The Final Frontier in Petroleum Geoscience
Basin, Play, and Structural Analysis
Basin and Play Evaluation
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.
To learn more about how RPS manages your health and safety, visit the HSE section of this site.