The Upper Mannville reservoirs in West-Central Alberta consist of fluvial sandstones filling inci... more The Upper Mannville reservoirs in West-Central Alberta consist of fluvial sandstones filling incised valleys. The valley infills are made of lithic sandstones with a complex mineralogy. These sandstones are made up of various amounts of quartz, feldspars, clay minerals and rock fragments. They were subjected to a complex diagenetic history and the resulting paragenesis influenced the actual reservoir properties. Consequently, heterogeneities in the petrophysical properties result in significant exploration risks and production issues.
This contribution presents a new approach for stratigraphic forward modeling, whereby the sedimen... more This contribution presents a new approach for stratigraphic forward modeling, whereby the sedimentary filling and initial organic matter distribution of the frontier deepwater, gas-prone Levant Basin (East-Mediterranean region) are simulated. The reference (base) model covers an overall area in the order of 200,000 km2, with cells grid resolution of 5 km2 (horizontal) and less than 50m (vertical). This 3D model is constrained by paleogeographic and isopach maps; the latter based on reflection seismic data interpretation and 13 wells. Simulations span 90 Ma, from the Senonian (Coniacian to Maastrichtian ages) to present day, succeeding in demonstrating the transition from a carbonate dominated basinal post-rift phase to siliciclastic turbiditic and distal pelagic depositional systems during further deformation of the basin in the Cenozoic. The latter turbidites and pelagic deposits are associated with increasing detrital inputs due to the margin uplift and further subsidence in the b...
A methodology to generate a gas prospect in the Upper Manville incised valleys of Central Alberta... more A methodology to generate a gas prospect in the Upper Manville incised valleys of Central Alberta is proposed in this paper. This methodology is based on a new detailed sequence stratigraphic framework which is used to subdivide this previously undivided continental series. An integrated approach involving geological and geophysical interpretation, as well as log and production data analysis is used to assist with exploration of the subtle gas charged traps.
Oil & Gas Science and Technology – Revue d’IFP Energies nouvelles
The easternmost part of the Mediterranean corresponds to a tectonically complex region which is l... more The easternmost part of the Mediterranean corresponds to a tectonically complex region which is linked with the convergence between Africa and Eurasia. The tectonostratigraphic evolution of this region is poorly constrained because of the absence of exploration wells. Cyprus is a crucial area to assess the link between the tectonic deformation and the consequent sedimentation in the Northern Levant margin. Paleogene and Neogene basins in the southern part of Cyprus record the main tectonic events related to the convergence of Africa and Eurasia. The objective of this contribution is to investigate the timing and the mechanisms of basin deformation, as well as the sedimentary infill of basins located onshore Cyprus and finally resolve how their evolution is linked to the regional geodynamic events. Based on fieldwork studies we reconstructed the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the Polis Basin and the Limassol Basin to propose a conceptual model for the evolution of the Northern Le...
Summary A methodology to generate a gas prospect in the Upper Manville incised valleys of Central... more Summary A methodology to generate a gas prospect in the Upper Manville incised valleys of Central Alberta is proposed in this paper. This methodology is based on a new detailed sequence stratigraphic framework which is used to subdivide this previously undivided continental series. An integrated approach involving geological and geophysical interpretation, as well as log and production data analysis is used to assist with exploration of the subtle gas charged traps.
Whereas active basin formation in the Aegean Sea is illustrated by seafloor bathymetry, the sedim... more Whereas active basin formation in the Aegean Sea is illustrated by seafloor bathymetry, the sedimentary and tec-tonic history of Tertiary basins is poorly known as existing offshore industrial seismic and well-log data are not easily accessible. We studied the evolution of the northern Aegean Sea with a focus on the North Aegean Trough and the Northern Skyros Basin, which are amongst the deepest basins of the northern Aegean domain. Structural and seismic stratigraphic interpretation of a 2D seismic dataset retrieved in the 1970's is combined with the well-investigated records of the onshore deep basins of northern Greece and Western Turkey. A general seismic signature chart was established using onshore basin stratigraphy and poorly-constrained well data. The studied domain shows two sharp unconformities that correspond to the Eocene-Oligocene transition and the Miocene-Pliocene shift, respectively. These transitions were then used as pillars for a more detailed structural and ...
The pre‐drift geological history of the South Atlantic ocean is attracting geoscientists attentio... more The pre‐drift geological history of the South Atlantic ocean is attracting geoscientists attention since exploration in the Brazilian pre‐salt has resulted in the discovery of an estimated 8‐20 billion BOR over the past 4 years. The main reservoirs correspond to stromatolitic and bioclastic carbonate facies which were deposited in lacustrine to shallow marine depositional environments during the Sag phase. As only few subsurface data are available, the reservoir distribution as well as the reservoir heterogeneities are poorly constrained in such peculiar setting. We present hereafter new results in terms of reservoir architecture from an analogue of these reservoirs exposed in spectacular 3D outcrops in the Salta rift system, NW Argentina. The sedimentary fill of the Salta basin (Early Cretaceous–Middle Palaeogene, NW Argentina) can reach a thickness of 5,000m including syn-rift to post-rift sequences: the syn-rift Pirgua subgroup which consists of alluvial to fluvial deposits, the ...
ABSTRACT Recent scientific work has highlighted the presence of an up to 12 km thick Cenozoic sil... more ABSTRACT Recent scientific work has highlighted the presence of an up to 12 km thick Cenozoic siliclastic and carbonate infill in the Levant Basin. Since the Late Eocene, several regional geodynamic events affecting Afro-Arabia and Eurasia (collision and strike slip deformation) induced marginal uplifts. The initiation of local and long-lived regional drainage systems in the Oligo-Miocene period (e.g., Lebanon, Arabia and Nile) provoked a change in the depositional pattern along the Levant region from carbonate-dominated to mixed clastic-rich systems. Herein, we explore the importance of multi-scale constraints (i.e., seismic, well and field data) in the quantification of subsidence history, sediment transport and deposition of a Middle to Upper Miocene “multi-source” to sink system along the northern Levant frontier region. Through a comprehensive 4D forward stratigraphic modeling workflow, we suggest that the contribution to basin infill is split between proximal and more distal clastic sources as well as in situ carbonate and hemipelagic deposition. The results show that single-source scenarios could not reasonably satisfy the basin-scale constraints. The worldwide application of such new multi-disciplinary workflows in frontier regions highlights the additional data constraints that are needed to de-risk highly uncertain geological models in the hydrocarbon exploration phase.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Upper Mannville reservoirs in West-Central Alberta consist of fluvial sandstones filling inci... more The Upper Mannville reservoirs in West-Central Alberta consist of fluvial sandstones filling incised valleys. The valley infills are made of lithic sandstones with a complex mineralogy. These sandstones are made up of various amounts of quartz, feldspars, clay minerals and rock fragments. They were subjected to a complex diagenetic history and the resulting paragenesis influenced the actual reservoir properties. Consequently, heterogeneities in the petrophysical properties result in significant exploration risks and production issues.
This contribution presents a new approach for stratigraphic forward modeling, whereby the sedimen... more This contribution presents a new approach for stratigraphic forward modeling, whereby the sedimentary filling and initial organic matter distribution of the frontier deepwater, gas-prone Levant Basin (East-Mediterranean region) are simulated. The reference (base) model covers an overall area in the order of 200,000 km2, with cells grid resolution of 5 km2 (horizontal) and less than 50m (vertical). This 3D model is constrained by paleogeographic and isopach maps; the latter based on reflection seismic data interpretation and 13 wells. Simulations span 90 Ma, from the Senonian (Coniacian to Maastrichtian ages) to present day, succeeding in demonstrating the transition from a carbonate dominated basinal post-rift phase to siliciclastic turbiditic and distal pelagic depositional systems during further deformation of the basin in the Cenozoic. The latter turbidites and pelagic deposits are associated with increasing detrital inputs due to the margin uplift and further subsidence in the b...
A methodology to generate a gas prospect in the Upper Manville incised valleys of Central Alberta... more A methodology to generate a gas prospect in the Upper Manville incised valleys of Central Alberta is proposed in this paper. This methodology is based on a new detailed sequence stratigraphic framework which is used to subdivide this previously undivided continental series. An integrated approach involving geological and geophysical interpretation, as well as log and production data analysis is used to assist with exploration of the subtle gas charged traps.
Oil & Gas Science and Technology – Revue d’IFP Energies nouvelles
The easternmost part of the Mediterranean corresponds to a tectonically complex region which is l... more The easternmost part of the Mediterranean corresponds to a tectonically complex region which is linked with the convergence between Africa and Eurasia. The tectonostratigraphic evolution of this region is poorly constrained because of the absence of exploration wells. Cyprus is a crucial area to assess the link between the tectonic deformation and the consequent sedimentation in the Northern Levant margin. Paleogene and Neogene basins in the southern part of Cyprus record the main tectonic events related to the convergence of Africa and Eurasia. The objective of this contribution is to investigate the timing and the mechanisms of basin deformation, as well as the sedimentary infill of basins located onshore Cyprus and finally resolve how their evolution is linked to the regional geodynamic events. Based on fieldwork studies we reconstructed the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the Polis Basin and the Limassol Basin to propose a conceptual model for the evolution of the Northern Le...
Summary A methodology to generate a gas prospect in the Upper Manville incised valleys of Central... more Summary A methodology to generate a gas prospect in the Upper Manville incised valleys of Central Alberta is proposed in this paper. This methodology is based on a new detailed sequence stratigraphic framework which is used to subdivide this previously undivided continental series. An integrated approach involving geological and geophysical interpretation, as well as log and production data analysis is used to assist with exploration of the subtle gas charged traps.
Whereas active basin formation in the Aegean Sea is illustrated by seafloor bathymetry, the sedim... more Whereas active basin formation in the Aegean Sea is illustrated by seafloor bathymetry, the sedimentary and tec-tonic history of Tertiary basins is poorly known as existing offshore industrial seismic and well-log data are not easily accessible. We studied the evolution of the northern Aegean Sea with a focus on the North Aegean Trough and the Northern Skyros Basin, which are amongst the deepest basins of the northern Aegean domain. Structural and seismic stratigraphic interpretation of a 2D seismic dataset retrieved in the 1970's is combined with the well-investigated records of the onshore deep basins of northern Greece and Western Turkey. A general seismic signature chart was established using onshore basin stratigraphy and poorly-constrained well data. The studied domain shows two sharp unconformities that correspond to the Eocene-Oligocene transition and the Miocene-Pliocene shift, respectively. These transitions were then used as pillars for a more detailed structural and ...
The pre‐drift geological history of the South Atlantic ocean is attracting geoscientists attentio... more The pre‐drift geological history of the South Atlantic ocean is attracting geoscientists attention since exploration in the Brazilian pre‐salt has resulted in the discovery of an estimated 8‐20 billion BOR over the past 4 years. The main reservoirs correspond to stromatolitic and bioclastic carbonate facies which were deposited in lacustrine to shallow marine depositional environments during the Sag phase. As only few subsurface data are available, the reservoir distribution as well as the reservoir heterogeneities are poorly constrained in such peculiar setting. We present hereafter new results in terms of reservoir architecture from an analogue of these reservoirs exposed in spectacular 3D outcrops in the Salta rift system, NW Argentina. The sedimentary fill of the Salta basin (Early Cretaceous–Middle Palaeogene, NW Argentina) can reach a thickness of 5,000m including syn-rift to post-rift sequences: the syn-rift Pirgua subgroup which consists of alluvial to fluvial deposits, the ...
ABSTRACT Recent scientific work has highlighted the presence of an up to 12 km thick Cenozoic sil... more ABSTRACT Recent scientific work has highlighted the presence of an up to 12 km thick Cenozoic siliclastic and carbonate infill in the Levant Basin. Since the Late Eocene, several regional geodynamic events affecting Afro-Arabia and Eurasia (collision and strike slip deformation) induced marginal uplifts. The initiation of local and long-lived regional drainage systems in the Oligo-Miocene period (e.g., Lebanon, Arabia and Nile) provoked a change in the depositional pattern along the Levant region from carbonate-dominated to mixed clastic-rich systems. Herein, we explore the importance of multi-scale constraints (i.e., seismic, well and field data) in the quantification of subsidence history, sediment transport and deposition of a Middle to Upper Miocene “multi-source” to sink system along the northern Levant frontier region. Through a comprehensive 4D forward stratigraphic modeling workflow, we suggest that the contribution to basin infill is split between proximal and more distal clastic sources as well as in situ carbonate and hemipelagic deposition. The results show that single-source scenarios could not reasonably satisfy the basin-scale constraints. The worldwide application of such new multi-disciplinary workflows in frontier regions highlights the additional data constraints that are needed to de-risk highly uncertain geological models in the hydrocarbon exploration phase.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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