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Reservoir Associates International: field seminars

Reservoir Associates International offers a range of field seminars for explorationists, development and production geologists and reservoir engineers. Courses provide an in-depth analysis of the sedimentological and structural-stratigraphic attributes of analogues to hydrocarbon-bearing series.

 The continental Permo-Triassic sequences of Cumbria and northwest Cheshire

An excursion which examines aeolian and fluvial analogues to continental reservoirs. In addition to the archetypal aeolian dune sequences of the Penrith Sandstone, lower Permian strata exposed in the half-graben of the Eden Valley of Cumbria include basin-margin alluvial-fan facies and wadi deposits, whilst exposures in western Cumbria record a complete evolutionary sequence from Permian lag breccias (and their overlying coastal evaporitic sabkhas of Zechstein age) into the fine-grained, low-sinuosity stream deposits of the Bunter-aged St Bees Sandstone. Complementary exposures in northwest Cheshire highlight the subtleties of facies analysis in interbedded continental series and include examples of sandy sabkha deposits. The recommended duration of the course is 3/4 days.

 Westphalian fluvio-deltaics of the Whitehaven area, Cumbria

A short course which examines coal-bearing Westphalian strata and overlying Barren Red Measures of the Whitehaven Sandstone as analogues to fluvio-deltaic reservoir systems. Coastal exposures include delta-plain sheet sandstones, crevasse splays, interdistributary-bay and mouthbar facies and illustrate the problems of reservoir continuity associated with upper Carboniferous plays in the U.K.. The recommended duration of this course is one day, although examination of these sequences can be combined with a red-bed excursion in Cumbria.

 The sedimentary and tectonic evolution of the Namurian basin of County Clare, western Ireland

This excursion examines the evolutionary transition from turbidite through slope to deltaic sequences which fill the Namurian Clare Basin. The deltaics, in particular, demonstrate many features of interest to both explorationists and development geologists. These include growth faults and fracture arrays which are significant in their potential effect on reservoir quality and performance, although the deepwater delta-front facies are amongst the best exposed in northwest Europe. The recommended duration of the course is 3/4 days.

 The geology of the Boulonnais area of northern France

Whilst constituting an extension of the Weald structure of southeast England, the Boulonnais offers the opportunity to study Palaeozoic rocks of the core of the London-Brabant massif, as well as Jurassic and Cretaceous strata outcropping along the coast. In addition to the upper Jurassic clastics which represent important sedimentological analogues to hydrocarbon reservoirs of the U.K. North Sea, the area also provides the opportunity to examine structural responses to complex strike-slip deformation and the associated generation of en echelon folds. This training course can include a structural mapping exercise which is of relevance to geologists and geophysicists working in transpressive tectonic settings. The recommended duration of the course is two days. Click here for extended details.

 Sedimentary environments and dynamics of the area around chotts Jerid and El Rharsa, Tunisia

Chott Jerid is the largest (c.6,500km²) of a series of inland playa-sabkha systems bordering the northern edge of the Erg Oriental. The course examines the shallow-water evaporites which constitute the central desert-lake facies, their marginal sabkhas and dunefields, the northern margin of the main sand sea, alluvial-fan and wadi systems flanking the southern Atlasic foothills and the terminal-fan complexes which define sites of fluvial discharge into Chott El Rharsa. In addition, Pleistocene lake-highstand deposits are exposed in the Chott El Rharsa area and there is a spectacular, fossilized Pleistocene dunefield in the vicinity of El Franig. The area thus offers a unique opportunity to examine the dynamics of desert systems, as well as a modern analogue to transitional Silverpit-Leman facies of the U.K. southern North Sea and to continental reservoir series elsewhere. The recommended duration of the course is 3/5 days. Click here for extended details.

  Further information may be obtained from:

Dr Lou Macchi,

Reservoir Associates International, Laburnum House, Shocklach, Cheshire SY14 7BT, U.K.

Tel: +44 1829 250562, fax: +44 1829 250444