Carbonates: From Deposition To Reservoir

This 5-day course combines outcrops review with in-class exercises, use of analogs and actual field cases. This course introduces participants to the principles of carbonate sedimentology applied to hydrocarbon exploration and development geology.

To understand carbonate deposition systems and controls.
To recognize and model controls on reservoir quality and pore systems, including diagenesis and fracturing.
To understand and apply carbonate seismic stratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy.

The course alternates lectures, and exercises in classroom and in the field.

Each participant is required to provide a yearly medical certificate before attending this field course. Participants must be in good health and physical conditions to attend.

• Basic principles:
  • carbonate factory, depositional concepts; grain types; textures and fabrics; environmental reconstruction.
• Carbonate diagenesis:
  • primary & secondary porosity; compaction; pressure solution; cementation; dolomitization; porosity generation and destruction; fractures & karst.
• Characteristics of carbonate pore systems
• The potential value of dolomitization, including by hydrothermal processes
• Carbonate sequence stratigraphy:
  • basic concepts, chronology seismostratigraphy, carbonates and evaporites sequence stratigraphy
• Depositional model & diagenetic characteristics:
  • Sabkha/tidal flat; lagoon; shelf; reef (rudist and coral/algal); barrier/shoal; slope & re-deposited; lacustrine; fractured & karst plays.

Outcrops
Depending on the course location and the objectives of the host company: outcrops from Spitsbergen to the Bahamas.