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2016 RCRL Prospective Research Directions

Carbonate Reservoir Characterization Research Laboratory (RCRL)

Bureau of Economic Geology

The University of Texas at Austin

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Research Statement Overview

• The RCRL group has unique expertise that addresses various research questions in carbonate shelf to basin systems and at scale of investigation from nanopores to basin architecture

• Research questions are developed using both subsurface datasets and outcrop analogs. We emphasize quantifying what we observe so that our research is applicable and valuable in providing predictive relationships and conceptual tools for reservoir characterization

• Our research-focus areas, themes, and topics have been developed out of our experience and feedback from our sponsorship

• During the 28 years of existence, we have found that the most valuable research is developed from feedback and collaboration with our sponsor companies

RCRL Staff

• Charles Kerans (PI)- Carbonates, sequence stratigraphy, carbonate reservoirs• Robert Loucks (PI) - Carbonate depositional systems, pore networks, karst• Xavier Janson – Carbonate stratigraphy, 3D seismic, geomodeling,

geomechanics• Chris Zahm – Carbonates and fracture systems, fluid flow, geomechanics• F. Jerry Lucia – Carbonate reservoirs, petrophysics and rock fabrics• Harry Rowe – Geochemistry and chemostratigraphy• Josh Lambert – Digital Outcrop Technician• Stephaine Lane – Program Coordinator

Associated Staff• Steve Ruppel – Carbonate reservoir characterization• Gregory Frebourg – Sedimentology and biostratigraphy• Hongliu Zeng – Seismic imaging of carbonate systems• Donnie Brookes – Geomechanics Laboratory Technician

Interface Opportunities

• Annual Review Meeting (held in 3Q in Austin) – 1-day Pre-meeting Core Workshop

– 2-day Technical Presentations (live broadcast)

– 3-day Post-meeting Field Trip

• Spring Training Week (conducted 2Q, location TBD)– Rotate between field workshop, targeted core workshop, or “a la carte” short courses.

• Mentor Activities– RCRL sponsors office visits (domestic and international)

– Sponsor visits to Austin

– Hosting Visiting Scientists for collaboration*

• Company-specific projects*

• Targeted consulting on datasets or field trips*__________________________________________* costs in addition to the annual membership fee

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2016 RCRL Research Topics – Part 1

Platform-Scale Stratigraphy and Geomorphology• Platform-to-basin architecture of Lower Permian • Morphometric Analysis of Slope Deposits• Cretaceous regional framing of Aptian ramps and Albian intrashelf basins

Reservoir Architecture and Intra-Play Evolution• Integrated stratigraphic and structural framework of Guadalupe Mountains• Seismic and stratigraphic architecture of Leonardian prograding margin and slope• Pleistocene strandplain grainstone depositional patterns, Turks and Caicos• Characterization/modeling studies, Clear Fork, Goldsmith Field, Grayburg CBP• Lower Cretaceous large-scale microbial mounds, Central Texas• Shelf interior mixed evaporite-carbonate-siliciclastic system of the Permian Seven Rivers

Pore Network Characterization• Origin and petrophysics of tight limestone and dolomite reservoirs• Micro-CT Scan and other ultrahigh-resolution imaging of micropores in carbonates• Dual-pore network research and NMR analysis

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2016 RCRL Research Topics – Part 2

Structural and Geomechanical Characterization• Geomechanical property evolution in carbonate systems• Effect of pore type on dynamic and static mechanical moduli• Modeling of natural, early-formed fracture systems • Influence of pre-existing fabrics on reservoir fractures, Maverick, Permian Basins• Rock properties and natural fractures within Dev. Grosmont and Miss. Madison• Refinement of handheld tools for geomechanical property characterization

Chemostratigraphic Analyses of Carbonate Systems• Chemolithostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Buda and Austin Chalk • Reservoir quality, isotope, and chemostratigraphy of OAE-1B• Research in carbonate chemofacies improved methods• Age constraints of modern facies, West Caicos

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Funding

Participation in the RCRL Industrial Associates Program for 2016 is:

$55,000 per year for 2016 only, or

$50,000 per year for 2016 and 2017 with 2-year agreement

• We encourage sponsors to commit to a 2-year agreement so that we can better plan a longer-range research program and reduce the time and effort in securing agreements.

• Agreement is such that a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) would be signed agreeing to a 2-year commitment, and payment would be due at the beginning of each year.

RCRL Website: http://www.beg.utexas.edu/rcrl/index.php 13+ years database of research results

Annual meeting presentations and video

broadcast archive

Large database and geological synthesis

• Google Fusion database of digital results (photos, redraft sections, gocad models, porosity and permeability data, thin sections photos) is available from the main website.

• Carbonate reservoir-quality database based on core-plug porosity and permeability analyses

• Approx. 10,000 values from the Jurassic and Cretaceous strata from the GOM.

• Data searchable by geographic location, formation, lithology, depth, temperature, etc.

• On-the-fly scattergrams for visual inspection• Selected data can be transferred to an Excel

sheet for further statistical analysis

Data Transfer

RCRL Student Theses

Participating 2015 RCRL Industrial Associate Sponsors

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How to Participate in the RCRL Industrial Associates Program?

Contact Charles Kerans (Principal Investigator) or Robert Loucks (co-Principal Investigator) for more information on becoming or maintaining membership within the Carbonate RCRL program:

Dr. Charles Kerans, Professor and Senior Research Scientist

Robert Goldhammer Chair in Carbonate Geology

Department of Geological Sciences and Bureau of Economic Geology

Jackson School of Geosciences

Email: ckerans@jsg.utexas.edu 

Office: +1 512 471 4282

Or

Dr. Robert Loucks, Senior Research Scientist

Bureau of Economic Geology

Jackson School of Geosciences

Email: bob.loucks@beg.utexas.edu

Office: +1 512 471 0366