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42033-AC8
Sequence Stratigraphy and Reservoir Characterization of Subsurface Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Mixed Carbonate-Siliciclastic Passive Margin Sediments, Southeastern U.S.A
During the Sept.1, 2006-August 31, 2007 funding cycle, the PI has retained Adjunct Faculty status at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and now has an Adjunct Faculty appointment at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC). Progress on the project in the past year has been made through work completed at both institutions.
Personnel.- One M.Sc. student (Sunde) is near completion of his thesis on the subsurface characterization of Lower Cretaceous sediments from the North Carolina Coastal plain. In addition to the four undergraduates previously employed to assist in sample preparation and preliminary data analysis, one student was employed during the fall of 2006. No additional graduate students have been taken on to complete this project, because of changes in employment by the PI. It is noteworthy that four of the five undergraduates who have been involved with this project now have gained full-time employment in the energy industry in Calgary, Alberta (the one remaining student was not majoring in Earth Sciences). The current M.Sc. student is has been offered a permanent position at a major petroleum company upon completion of the thesis (late 2007 to early 2008).
Data Analysis.- Detailed descriptions of more than 2000 thin sections of Lower Cretaceous subsurface samples have been completed from five wells, following lengthy data preparation since early 2005. Preliminary analyses of Upper Jurassic strata from one well have been initiated by the PI, but consulting and state government job commitments have prevented time for continued sample study. Students have completed digitization of roughly 90 wireline logs scanned by the PI and M.Sc student at state geologic survey data repositories. These data have been integral for relating lithologic responses observed in cuttings with geophysical datasets. Preliminary biostratigraphic analyses from three wells failed to yield age-diagnostic calcareous nannofossils from intervals interpreted as the most open marine facies in this updip shelf position. Additional samples have been submitted from the only core in the basin that sampled these units; however, no results have been received from this ongoing work. Preliminary Strontium isotopic analyses from the same core have yielded promising results, so numerous additional samples from the same well, plus cuttings from adjacent offset wells have been prepared for additional analyses at UNC.
Field Research.- The only additional field-related research since the 2005 field season was conducted by the PI in North Carolina and British Columbia. The PI returned to SFU in November 2006 and March 2007 for one week to work with students on data analysis and interpretation, discuss and prepare posters for presentation at the 2007 AAPG Annual conference, and to pack and transport subsampled datasets back to the eastern US state sample repositories (November airfare covered by SFU, as numerous lectures and workshops were presented by the PI during the course of the week). Another visit to SFU is planned for late 2007 to early 2008, when the current M.Sc. student should be completing his thesis. At this time, all remaining materials related to this project at SFU will be couriered or shipped to the PI's office at UNC.
Meetings.- The PI and M.Sc student attended the 2007 AAPG Annual Meeting and presented two posters related to the research funded by this grant. In addition, the PI has informally discussed results of this ongoing research with members of the Delaware and North Carolina Geological Surveys, particularly with regard to the revised stratigraphic framework developed by this work and how it may relate to potential hydrocarbon traps further offshore.
Presentations.- The PI and student presented results from this study in two posters at the 2007 AAPG annual meeting. An additional presentation was planned for a research conference focusing on the evolution of the Atlantic margin in Halifax, NS fall 2007, but this meeting was postponed due to logistical complications.
