2018 RCRL Prospective Research Directions - PowerPoint Presentation

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2018 RCRL Prospective Research Directions

Carbonate Reservoir Characterization Research Laboratory (RCRL)Bureau of Economic GeologyThe University of Texas at Austin

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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 architectureResearch 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

characterizationOur research-focus areas, themes, and topics have been developed out of our experience and feedback from our sponsorshipDuring our 30 years of existence, we have found that the most valuable research was developed from feedback and collaboration with our sponsor companies

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RCRL Staff

Charles Kerans (PI)- Carbonates, sequence stratigraphy, carbonate reservoirsRobert 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

–

Research Program

Coordinator

Associated Staff

Steve

Ruppel – Carbonate

r

eservoir

characterization

Hongliu

Zeng – Seismic imaging of carbonate

systems

Donnie Brookes

–

Geomechanic

Laboratory Technician

Evan Sivil

–

Geochemical laboratorySlide4

Interface Opportunities

Annual Review Meeting (held in 3Q in Austin) 1-day Pre-meeting Core Workshop2-day Technical Presentations (live broadcast)

3-day

Post-meeting

Field TripSpring Training Week (conducted 2Q, location TBD)Rotate

between field workshop, targeted core

workshop,

or “a la carte” short courses.

Mentor

ActivitiesRCRL 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*

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* costs in addition to the annual membership feeSlide5

2018 RCRL Research Topics

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Stratigraphic

Architecture of

Wolfcampian

to

Guadalupian

Platforms,

Delaware Basin

Slope

Stratal

Architecture and

Depositional

Processes, Delaware and Midland Basins

Shelf‐to‐Basin Framework and Analogs of the Midland Basin and Central Basin Platform, Fasken Ranch area3D Fault Framework within the Northern Midland and Delaware Basins and Implications for Early Permian Synorogenic Deformation and DepositionImproved San Andres Flow‐Unit Development using Sedimentological ElementsPore Network Characterization of Wolfbone, Wolfberry and AvalonMesozoic tectonics and impact on Mesozoic and Paleozoic sections

Permian

shelf‐to‐basin

syntectonic

to

early post‐tectonic

stratigraphy of the in the Delaware and Midland

BasinsSlide6

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2018 RCRL Research Topics

Regional

Synthesis of Lower Cretaceous Platform Architecture around the

GOM

Ramp Crest to

Intrashelf

Basin

Facies

Distribution and Stratigraphic Architecture of the

Fort Stockton

Embayment, Maverick

Basin

Documentation of Lower Cretaceous (

Albian) Large‐Scale Microbial Mounds and Associated Rudist MoundsUpper Cretaceous Buda and Austin Chalks Regional StudyGulf of Mexico Carbonate Reservoir Settings, Pore Systems, Fracture Character, and Margin VariabilitySlide7

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Fractured Carbonate Reservoir Characterization in Outcrop

and Subsurface Analogs

2018 RCRL Research Topics

Critical Stress State of Faults within the Permian

Basin

Finite‐element numerical modeling of early formed fractures in

carbonates

Laramide

Tectonic Reactivation of Pre‐existing Paleozoic Structures and the Impact

on Cretaceous

Fault

Systems

Fault‐Related Fractures in

Carbonate Systems 3D Multibeam Imaging Along the Leeward Margin of the Caicos PlatformSlide8

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Cenozoic Carbonate Platforms Systems, High‐Resolution

Stratigraphy, and Structural Configuration of Shelf

Margins

2018 RCRL Research Topics

Miocene

Carbonate Platform in the

Mut

and Adana Basins, south

Turkey

Shelf to Basin Analysis of Tertiary Mixed‐Carbonate Siliciclastic Depositional Systems

of Northwest

Shelf,

Australia

3D Multibeam Imaging Along the Leeward Margin of the Caicos PlatformFundamental Overarching Research Projects within RCRLReservoir Properties Digital Database of GOM

carbonates

Origin and

Petrophysics

of Tight Limestone and Dolomite

Reservoirs

Carbonate Rock Mechanics and Acoustic Properties ResearchSlide9

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 agreementWe 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.

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RCRL Website:

http://www.beg.utexas.edu/rcrl/index.php

13+ years database of

research results

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

Data Transfer

RCRL Student ThesesSlide11

Participating 2017 RCRL Industrial Associate SponsorsSlide12

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 ScientistRobert Goldhammer Chair in Carbonate GeologyDepartment of Geological Sciences and Bureau of Economic Geology

Jackson School of Geosciences

Email:

ckerans@jsg.utexas.edu Office: +1 512 471 4282Or

Dr. Robert Loucks, Senior Research Scientist

Bureau of Economic Geology

Jackson School of Geosciences

Email:

bob.loucks@beg.utexas.eduOffice: +1 512 471 036612