Deepwater Clastics: Source-to-Sink Studies in the Exploration of Turbidite Reservoirs (San Diego, California)

The course will provide insights into exploration and development themes and challenges in deepwater depositional systems, with direct analogs to Gulf of Mexico reservoirs.

Description

The course will visit spectacular outcrops along the California coastline just north of San Diego. Field work will follow a source-to-sink approach and will focus on specific deepwater architectural elements, including canyons, slope channels, channel-lobe-transition-zones and lobes. The course will provide insights into exploration and development themes and challenges in deepwater depositional systems, with direct analogs to Gulf of Mexico reservoirs.

Tutor(s)

Zane Jobe: Colorado School of Mines

Duration and Logistics

A five-day field course beginning and ending in La Jolla, California. Training will take place through in-class presentations, field observations, printed exercises and discussions in the field. Transport will be by coach.

Exertion Level

This class requires a MODERATE exertion level. Access to the coastal cliff outcrops is via sandy beaches with walks no more than 3km (1.9 miles). Field stops are all at approximately sea level and some are tide dependent. There are some steep steps to negotiate to reach some beach sections.

Level and Audience

Intermediate. The course is aimed at geoscientists, engineers, petrophysicists, geophysicists and managers who are working deepwater reservoirs or would like to improve their knowledge of these systems.

Course Content

This schedule may be subject to change due to weather conditions and technical objectives.

The cliffs of the California coast preserve the deposits of several episodes of deepwater sedimentation, including those from the Cretaceous through to the Miocene, and we will visit select outcrops covering this time period including:

Miocene-Pliocene Capistrano Formation at San Clemente State Beach.

Eocene strata in the cliffs north of Scripps Institute of Oceanography (Blacks Beach).

Cretaceous Point Loma Formation exposed near La Jolla and on the Point Loma Peninsula.

Day 1 – Sunday 23 March 2025

Participants arrive midday at San Diego airport and make their way to the hotel to meet course leaders.

Field Safety Briefing

Course Introduction / Geological overview

Learning objectives for the lecture: Sedimentary processes and facies of turbidite systems and mass-transport deposits, and the broad nature of submarine depositional architecture

Full group dinner

Overnight in La Jolla

Day 2 – Monday 24 March 2025

Learning objectives for the day

Submarine channel systems, including scales/dimensions, axis-to-margin architecture, evolution, heterogeneity and potential baffles/barriers to flow

Predicting connectivity in channelized systems from their seismic-geomorphic and well-log expression

8-10am: Classroom lecture/discussion

10-5pm: Field work – Channelized reservoir analogs at San Clemente State Beach

5pm-7pm: Freshen up / Free time

7pm: Small group dinners (pre-arranged groups of ~8 people at different restaurants)

Overnight in La Jolla

Day 3 – Tuesday 25 March 2025

Learning objectives for the day

Submarine canyon forming-and-filling processes, including mass wasting, bypass and sandy and muddy fill, up-dip trapping mechanisms

The importance of source-to-sink studies in the exploration of turbidite reservoirs

8-10am: Classroom lecture/discussion

10-5pm: Field work – Contrasting deep and shallow marine units, large-scale submarine canyon/channel architecture at Blacks Beach

5pm-7pm: Freshen up / Free time

7pm: Small group dinners (pre-arranged groups of ~8 people at different restaurants)

Overnight in La Jolla

Day 4 – Wednesday 26 March 2025

Learning objectives for the day

Submarine lobe/sheet systems, including scales/dimensions, axis-to-fringe architecture, compensational stacking, hierarchy and heterogeneity (e.g. hybrid-event-beds)

Channel-lobe-transition-zone deposits and supercritical-flow bedforms

Faulting in lobe deposits, and impacts on connectivity

8-10am: Classroom lecture/discussion

10-5pm: Field work – Contrasting the connectivity and seismic expression of channel-lobe-transition-zone and related lobe deposits of the Point Loma Formation at Sunset Cliffs and Goldie locales

5pm: Free night

Overnight in La Jolla

Day 5 – Thursday 27 March 2025

Learning objectives for the day

Submarine lobe reservoirs: What’s inside the seismic loop?

Facies variability in proximal/axial and distal/fringe lobe deposits, and the implications for volumetric contribution (i.e. pressure support) of low N:G lobe deposits to high N:G lobe deposits.

8-10am: Classroom lecture/discussion

10-5pm: Field work – Contrasting proximal and distal lobe deposits, exploration and production focus at La Jolla and Cabrillo National Monument

5pm-7pm: Freshen up / Free time

7pm: Full group dinner

Overnight in La Jolla

Day 6 – Friday 28 March 2025

8-10:30am: Classroom discussion / wrap-up

Departure for airport. Flights out from 1pm onwards

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Characterize the sedimentary processes and facies of turbidite systems and mass-transport deposits, and the broad nature of submarine depositional architecture.
  2. Evaluate submarine-channel systems, including scales/dimensions, axis-to-margin architecture, evolution, heterogeneity and potential baffles/barriers to flow.
  3. Predict connectivity in channelized systems from their seismic-geomorphic and well-log expression.
  4. Assess submarine canyon forming-and-filling processes, including mass wasting, bypass, sandy and muddy fill, and up-dip trapping mechanisms.
  5. Illustrate the importance of source-to-sink studies in the exploration of turbidite reservoirs.
  6. Evaluate submarine lobe/sheet systems, including scales/dimensions, axis-to-fringe architecture, compensational stacking, hierarchy and heterogeneity (e.g. hybrid-event-beds).
  7. Analyze channel-lobe-transition-zone deposits and supercritical-flow bedforms.
  8. Assess faulting in lobe deposits and impacts on connectivity.
  9. Appraise the facies variability in proximal/axial and distal/fringe lobe deposits, and the implications for connectivity between these sub-environments.

Similar events

Learn workflows to apply sequence stratigraphic concepts to the interpretation of core, well log, seismic and outcrop data.

More Information

Learn how to interpret faults and critically assess their impact on exploration traps and complex reservoir development.

More Information

A comprehensive examination of seismic stratigraphy to aid exploration and development of plays in mixed carbonate-siliciclastic systems, using examples from the Permian Basin.

More Information

Become a more effective member of a multi-disciplinary team by developing a solid understanding of engineering concepts and terminology.

More Information

Good seismic structural interpretation and analysis is required in everything from exploration risking to reservoir management. These examples and elements are discussed during the course.

More Information

This course focuses on large scale rules, risks, uncertainties, strategies and workflows to aid in de-risking carbonate exploration.

More Information

Learn core handling and core description techniques and how to integrate core-based facies analysis into reservoir characterization of siliceous and calcareous mudstones, muddy sandstones, and sandstones.

More Information

Study world-class outcrops displaying sandbody architecture in a variety of stratigraphic and structural settings to improve understanding of reservoir geometry and fluid flow characteristics.

More Information

Examine superb outcrops to develop better understanding of clastic shoreline and shelf systems and apply sedimentology and sequence stratigraphic concepts to build depositional models and predict facies distributions. 

More Information

Develop the skills necessary to identify and predict new prospects and better subdivide reservoirs by applying the concepts of sequence stratigraphy.

More Information

This course examines the structural geology of salt basins, the interactions between salt and surrounding strata, and includes interpretation of seismic data in salt settings.

More Information

Superb outcrops illustrate the range of depositional facies and tectonics that influence the style and intensity of faulting, folding and fracture development.

More Information

Learn the language of reservoir engineers, as well as what you should expect of them and how you can help them.

More Information

This software-independent course examines the reasons why reservoir models often disappoint and offers solutions for building more efficient, fit-for-purpose models.

More Information

Establishes the value of seismic data and provides a solid grounding in seismic interpretation techniques for early-career geoscientists, technical support staff, engineers and managers.

More Information

An overview of seismic technologies that might be used effectively along with geological and engineering data to solve exploration and production problems.

More Information

Creativity and innovation are learnable skills: lectures, discussions and exercises develop creative thinking techniques, models and frameworks that can be applied to oil and gas industry situations.

More Information

Application of the techniques described has consistently provided new interpretations that have led to new field discoveries and/or identification of stratigraphic compartments within existing fields.

More Information

Learn to use play fairway mapping and petroleum system analysis to identify and high-grade potential plays and prospects.

More Information

Learn to use petroleum systems analysis (regional geology, geochemistry and petroleum systems modeling) to evaluate unconventional/resource play reservoirs.

More Information

Of particular interest to individuals evaluating the pre-salt of Brazil and West Africa but will appeal to all geoscientists who wish to expand their knowledge of non-marine  carbonate reservoirs.

More Information

Examine well-exposed New Mexico outcrops to appreciate the variation in fracture types and the wide range of impacts they can have on hydrocarbon reservoirs.

More Information

A course that will guide participants through the lifecycle of a CCUS project with emphasis on key concepts, processes, and workflows of the CCUS industry.

More Information

This course provides an analysis-level treatment of fault geometry, characterization of seal effectiveness, and assessment of rupture hazard with application to hydrocarbon exploration, reservoir development and management, fluid pressure containment analysis for CCS, and induced seismicity hazard assessment. 

More Information

The course investigates world-class outcrops to introduce engineers to a wide spectrum of stratigraphic and structural features commonly found in exploration and production.

More Information

A field course focusing on the analysis of deepwater lithofacies, stratal geometries and key stratigraphic surfaces.

More Information

The course aims to improve the understanding of uncertainties in the mapping of complex fault zones and the processes that create potential seals and compartmentalisation in reservoirs in the subsurface for oil and gas as well as CO2.

More Information

A course aimed at women working in the energy industry as geoscientists, with a technical focus on salt tectonics.

More Information

This course will offer geoscientists an understanding of how they can use and adapt their expertise gained in the oil and gas industry to the growing geothermal industry.

More Information

Learn the theory and techniques required to assess trap and seal integrity in hydrocarbon subsurface reservoirs and carbon storage complexes.

More Information

Gain critical insights into the nature and behavior of thick evaporite sequences and learn to interpret salt structures in the subsurface.

More Information

Explore natural deformation at outcrop and tie to subsurface data to aid in fracture prediction in unconventional and conventional reservoirs.

More Information

Understand depth migrated seismic data and connect these data to geological settings for prospect evaluation and generation.

More Information

A comprehensive approach to fractures, teaching how to describe, measure and analyze them and to evaluate their impact on permeability in conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs, and for EOR, CO2 sequestration and geothermal energy applications.

More Information

An in-depth introduction to clastic reservoirs, with a focus on stratigraphic and structural heterogeneities that impact reservoir prediction and production.

More Information

Learn to integrate all available data to develop an understanding of reservoir architecture and create fit-for-purpose reservoir maps for exploration, development and production projects.

More Information

Learn how to plan successful onshore seismic acquisition projects and how to work with contractors to execute these projects.

More Information

Understand how to plan successful offshore seismic acquisition projects and how to work with contractors to execute these projects. 

More Information

Explains the factors that control mudrock reservoir quality and presents practical methods to evaluate reservoir heterogeneity

More Information

A concise overview of the basics of sedimentology, stratigraphy and structure of clastic units; and of the environments of deposition of clastic sediments.

More Information

A course that introduces the fundamentals of geomechanics followed by an in-depth look at the relevance to unconventionals especially how geomechanics relates to the effect of fabric and heterogeneity.

More Information

This course classifies unconventional reservoirs from a petroleum systems perspective and reinforces the concepts of depositional controls on reservoir architecture and fractures.

More Information

This course will introduce the fundamentals of land seismic acquisition including receiver types and their spectrum indication.

More Information

Carbonate systems present different seismic responses and geobody geometries to clastic systems; this course examines the characteristics of seismic imaging of carbonate systems.

More Information

This course provides an introduction to siliciclastic facies in all aqueous settings focusing on sand deposition for application to conventional reservoirs.

More Information

This course provides a practical introduction to data science and its application in the E&P domain.

More Information

This class provides an overview of seismic wave propagation, discusses important issues related to seismic data acquisition and imaging, and introduces students to practical seismic interpretation workflows including mapping techniques.

More Information

The course will examine the depositional facies and stratal geometries developed in deepwater slope and channel environments.

More Information

The course will explore the interrelationship between sedimentation and structural geology with a particular focus on salt tectonics and salt-sediment interaction.

More Information

The course will review basic interpretation techniques from conventional logs with a focus on key reservoir properties.

More Information

This field course will use outcrops from the Cretaceous and Jurassic of Utah to analyze some of the major challenges facing the storage of CO2 in subsurface formations.

More Information

This training course provides an introduction to EGS fundamentals including history, stimulation designs, challenges and opportunities.

More Information