Activities
Development of graphical simulation and their application to basin stratigraphy in terms of sediment geometry responding to eustasy, tectonic history and rates of sedimentation; sequence stratigraphy; Middle East stratigraphy and hydrocarbons; carbonate facies, geometry and cementation.; SEDIMENTARY SIMULATION DEVELOPMENT With Dr. Cannon of the Department of Computer Science, building interactive empirical graphical simulations to run on microcomputer work stations to model basin fill in terms of eustasy, tectonic movement and rates of sedimentation. ; SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS & SEDIMENTARY ; SIMULATION. Combining the principles of seismic sequence stratigraphy & computer simulation techniques, to age date sedimentary sections. Major second order sequence boundaries are identified on the seismic and used to bracket the third order events, which are then correlated with the Haq eustatic curve using chronostratigraphic charts. The interpreted seismic cross section and chronostratigraphic chart are reproduced by a computer simulation, to indicate changes in the extent of the onlapping geometries of the shelf margin and investigate eustatic controlled by events exhibited by the Haq chart with respect to the Mesozoic and Tertiary. Confirmation of the size and frequency of eustatic events from the Haq curve provides a means to determine rates of tectonic movement and sedimentation. Investigating the use of simulation to make accurate predictions of lithofacies and sedimentary geometries, as well as the components of the petroleum system. Regional studies include the Neogene carbonates of the Western Great Bahamas Platform and the Mesozoic and Tertiary of offshore Guiyana. We are studying fourth order events of the early Cretaceous. My students have been making chronostratigraphic charts for South Africa and comparing these with a study we are making for the NPR of Alaska where the same cycles that occur offshore South Africa. The South African sea level events appear more numerousthan the Alskan events, though this may be a problem of seismic resolution; (we infer that they are present but not seen acoustically!). We plan to compare the cycles of both areas and extend the study to offshore Brazil, the Gulf Coast, the Middle Eastand Italy for the same time interval. The rational behind this study is that if these events are eustatic they should have a global signal, whereas if they are tectonic then we will only find them locally. If the cycles are eustatic, then the cycles can be used to better define the local stratigraphy and make better predictions for their depositional systems and so their reservoir characteristics etc. MIDDLE EAST OIL FIELD STRATIGRAPHY: With Dr. Al Sharhan of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Aramco describing the regional stratigraphy of hydrocarbon occurrence, investigating therelationship of the Mesozoic shelf carbonate reservoirs in the Arabian Gulf to the underlying Infra-Cambrian Salt Basin, the local Hercynian structural fabric and Late Cretaceous overthrusting in the Oman Mountains. Studying why reservoirs young towards Oman, and if their stratigraphy is punctuated by eustasy.; CARBONATES: Investigating the controls on carbonate facies and their cementation of the Holocene of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) with Dr Gregory Whittle of the University of Florida, and Dr. Abdulrahman Alsharhan of the U.A.E. ;
