N251 Well Log Sequence Stratigraphy: Applications to Exploration and Production
Course Facts
- Course Code:
- N251
- Duration:
- 5 days
- Type:
- Classroom
- CEU:
- 4.0 Continuing Education Units
- PDH:
- 40 Professional Development Hours
- Certificate:
- Certificate Issued Upon Completion
Summary
This seminar provides a hands-on, practical approach to the sequence stratigraphic analysis of well logs and its application to well-log correlations. The course is conducted in a workshop format within which participants are introduced to the basic concepts and models of sequence stratigraphy, followed by numerous exercises. The class provides the skills for better prediction, evaluation, and development of reservoirs by geoscientists and engineers.
Duration and Training Method
This is a five-day classroom course that runs in Golden, Colorado, on the campus of Colorado School of Mines. Lectures, discussions, and individual and group exercises introduce participants to the concepts of sequence stratigraphy and develop methodologies for its practical applications. Approximately 25% of the course time is allocated to lectures, 65% to exercises and 10% to core viewing.
Participants will learn to:
- Analyze the major geologic controls and their interaction on the filling of basins.
- Comprehend and critically analyze the often-confusing terminology utilized in sequence stratigraphy.
- Apply appropriate sequence stratigraphy models to various basin settings.
- Analyze and subdivide stratigraphic successions from well logs into packages of increasing or decreasing accommodation and identify chronostratigraphically significant surfaces.
- Examine the pitfalls of lithostratigraphic vs. chronostratigraphic well-log correlations when predicting and drilling reservoir targets as well as performing economic evaluations.
- Correlate well logs using sequence stratigraphy concepts.
- Apply reservoir-seal-source rock concepts to sequence stratigraphic cross sections.
- Generate maps of genetically related sequence stratigraphic units.
- Demonstrate and predict new stratigraphic prospects or previously untapped reservoir compartments.
- Determine the influence of chronostratigraphic surfaces on reservoir quality and flow units.
Through the integration of lectures and hands-on exercises, attendees first learns the fundamental concepts and terminology of sequence stratigraphy. Participants then build upon this knowledge in the interpretation and correlation of well logs. A key step is the recognition of significant chronostratigraphic surfaces (e.g., sequence boundaries/lowstand surfaces of erosion, marine regressive surfaces of erosion, marine transgressive surfaces of erosion, flooding surfaces, maximum flooding surfaces) as expressed in well logs. These surfaces are then used in constructing numerous log correlation sections for a variety of depositional environments in both siliciclastic and carbonate settings. Such skills allow one to subdivide stratigraphic intervals into meaningful genetic packages, interpret depositional histories, and build geologically accurate maps to enhance exploration and development. Ultimately, participants will develop analytical insights and skills necessary to help identify and predict new prospects, assess drilling targets, and better produce reservoirs.
Day 1
Introduction
Controls on Basin Fill and Sequence Development
- Exercise: Relative Sea Level Cycles
Sequence Stratigraphic Models
- Exercise: Siliciclastic Basin Fill
- Exercise: Siliciclastic Chronostratigraphy
Parasequences and Parasequence Stacking
- Exercise: Recognition of Flooding Surfaces and Stacking Patterns
- Exercise: Parasequence Definition & Facies - Blackhawk Formation core and well log
- Exercise: Correlation of Well Logs - lithostratigraphy vs. chronostratigraphy
Day 2
Parasequences and Parasequence Stacking (continued)
- Exercise: Almond Sandstone Well Logs - retrogradational parasequences
- Exercise: Parkman Sandstone Well Logs- progradational parasequences
Sequences and Sequence Boundaries
- Exercise: Sequence Boundary Model
- Exercise: Recognition of Sequence Boundaries - Villeta Formation well logs and core descriptions
- Exercise: Sequence Boundary Identification and Correlation - Muddy Sandstone core and well logs
- Exercise: Recognition of Sequence Boundaries - Sego Canyon well log
Day 3
Carbonate Sequence Stratigraphy Models
- Exercise: Carbonate Basin Fill
- Exercise: Carbonate Chronostratigraphy
- Exercise: Flooding Surfaces & Parasequences in Carbonates - Lodgepole Formation well log
- Exercises: Identification of Surfaces & Systems Tracts in Well Logs
- Pearsall-Bexar-Glen Rose Formations
- Natih Formation
- Thamama Group
- Exercise: Carbonate Parasequences & Sequences in Core - Marmaton Formation
Continental to Shallow Marine Sequence Stratigraphy
- Exercise: Continental Sequence Boundary Identification
- Exercise: Incised Valleys - South Louisiana Miocene well logs
- Exercise: Parasequences and Incised Valleys - Yegua Formation well logs & mapping
Day 4
Continental to Shallow Marine Sequence Stratigraphy (continued)
- Exercise: Falling stage systems tract (forced regression) - Woodbine Formation
- Exercise: Carbonate Platform to Shelf Edge - Paris Basin Jurassic
Deep Marine Sequence Stratigraphy
- Exercise: Systems Tracts Identification - Gulf of Mexico Pleistocene well log
- Exercise: Systems Tracts Correlation - Gulf of Mexico Miocene well logs (growth faulted margin
Day 5
Deep Marine Sequence Stratigraphy (continued)
- Exercise: Systems Tracts in Mixed Siliciclastics and Carbonates - Pennsylvanian of Oklahoma and Kansas
- Exercise: Systems Tracts in Mixed Siliciclastics and Carbonates - Permian Spraberry Formation, Midland Basin
Shale Sequence Stratigraphy
- Exercise: Interpretation of Biogenic-Dominated (Intrabasinal) Systems - Niobrara Formation
- Exercises: Interpretation of Detrital-Dominated (Extrabasinal) Systems
- Mowry Shale core and well logs
- Exercise: Interpretation of Evolving Extrabasinal to Intrabasinal System - Graneros & Greenhorn Formations
Course Wrap-Up
Who should attend
Exploration and development geologists who want an introduction to sequence stratigraphy and the ability to create geologically meaningful well-log correlations and maps. Also, geophysicists who routinely construct well-to-seismic ties and integrate their interpretations with the work of geologists, paleontologists, and/ or reservoir engineers. Reservoir engineers and geosteerers will also benefit from the concepts and techniques presented.
Prerequisites and linking courses
An understanding of basic siliciclastic and carbonate depositional settings and facies is strongly recommended, but not mandatory. Familiarity with wireline logs is also highly desirable.
Appropriate courses providing these fundamental concepts include N155 (Introduction to Clastic Depositional Systems: a Petroleum Perspective); N020 (Carbonate Depositional Systems: Reservoir Sedimentology and Diagenesis) and N003 (Geological Interpretation of Well Logs).
For those who desire more advanced training, this course links to many Nautilus Training Alliance courses, including N244 (Clastic Reservoir Prediction Using Advanced Sequence Stratigraphic Interpretation, Wyoming, USA); N011 (High Resolution Sequence Stratigraphy: Reservoir Applications, Utah, USA); N091 (Carbonate Reservoir Architecture and Applied Carbonate Sequence Stratigraphy, West Texas and SE New Mexico, USA); and N059 (Applied Carbonate Geology: Carbonate Facies and Reservoirs, Mallorca and Menorca, Spain).
Click on a name to learn more about the instructor
Jeff May
Jeff May
Background
Jeff has worked in the oil and gas industry for over 30 years: as a research geologist with Marathon Oil Company (1981-1994); as a geological and geophysical consultant with Enron Oil & Gas (1994-1996) and GeoQuest Reservoir Technologies (1996-1998); as an exploration geoscientist with DDD Energy (1998-2001); and with EOG Resources (2001-2011), first as Chief Stratigrapher and most recently as Chief Geologist.
Jeff’s work has entailed sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy from outcrops, cores, and well logs, plus seismic stratigraphic studies of basins and fields worldwide. Areas of expertise include onshore and offshore Gulf of Mexico; onshore and offshore California; Uinta, Green River, Washakie, Denver, Powder River, and Williston Basins; northern and eastern Egypt; and Natuna Sea, Indonesia. At EOG, he provided regional to prospect-scale stratigraphic interpretation and evaluation plus training in support of all divisions. Jeff also conducts a variety of classroom and field seminars on clastic facies, deep-water sandstones, mudrock deposition and stratigraphy, and sequence stratigraphy, most notably for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Nautilus, and many universities. In addition, he has published numerous papers and abstracts on deep-water sandstones, sequence stratigraphy, and geophysical interpretation.
Affiliations and Accreditation
PhD Rice University - Geology
MSc Duke University- Geology
BA Earlham College - Geology
Courses Taught
N046: Submarine Canyon, Channel and Slope Systems (California, USA)
N251: Well Log Sequence Stratigraphy: Applications to Exploration and Production
N241: Depositional Processes, Fabrics and Stratigraphic Framework of Mudrocks: Applications to Shale Reservoirs (Colorado and Wyoming, USA)
N250: Evaluation Methods for Shale Reservoirs
Dates for this Course
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