Sequence Stratigraphy: Concepts, Methods and Workflows with Application to Exploration and Production

Course Description

The sequence stratigraphic method was developed to support geoscientists with the geologic interpretation of subsurface data. This method is utilized to predict the presence of play elements and to assess their quality and validity before drilling. Sequence stratigraphy is applied to core, outcrop, well logs as well as 2- D and 3-D seismic data across all depositional environments. 

This course reviews definitions and terminology of surfaces and systems tracts and introduces the sequence stratigraphic hierarchy. Training exercises and datasets are thoroughly discussed, and participants interpret subsurface data in terrestrial, shallow marine, and deep-marine depositional settings within a sequence stratigraphic framework across siliciclastic and carbonate depositional settings. Based on the sequence stratigraphic method, the recognition and mapping of play elements from exploration to production scales is emphasized in this course. 

Applications through the lectures and exercises include the recognition, interpretation, and mapping of key play elements of energy systems (source rock, reservoir, seal, and trap). This workshop presents a methodology to predict the presence, distribution, and quality of play elements and to perform pre-drill estimates for exploration, appraisal and well development. During the exploration stage, the workflow focuses on identifying play elements on seismic lines and integrating well information. The exploration, appraisal, and production stages in the course place emphasis on play element distribution and trapping styles from shelf to deep-water settings. Primary goals for the production stage include describing reservoir connectivity and continuity as well as identifying flow baffles and barriers. 

Through the exercises, students will learn: 

- The concepts of facies stacking and shoreline trajectories to define parasequences, surfaces and systems tracts.
- Create tectono-stratigraphic interpretations and basin charts.
- Utilize the sequence stratigraphic method to map play elements in different depositional environments.
- Employ method and concepts in sequence stratigraphy to define hydrocarbon plays and prospects.
- Conduct high-resolution reservoir mapping across depositional settings.
- Predict play element risk and quality.
- Estimate net-to-gross and reservoir connectivity.
- Map reservoir flow units at production and injection temporal and spatial scales.

Course Outline

1. Lecture - Stratigraphy history, methods, concepts and lithostratigraphy vs. chronstratigraphic correlations (1 hour).

2. Exercise: Lihtostratigraphic versus chronostratigraphic correlations. 30 minutes.

3. Lecture - Sequence Stratigraphic Concepts. 1 hour

4. Exercise: construction and interpretation of a wheeler diagram 30 minutes.

5 Lecture - parasequences and 1D stacking patterns in cores and well logs. 1 hour

6 Exercise - well log and core stacking patterns (Price River C Core). 30 minutes

7. Exercise - sequence stratigraphic interpretation using well logs (Urdanetta). 30 minutes.

8. Lecture - Fundamentals of Seismic Stratigraphy. 1 hour.

9. Exercise - Idealized depositional Sequences. 30 minutes.

10. Exercise - Seismic Stratigraphic Interpretation - Waltman Shale. 30 minutes.

11.  Lecture - Sequence Sets and Composite Sequences. 30 minutes.

12. Exercise - Componste Sequences -West Siberia Basin. 1 hour.

13. Lecture - Sequence Stratigraphy in Deep-Water settings. 1 hour.

14. Exercise - Seismic Stratigraphy in Deep-water settings - Danube Fan, Black Sea. 1 hour.

15. Lecture - Basin-scale seismic stratigraphy. 30 minutes.

16. Exercise - Basin-scale seismic stratigraphic interpretation; Pelotas Basin to Namibe Basin. 1 hour.

17. Lecture - Seismic Stratigraphy in carbonate settings. 1 hour.

18. Exercise - Carbonate build up interpretations - offshore Indonesia. 30 minutes

Participants’ Profile

 The course is designed for geoscientists looking to develop their tools in sequence stratigraphic interpretation across core, well log and seismic data and across tectonic and depositional settings with the aim of making predictions of subsurface energy systems in terms of stratigraphic architecture and rock properties.

Prerequisites

Ideally, the course is taught at an intermediate level, meaning students have at least had an introductory sequence stratigraphic training course through university or company training.

About the Instructor

Rene is the director of ACT-Geo, a company specialized in geoscience consulting and training. He has more than 25 years of experience in geoscience characterization for basin exploration, development and research, having held technical advisor and leadership roles with ExxonMobil and Apache.
 
He has worked extensively across offshore basins of the African and South American margins, as well as the North Sea, onshore North America and the Mediterranean areas. His experience spans across onshore and offshore regions, research, exploration and production, and both conventional and unconventional reservoir systems. Rene’s holistic approach to depositional systems allows him to work across reservoir, seal and source evaluations, at basin to field compartment scales.

Both at ExxonMobil and Apache Rene was responsible for stewarding, developing and delivering classroom and field-based training in stratigraphy, structure and hydrocarbon systems, including seismic stratigraphy, clastic reservoir sedimentology, fine-grained rock (seal, source and reservoir) characterization, and deep-water depositional systems. Rene delivered these courses internally, as well as to external student audiences, including the SEPM short course on sequence stratigraphy and a trap-seal course at the University of Aberdeen. 

Rene is an honorary professor at the University of Aberdeen, where he teaches formal courses on seal evaluation and reservoir characterization with application to petroleum geology and CCS, mentors Geology M.Sc. and Ph.D. projects and is a consultant with the Sand Injectite Research Group. He is a member of SEPM, EAGE and the Geological Society of London.