Submarine canyons and deep-water channels are the primary conduits for the transfer of coarse sediments from the shelf to deep-water fans and they are today major targets for petroleum exploration. Southern California has had a long and complex geologic history that has involved many episodes of deep-water sedimentation in a variety of settings ranging from the Paleozoic passive margin of the North American craton to Mesozoic forearc and arc settings to Cenozoic transform, pull-apart, and continental borderland basins. These settings feature deep-water deposits in which both large and small submarine channels and fans played major roles as sediment transport routes and sites of sedimentation.
Six deep water systems will be examined in this field course. These include in the order that we will examine them: (1) Miocene-Pliocene Capistrano Formation at San Clemente State Beach, (2) Capistrano and Monterey sediments cropping out at Dana Point Harbor, (3) Cretaceous strata in coastal exposures in La Jolla, (4) Eocene strata in sea cliffs north of Scripps Institute of Oceanography, (5) Point Loma and Cabrillo Formations in the Tourmaline Surfing Beach and (6) Cretaceous Point Loma Formation exposed at the Point Loma Peninsula.
This course combines field activities with in-class lectures and exercises. Exercises in the field will focus on description of DW lithofacies, stratal geometries and recognizing key stratigraphic surfaces, emphasizing practical applications. Participants will also learn to describe cores, integrate core and well-log information with seismic to generate high-resolution EoD maps of reservoirs in different settings. Engineering data is used to demonstrate how to improve prediction of reservoir performance. Cores, well-logs and seismic examples are compared to and contrasted with outcrops to help participants to extrapolate 2-D outcrop information to 3-D views of reservoir scale depositional systems.
- How the concepts of sequence stratigraphy were developed.
- The basic terminology and definitions of sequence stratigraphy.
- The main controls on depositional sequences.
- The accommodation succession method and sequence stratigraphy hierarchy.
- To interpret cores, well-logs, seismic lines and outcrops.
- How to use the concept of facies, facies stacking and shoreline trajectory to define parasequences, surfaces and systems tracts.
- To apply the sequence stratigraphic method in non-marine, shallow marine and deep marine environments.
- To recognize and map hydrocarbon play elements in different settings.
- To use the method and concepts in sequence stratigraphy to define play, prospects and predict play elements presence and quality in seismic data.
- Review deep water lithofacies nomenclature and definitions, common lithofacies associations, and interpret lithofacies in outcrops and cores
- Interpret EoD’s and related reservoir architecture, lithofacies associations, and diversity
- Interpret sequence stratigraphic surfaces in outcrop, logs, and seismic in DW settings and related to vertical stacking of facies
- Use core and well-logs to interpret EoD’s
- Evaluate reservoir geometry and connectivity in different EoD’s
- Do’s and Don’ts of using outcrops as reservoir analogs
- Use outcrop information as analog for reservoir model building
- Evaluate seismic response, including geometry, facies, and acoustic response in DW EoD’s
- Recognition criteria for the identification of Composite Sequences, Sequence Sets, and depositional Sequences and their components in outcrops, cores, well logs, and seismic
- Interpretation and mapping techniques for cores, well-logs, and seismic lines in DW settings, from Exploration to Production business scales
- Recognition criteria and mapping strategies for play elements in DW depositional settings
- Play fairway identification and mapping
The schedule below is just a sample as the exact order of locations and outcrops visited are subject to change due to changing weather, tides and sunlight hours.
Day 1 – Sunday
Arrive in San Diego. We will stay at the Grande Colonial Hotel in La Jolla. Meet and greet session at the hotel conference room at 5:00 PM. Discussions of safety procedures and DW lithofacies and depositional models.
Day 2 – Monday
Meet at the conference room at 8 AM to discuss about DW distributive systems. Safety briefing. Leave to Point Loma sea cliffs at 9:30 AM. Return to the hotel no later than 6 PM.
Day 3 – Tuesday
Meet at the conference room at 8 AM to discuss about DW channel systems. Safety briefing. Leave hotel at 9:00 to Blacks Beach Sea Cliff. Wrap-up discussions on Black’s Beach and leave from the Scripps Pier at 3:00 PM. Meeting at the hotel for discussion on DW channel Systems.
Day 4 – Wednesday
Meet at the conference room at 8 AM. Discussion on DW channel systems. Safety briefing before heading to the field at 9 AM. Spend the day at the San Clemente sea cliffs. Head back to the hotel no later than 6 PM.
Day 5 – Thursday
Meet at the conference room at 8 AM. Discussion on DW depositional processes. Safety briefing before heading to the field at 9 AM. Spend the morning at Dana Point and the afternoon at the Tourmaline Surf Beach Park. Head back to the hotel no later than 6 PM.
Day 6 – Friday
Check out from the hotel and be ready to leave at 8:30 AM. Visit the La Jolla Cove Park and then prepared to depart to the airport by 12:30 PM.
Although the locations in this field course are all public access, please be aware of potential hazards and stay alert at all times. It is important to remain well rested, hydrated and nourished during the trip. Protect yourself from the elements by bringing jackets, sun protection, and proper footwear. Potential hazards of San Diego’s sea cliff outcrops include:
SUNBURN
- The work days may be long and we will be outside in direct sunlight.
WINDBURN
- High winds can potentially lead to wind-burn.
ROGUE WAVES
- We will be visiting coastal outcrops at very low tides, but never take the sea for granted, rogue waves can occur.
LOOSE FOOTING
- Wet and slippery patches of cobbles and surf-zone outcrops occur locally. Watch where you step.
FALLING ROCKS
- Rock-falls may occur near cliffs – stay alert. Do not linger directly beneath cliffs.
TRAIN TRACKS
- We will be observing outcrops near train tracks.
Designed for
Geologists, geophysicists, and petroleum engineers working on deep water reservoirs from exploration to production.
Instructor
Vitor Abreu, PhD
Consultant, ACT-Geo
Online Registration
Interested in this course? Use the form below to inquire about your company’s next ACT-Geo workshop. We provide services worldwide and any course can be provided onsite at your location or at our Houston office.
Limit 25 persons max per workshop.
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