Deepwater Sedimentary Systems: Exploration and Production

Sandstones deposited in deep marine environments form important hydrocarbon reservoirs in many basins around the world. Interbedded mudstones can be important as source rocks, as well as acting as barriers, baffles and seals. Deepwater reservoirs are currently the principal target for oil and gas exploration, with over 1600 existing turbidite fields and plays. Driven by technological advances and much improved scientific understanding, the pace of exploration and discovery in this realm is fast accelerating. Keeping pace with these developments and with the new knowledge base is essential for all those involved in deepwater systems. What began as the turbidite reservoir has matured into the more varied deepwater play of the 21st century, including contourite and hybrid reservoirs. No company can afford to ignore these developments.

This course is designed to give the participant a state-of-the-art review and update, thereby providing an overall understanding of the complexity of the deep marine system. It will outline the processes and facies and how they evolve on the slope and in the open ocean; discuss how these facies build into distinctive architectural elements and how they can be recognized in the subsurface. The course also covers analysis and interpretation of seismic records, sea floor images, well logs (including borehole image logs), core materials, and outcrop characteristics of the component elements of deepwater reservoirs, emphasizing internal architecture as related to reservoir performance. Hands-on data packages from different deepwater plays around the world will be used to further illustrate their exploration, appraisal, development and reservoir management.

• Agenda
• Audience
• Prerequisites

• Agenda

  Day 1

   Deepwater Overview and Building Blocks

  • Global Overview
  • Downslope Systems
  • Alongslope Systems
  • Open-Ocean Systems
  • Reservoir and Source Rock Attributes
  • Case Studies

  Day 2

   Architectural Elements - Nature and Recognition

  • Overview of Arcihtectural Styles
  • Channels and Levees
  • Mass Transport Deposits
  • Turbidite Lobes and Sheets
  • Deepwater Massive Sands
  • Thin-Bedded Turbidites
  • Contourite Drifts and Erosional Elements
  • Case Studies

  Day 3

  Depositional Systems and Deepwater Plays

  • Subsurface Models and Controls
  • Deepwater Plays - Global Case Studies
  • Roundtable Discussion & Break-out Sessions

  Day 4

  OPTIONAL – dependent on field/core availability

  • An optional additional 1-2 days can be included where practical to allow examination of deepwater systems either in the field and/or in borehole cores.

• Audience

  All geologists, geophysicists and petroleum engineers involved in the exploration and development of deepwater plays.   Project managers for deepwater plays and reservoir production.

• Prerequisites

  Understanding of basic petroleum geology, basic stragraphy and basic sedimentology.

• Prerequisites