RCRL Prospective Research Directions in Carbonate Reservoir Characterization
The RCRL group at the University of Texas at Austin specializes in research on carbonate reservoirs at various scales, from nanopores to basin architecture. They focus on developing predictive relationships and tools for reservoir characterization based on subsurface datasets and outcrop analogs. The team, led by experts like Charles Kerans and Robert Loucks, collaborates with sponsor companies to drive valuable research outcomes. Their initiatives span from Paleozoic to Cenozoic eras, covering topics like seismic stratigraphy, marine microbialites, and fault-related fracture zones.
- Reservoir Characterization
- Carbonate Reservoirs
- Subsurface Datasets
- Basin Architecture
- Seismic Stratigraphy
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2017 RCRL Prospective Research Directions Carbonate Reservoir Characterization Research Laboratory (RCRL) Bureau of Economic Geology The University of Texas at Austin 1
Research Statement Overview The RCRL group has unique expertise that addresses various research questions in carbonate shelf to basin systems and at scale of investigation from nanopores to basinal architecture Research questions and exploration and exploitation tools are developed using both subsurface datasets and outcrop analogs. We emphasize quantifying what we observe so that our research is applicable and valuable in providing predictive relationships and conceptual tools for reservoir characterization Our research-focus areas, themes, and topics have been developed out of our experience and feedback from our sponsorship During our 30 years of existence, we have found that the most valuable research was developed from feedback and collaboration with our sponsor companies 2
RCRL Staff Charles Kerans (PI)- Carbonates, sequence stratigraphy, carbonate reservoirs Robert Loucks (PI) - Carbonate depositional systems, pore networks, karst Xavier Janson Carbonate stratigraphy, 3D seismic, geomodeling, geomechanics Chris Zahm Carbonates and fracture systems, fluid flow, geomechanics F. Jerry Lucia Carbonate reservoirs, petrophysics and rock fabrics Josh Lambert Digital Outcrop Technician Stephaine Lane Program Coordinator Associated Staff Steve Ruppel Carbonate reservoir characterization Gregory Frebourg Sedimentology and biostratigraphy Hongliu Zeng Seismic imaging of carbonate systems Donnie Brookes Geomechanic Laboratory Technician Carla Sanchez Seismic interpretation Evan Sivil Geochemical laboratory
Interface Opportunities Annual Review Meeting (held in 3Q in Austin) 1-day Premeeting Core Workshop 2-day Technical Presentations (live broadcast) 3-day Postmeeting Field Trip Spring Training Week (conducted 2Q, location TBD) Rotate between field workshop, targeted core workshop, or a la carte short courses. Mentor Activities RCRL sponsors office visits (domestic and international) Sponsor visits to Austin Hosting Visiting Scientists for collaboration* Company-specific projects* Targeted consulting on datasets or field trips* __________________________________________ * costs in addition to the annual membership fee
2017 RCRL Research Initiatives by Scale and Time Scale Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic Regional synthesis of Lower Cretaceous platform architecture Laramide reactivation of Paleozoic inherited tectonics Back arc Miocene platforms of Mut and Adana Basins Seismic stratigraphy and morphology, NW Shelf Australia Tectonics and stratigraphy of Early Permian Basin, West Texas Shelf to basin framework of the CBP to Midland Basin Platform-to-Basin Systems Ramp crest to intrashelf facies of the Ft. Stockton embayment Albian marine microbialite and associated rudist mounds Fault related fracture zones in Albian- age outcrops Stratigraphic architecture of Wolfcampian syntectonic platform, Wylie Mtns. Mixed siliciclastic-carbonate influx and differential compaction effect on reservoir facies, CBP to Midland Basin Carbonate geobody distribution of isolated platforms and deepwater deposits Icehouse facies distributions, sediment accumulation, and diagenetic Reservoir Architecture Rock-strength evolution of grainstones and reefal facies, San Salvador and TCI Marine vs. meteoric cements and the impact on rock strength Acoustic and mechanical measurements of carbonate pores and matrix properties Mechanical stratigraphy evolution of Icehouse strata: Penn. & Pleistocene Reservoir properties digital database of GOM carbonates Acoustic and mechanical characterization of carbonate properties Rock Properties Pore Network Characterization Pore types and networks of Albian microbialites Wolfbone, Wolfcamp, & Avalon pore networks MicroCT and imaging of micropores of Wolfbone & Avalon Diagenetic alteration of porosity in Miocene to Pleistocene grainstones 5
2017 RCRL Research Topics Platform-Scale Stratigraphy and Geomorphology Miocene carbonate platform in the Mut and Adana Basins, south Turkey Multiscale seismic stratigraphy and geomorphology of Tertiary of mixed-carbonate siliciclastic Northwest Shelf Australia. Cretaceous regional architecture of Lower Cretaceous margins around GOM Platform-to-basin architecture of Lower Permian in Delaware Basin Shelf and basin stratigraphic frameworks of the Central Basin Platform and Midland Basin Mesozoic tectonics and impact on Mesozoic and Paleozoic sections 6
2017 RCRL Research Topics Reservoir Architecture and Intra-Play Evolution Carbonate geobody distribution in Tertiary isolated platform and deep-water deposits Pleistocene frameworks as analogs for structurally modified carbonate cycle development Ramp-crest to Intrashelf basin facies distribution and stratigraphic architecture Fort Stockton embayment (Central/West Texas) Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Segovia microbial mounds and associated rudist mounds Fracture network associated with fault-damage zones Stratigraphic architecture of Lower Permian syntectonic platform margins in the Delaware Basin Influence of siliciclastics influx and differential compaction on the distribution of stratigraphic trap and reservoir facies in the Permian strata of the Central Basin Platform through the Midland Basin, West Texas 7
2017 RCRL Research Topics Pore Network Characterization Micropore (tight carbonate reservoir) general synthesis Reservoir Properties Digital Database of GOM carbonates Micro-CT Scan and other ultrahigh-resolution imaging of micropores in carbonates Pore network of Lower Permian (Wolfbone and Avalon) mixed slope to basinal deposits in the Delaware Basin Structural and Geomechanical Characterization Mechanical and acoustic characterization of pore-network and matrix structure in carbonate rocks Modeling of natural, early formed fracture systems Chemostratigraphic Analyses of Carbonate Systems Chemolithostratigraphy of the Wolfbone and Avalon in the Delaware basin Age constraints of modern facies, West Caicos 8
Funding Participation in the RCRL Industrial Associates Program for 2017 is: $55,000 per year for 2017 only, or $50,000 per year for 2017 and 2018 with 2-year agreement We encourage sponsors to commit to a 2-year agreement so that we can better plan a longer-range research program and reduce the time and effort in securing agreements. Agreement is such that a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) would be signed agreeing to a 2-year commitment, and payment would be due at the beginning of each year. 9
Data Transfer 13+ years database of research results RCRL Website: http://www.beg.utexas.edu/rcrl/index.php Annual meeting presentations and video broadcast archive Large database and geological synthesis Google Fusion database of digital results (photos, redraft sections, gocad models, porosity and permeability data, thin sections photos) is available from the main website. Carbonate reservoir-quality database based on core-plug porosity and permeability analyses Approx. 10,000 values from the Jurassic and Cretaceous strata from the GOM. Data searchable by geographic location, formation, lithology, depth, temperature, etc. On-the-fly scattergrams for visual inspection Selected data can be transferred to an Excel sheet for further statistical analysis RCRL Student Theses
Participating 2016 RCRL Industrial Associate Sponsors chevron_05sm husky pioneer oxy aramco
How to Participate in the RCRL Industrial Associates Program? Contact Charles Kerans (co-Principal Investigator) or Robert Loucks (co-Principal Investigator) for more information on becoming or maintaining membership within the Carbonate RCRL program: Dr. Charles Kerans, Professor and Senior Research Scientist Robert Goldhammer Chair in Carbonate Geology Department of Geological Sciences and Bureau of Economic Geology Jackson School of Geosciences Email: ckerans@jsg.utexas.edu Office: +1 512 471 4282 Or Dr. Robert Loucks, Senior Research Scientist Bureau of Economic Geology Jackson School of Geosciences Email: bob.loucks@beg.utexas.edu Office: +1 512 471 0366 12
