Deep-Water Continental Margins

A scientific conference bringing together geologists, geophysicists, mathematical and physcial modellers seeking to understand the evolution of continental margins and their importance in economic terms.  A key question to be addressed is if the boundary regions between continental and oceanic crust are effectively the last exploration frontier on Earth.

Keynote speakers:
Scot Fraser, Shell
Gianreto Manatschal, EOST-ULP
Adriano Viana, CENPES, Petrobras
Pieter Van Rensbergen, Shell


Invited speakers:
David Hodgson, University of Liverpool
Mads Huuse, University of Manchester
Douglas Paton, University of Leeds
Marta Perez-Gussinye, Royal Holloway, University of London
Nick Schofield, University of Birmingham


Conference themes

1. From continental rifting to lithospheric break-up: Sedimentology of deep-water rift basins. What is the effect of continental stretching on catchment dynamics? What are the controls (tectonics and climate) on the erosional engine? Measurement and quantification of exhumation and sediment export in specific regions of continental margins. Syn-rift to post-rift transitions and their significance. How are break-up unconformities formed? Dynamic feedbacks among crustal deformation, erosion, climate and sedimentation in deep-water rifts.
   
   Convenors: Tiago Alves (Cardiff University) and Tim Minshull (Southampton).
2. Tectonic controls on deep-water rift basins: Tectonic controls on rift basins. How tectonically variable are deep-water rift basins from proximal basins onshore and on the shelf? What are the main tectonic controls in distal margin subsidence? What is the role of Beta variations and crustal variability, including inherited fabric and thickness variations? Different rift architectures and segmentation styles on deep-water continental margins. Salt tectonics and impact on rift geometry.
   
   Convenors: Gianreto Manatschal (Strasbourg) and Christopher A.-L. Jackson (Imperial College).
3. Lithospheric break-up: Processes and current models: Lithospheric break-up: processes and current models (T, beta and morphological changes during break-up. Stratigraphic responses to major tectonic events. An all-encompassing session with contributions from both mathematical and stratigraphic modellers.
   
   Convenors: Tim Minshull (Southampton) and Marta Pérez-Gussinyé (Royal Holloway).
4. Post-rift to plate convergence: Impacts on petroleum systems: Tectonic and stratigraphic responses to intra and inter-plate convergence and their impacts on petroleum systems, seal units and petrophysical properties of rocks. Fluid flow and petroleum migration in deep-water hydrocarbon provinces.
   
   Convenors: Andy Aplin (Newcastle) and P. van Rensbergen (Shell-The Netherlands).

Abstract submission

Opening date: 1 December 2011
Closing date: 31 March 2012

If you wish to submit either an oral or poster abstract for this meeting, please email your abstract to Steve Whalley stating whether you wish to submit an oral or poster presentation.

Abstracts must be submitted in a Word format and should be no more than 500 words and contain no more than one figure.

Registration

You can register for this meeting either online or by downloading the PDF registration form below and returning it to Georgina Worrall.

Convenors

Tiago Alves, Cardiff University
Tim Minshull, University of Southampton
Andy Aplin, University of Newcastle
Chris Jackson, Imperial College London