Events & Courses

Given recent advances in seismic data acquisition and processing, the geological detail of the subsurface can now be imaged with greater resolution than ever before.

This 2-day international conference will bring academic and industry geoscientists and engineers together, to examine:

1. How much extra geological detail modern seismic techniques are now able to image;
2. How that expansion of detailed information is being approached and captured by interpreters - and tied back to real reservoir geology;
3. What modern questions and techniques are now being applied to outcrop and drill-core studies in order to address the 'unseen challenges' of subseismic deformation; and
4. How this is influencing the level of detail that should be captured to define better subsurface flow characteristics within flow simulation models.

In many cases, small to subseismic deformation features are controlled by – or interact with - similarly scaled sedimentological features.  This complicates conventional views of intra-reservoir connectivity and flow unit definition.  The intra-reservoir distribution of these smaller features has traditionally been ‘mapped’ in the subsurface by applying analogue outcrop studies, often in the modelling realm – since direct observation has not been possible. Now, enhanced imaging techniques have been able to provide data that guide this ‘mapping’.

These small features can negatively impact reservoir performance and/or be stimulated to enhance field recovery. Understanding their nature and distribution is therefore increasingly important, and this requires more refined reservoir characterisation techniques, whereby orientation, geometry, distribution (of deformation bands, fractures, cleats) can be accurately captured and interpreted in light of the improved seismic imaging. Whilst core remains essential to the recognition and basic description of deformation features and their relationship to the sedimentological heterogeneities, the increasing use of helical CATSCAN data for example, is providing the bridge from core to Borehole Image logs. With these developments, there is a real possibility of advancing our characterisation of subsurface intra-reservoir deformation, and to calibrate field studies that are used to constrain workstation mapping and modelling of subtle reservoir deformation fabrics.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Haakon Fossen, University of Bergen
• Paul Gillespie, Statoil
• Dave Sanderson, University of Southampton
• Steve Naruk, Shell
• Roger Soliva, Geosciences Montpelier

*Please note that Corporate Affiliates of the Society can register at the reduced rate. To check whether you company is a corporate affiliate, please click here.

For further information please contact:
Laura Griffiths, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7434 9944