Leader

Prof Carlos Zavala, GCS Argentina SRL. Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina

Overview

The prediction and evaluation of hydrocarbon reservoirs require a deep understanding of the internal geometry and internal cyclicity of sedimentary bodies. During recent years, fundamental advances have been made in the understanding of the mechanism that control the sediment supply from source to sink, and the elements that deeply control the geometry of the resulting reservoir bodies. Along this virtual field course, the attendees will receive a high-level training on reservoir understanding, applying innovative techniques combining the analysis of digital outcrops, on-site explanations, master classes and peer-by-peer discussions. The excellent exposures of the Neuquén Basin provide an exceptional scenario for a unique immersive experience.

Organization of the training

Our courses use a unique disruptive online new technology. All the platform is available on the web, and the sessions, field visit, master classes, exercises and explanations can be accessed any time as convenient after login in our website. The attendees can make the training during their available free time, and once a week they can access to a specific forum to discuss directly with the tutor in an online session. The course comprises 10 tours visiting 39 locations. Each location includes several stop points where specific aspects of sedimentology and stratigraphy applied to reservoirs are displayed, explained and discussed. In order to have a general background on the topics to be covered, attendees must complete in advance the course “Gravity Flows and their Deposits”. For Attendees of the Predictive Sedimentology course, this introductory course is free. In addition, the course includes an introductory master class and seven thematic master classes, referring to the different depositional environments discussed throughout the course.

ü  Complete and approve the course “Gravity Flows and their Deposits”

ü  Attend to the introductory and other selected master classes  related to the topics to be discussed during the trip.

Level and Audience

This course is intended for all geoscientists working in conventional and unconventional targets. The concepts and techniques presented along the course can aid geologists, geophysicists, petrophysicists and engineers to a better evaluation of hydrocarbon reservoirs.  Participants should have a basic understanding of sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy concepts.

Results

Along the course the attendees will learn:

ü  Facies analysis applied to reservoir understanding.

ü  Concepts of stratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy

ü  Flow types and their deposits. Key sedimentary structures for the recognition of sedimentary processes from cores and outcrops.

ü  Recognition of muddy underflows (intrabasinal and extrabasinal) and their importance for unconventional reservoirs.

ü  Fluvial depositional systems and associated reservoirs.

ü  Aeolian systems and their reservoirs. Dunes and interdunes. Wet and dry interdunes. Diagnostic sedimentary structures.

ü  Lacustrine systems and their associated reservoirs. Underfilled, balanced-filled and overfilled systems. Saline lakes. Internal cyclicity of lacustrine systems.

ü  Littoral and shelfal systems and their reservoirs. Deltas (hypopycnal, homopycnal and hyperpycnal deltas). Ramp deltas. Dense water cascading systems. Shoreface deposits. Chenier deposits. Tidal diffusion processes. Wave diffusion processes.

ü  Deep water depositional systems and associated reservoirs. Intrabasinal and extrabasinal turbidites.