WHO SHOULD ATTEND

The material of this course should be of interest to Managers, Supervisors, Geologists, Geophysicists, Petrophysicists.

COURSE OVERVIEW

The course is primarily a workshop. The initial discussions review stratigraphic concepts and then apply these to outcrops to compare sequences and environments recognized in the field with comparative resolution in seismic data. The problem of scale is addressed. This is followed by a discussion of what are seismic facies (reflection configuration, amplitude, frequency, and continuity). These are illustrated through numerous illustrations from CDP record sections from diverse environments. Participants then apply these ideas to unraveling the geological history of a thermal sag basin with a broad spectrum of environments. Source, seal, and reservoir potential of each unit differentiated are predicted and then compared to well data.

Three detailed problems follow. The first focuses on a submarine fan. Seismic facies variations are mapped to predict sand prone intervals. Comparative ideas on modern submarine fans are introduced and utilized. The second problem deals with shallow water siliciclastics and the recognition of variety of systems tracts in the seismic data and the relevant lithofacies predictions. Different models are compared and evaluated. Modern environments are discussed and compared. The third problem focuses on the evaluation of a carbonate margin. A variety of carbonate facies and environments are shown and prospected.

In addition to data sets used for interpretation, numerous other seismic lines are used to show comparative environments in other settings. The bottom line for each problem undertaken is to predict drilling locations.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

To use seismic facies analysis to evaluate and interpret a volume of seismic data to recognize diverse stratigraphic play opportunities.
The geological significance of reflection configurations and their environments.
Depositional models and how to test and map them in seismic data.
How to prepare environment and lithofacies maps from seismic facies maps.
Geological processes operating in a variety of environments.
How to improve the geological predictions of plays and prospects.

COURSE OUTLINE

The Seismic Facies Analysis course is designed to concentrate on the internal analysis of seismic sequence and the prediction of the lithofacies contained within a sequence. To accomplish this, we need to understand what the rocks look like in different environments, what the processes are that operated in each environment (as deltas or reefs), what the depositional models are for each, and how to recognize and map these in seismic data. Therefore, a manual is assembled which illustrates all the seismic patterns and the environments they represent which are most commonly encountered by an interpreter. These are documented by 130 examples taken from seismic sections from around the world. Walker's Facies Models are used as a supplement. Other depositional models from the literature are included.

The first part of the course focuses on a basin which contains a broad spectrum environments, including fan deltas, deltas, reefs and submarine fans. The participants are given a grid of lines and asked to apply the concepts of seismic facies analysis to determine the succession of sedimentary environments in the basin and what are the principal plays that are present. Their predictions are ground-truthed by comparing the solutions with well information.

The course then proceeds to a series of workshops which emphasize the detailed seismic facies analysis of three different depositional systems, such as deltas or carbonate shelves and reefs, and show a dozen or so slides to illustrate modern and ancient examples, then review current models of deltaic sedimentation or carbonate sedimentation.

For each of the workshop problems, additional examples of submarine fans, carbonate reefs, deltas, etc., are shown on lines drawn from many different areas. Materials used in the course include examples from the Gulf Coast (U.S.) onshore and offshore, the east coast of the U.S. Alaska, the North Sea, northwestern Europe, Brazil, northwestern Africa and southeastern Africa and Egypt.

LOCATION

First day will be held at the Sofitel Hotel, in Cairo. The participants will fly the next day to Sharm. The course will be continued at the Coral Sea Hotel in Sharm.

COURSE FEES

FIVE DAYS U.S.$ 1900
Inclusive of refreshment and lunch in the Sofitel Hotel. Air Ticket Cairo/Sharm/return and accommodation in Sharm.

INSTRUCTOR PROFILE

Dr. Bradford Macurda, Jr. is a well known geologist in the United States and Internationally. His area of expertise is the application of stratigraphic and sedimentological principles to the analysis of seismic data, using workstations and paper seismic sections. He has trained many interpreters for public and state owned petroleum companies in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. He has evaluated numerous interpretation projects for companies located in more than 25 countries. These have involved frontier exploration, license applications, relinquishments, and production problems and enhancements. Dr. Macurda is familiar with and operates several different types of workstations while conducting his technical training courses and while evaluating interpretation projects. His training and consulting efforts encourage creative thinking by the participants and the application of new ideas and technology to interpretation problems.

Dr. Macurda is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin (Ph.D., 1963). From 1963 to 1978 he was a professor in the Department of Geology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Macurda was employed by Exxon Production Research Company from 1978 to 1981 utilizing seismic stratigraphy techniques on domestic and international exploration research projects.

In 1981, Dr. Macurda joined The Energists in Houston, Texas. He is a co-owner and senior vice president. Additionally, he continues to conduct numerous technical training seminars in seismic facies and sequence interpretation throughout the world (these sessions were initially offered through GeoQuest International). Current workshop topics include seismic facies analysis, advanced interpretation courses in carbonates, deepwater and shallow water clastics, and workstation based facies and sequence analysis courses, conducted both privately and publicly. Dr. Macurda has conducted in-house courses on workstations for IEOC in 1995 and GUPCO in 1996.