A comparative study of dryland alluvial successions - Triassic of the North Sea and the Morrison Formation of Utah, USA
Dette masterprosjektet er en del av mastergraden til student Synne Osland, som startet på masterprogrammet i geovitenskap høsten 2021.
Hovedinnhold
Project description
Fluvial sandstones from the Upper Triassic Skagerrak formation in the North Sea are important hydrocarbon reservoirs, and may also be used to store CO2 in the future. The Skagerrak Formation was deposited mainly as rivers and floodplains in a dry climate, and is a prime example of a dryland fluvial succession. Large amounts of core data, wireline log data and deep directional resistivity data have been acquired in producing fields, but little work has been done on integrating such datasets into a coherent sedimentological model. Furthermore, two key unknowns for the Skagerrak Formation is (1) the dimensions of fluvial sandbodies, and (2) how different internal stratigraphic members are expressed in different areas.
To better understand internal stratigraphic variability of the Skagerrak Formation and fluvial sandbody geometry withint, two main tasks will be performed as part of this project: Firstly, a comprehensive study of subsurface core, well and deep directional resistivity data will be performed for the Skagerrak Formation with the goal to make a coherent sedimentological model and understand lateral intraformational variability. Secondly, a field campaign in Utah, USA, will be performed where log and virtual outcrop data from the dryland fluvial Morrison Formation will be acquired.
Similarity and differences between the Skagerrak and Morrison formations will be evaluated and used to better understand the applicability of sandbody geometries from the Morrision Formation to the Skagerrak formation.
Proposed course plan during the master's degree (60 ECTS):
GEOV300 Selected Topics in Geoscience 5 ECTS
GEOV361 Sequence Stratigraphy and Source-to-Sink – 10 ECTS
GEOV364 Advanced basin analysis – 5 ECTS
SDG207 Energy Transition – 10 ECTS
GEOV302 Data analysis in earth science – 10 ECTS
GEOV352 Field course in reservoir geology – 5 ECTS
GEOV360 Advanced clastic sedimentology – 10 ECTS
GEOV362 Integrated tectonics and sedimentology field course – 5 ECTS
Field, lab and analysis
Field work in Utah, USA. 2 weeks.
Processing and analysis of virtual outcrop data. 2 months.
Work on subsurface data.
