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Training - An Introduction to Sedimentology & Sedimentary Petrography

Course Title: An Introduction to Sedimentology & Sedimentary Petrography

Course Reference Code: SED/UK/004

Course Duration: Duration 4 Months


A four month introductory course in Sedimentology and Sedimentary Petrography. The course will be taught through a series of informal lectures and laboratory & field-based practicals focused around standard geological texts. The aim of the course is to provide candidates with a sound background covering all major aspects of siliciclastic & carbonate sedimentology and sedimentary petrography, with special emphasis on hydrocarbon industry applications.

Course Content:

Module 1 - Sedimentology

Principles of Sedimentology

Aims and objectives of 'Sedimentology' in reservoir characterisation and investigative methods.

Sedimentary Rock Formation

  • Rock composition and classification (clastic and carbonate); introduction to classification schemes of Dott, Pettijohn, McBride, Dunham and Folk and relevance to depositional maturity
  • Textural and mineralogical indicators of maturity, provenance determination
  • Behaviour of minerals in the subsurface and their importance in assessing reservoir potential

    • Modes of Deposition

    • Water as an agent of transportation and deposition (fluvial, lacustrine and marine clastic deposits; the 'carbonate factory' and its importance in carbonate production and biogenic influence on carbonate deposition)
    • Wind as an agent of transportation and deposition (processes and products)
    • Bedding recognition, hydrodynamic significance, hydrocarbon production significance

    Sedimentary Structures

    Hydrodynamics, Bedforms and Sedimentary Structures

    • Definition of bedform types
    • Development of bedforms, fundamental properties of sediment particles in fluid, hydrodynamic significance; concept of energetics, lower and upper flow regimes, flow variables
    • Bedforms and their relationships to sedimentary structures; types and preservation of ripples and dunes, plane beds, antidunes

    Sedimentary Structures and Palaeocurrent Analysis

    • Utility of sedimentary structures, sand body orientation, depositional environment, flow conditions, palaeoslope and source area
    • Measurement and interpretation of Palaeocurrent indicators in core using our proprietary Computer Aided Goniometry (CAG)

    Recognition of Sedimentary Structures

    • Recognition of sedimentary structures from core and in field outcrop examples

    Concept of Sequence Boundary

    • Genetic sequence concepts and terminology
    • Sequence stratigraphy and the hierarchy of stratal units
    • Parasequence
    • Parasequence set
    • Sequence
    • Exploration application and play types

    Different Depositional Settings

    Facies Analysis and Models

    • Concept of facies and theory behind facies construction
    • Methods of environmental identification; lithological composition, sedimentary structures, fossil content and ichnofacies
    • Vertical sequence facies analysis and application to construction of depositional models

    Sedimentary Structures and Palaeocurrent Analysis

    • Controls on sedimentation

    Environments of Deposition

    This sub-module will be taught in conjunction with a series of one day field courses to study both ancient and modern depositional environments along with at least one day laboratory core-logging.

    • Facies models and relevance to reservoir architecture, alluvial, fluvial, lacustrine, deltaic, aeolian, glacial, shallow marine shelf, deep marine systems and carbonate depositional models
    • Facies models and their significance in relation to basin type and plate tectonic theory

    Environmental Detection from Cores

    • Description of sedimentary sequences in core
    • Introduction to core acquisition
    • Core log construction
    • Lithological recognition
    • Measurement of physical parameters; grain size, sorting and angularity
    • Recognition of detrital mineralogy
    • Visual assessment of porosity and hydrocarbon stain
    • Environmental interpretation
    • Description of facies, vertical sequence facies analysis and environmental interpretation
    • Pitfalls in core logging

    Environmental Detection from Logs

    • Introduction to the wireline log suite
    • Parameters measured by each log, Gamma, SP, SCNIC, Neutron porosity and Density (FMS, CBIL and Dipmeter tool)
    • Downhole conditions affecting log pressure
    • Characteristic log, facies responses and environmental interpretation

    Module 2 – Sedimentary Petrography

    Principles of Petrography

    • Petrographic evaluation and its utility in reservoir potential
    • The petrographic microscope, light theory
    • Thin section preparation, sample selection
    • Recognition of common rock forming minerals in thin section
    • Principles of point counting
    • Manipulation and interpretation of petrographic data

    Carbonate Sedimentary Petrography

    • Recognition and differentiation between common carbonate minerals
    • Recognition of allochemical components and environmental significance
    • Recognition of carbonate microfacies
    • Carbonate diagenesis and potential porosity destruction
    • Types of porosity associated with Carbonate rocks
    • SEM analysis

    Facies Analysis from Cores and Cuttings

    • Comparative analysis of thin sections from common facies, pitfalls and pointers
      • a) Core based samples
      b) Ditch cutting samples, sampling procedure and specialist thin section preparation

    Who should attend:

    • Geologists
    • Any other personnel with some experience of working in a geological environment

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