About SAnD

Mission

The mission of the Sedimentary Analogs Database and Research Consortium (SAnD) is to provide our industry members a source for rigorously collected, carefully analyzed, and systematically organized data on clastic reservoir architecture and depositional system morphology, as well as for regional context studies, modeling methodologies, and data-collection techniques and tools so members can assess their own data.

Goals

• To provide quality research observations, data and products that are timely, pertinent and easily incorporated into our sponsors’ business
• To develop predictive models of clastic systems architecture, development, and response to change
• To educate students and advance scientific understanding of the evolutionary process of continental margins around the world

Approach

The project team utilizes both small (hundreds of sq km) and large (thousands of sq km) 3D data sets to allow harvesting of clastic architectural data on various elements of the depositional systems. Seismic architecture is investigated using techniques that employ conventional seismic sequence framework development, quantitative seismic geomorphologic analysis, various attribute extractions, export and harvesting of morphologic information in ArcGIS and ErMapper, and import of these data into various programs for statistical analyses of temporal and spatial distribution and relationships.

The team also works with a significant legacy archive of outcrop data provided from decades of clastic systems research at the Bureau, as well as with data from current outcrop studies. These outcrop results consist of thousands of detailed facies, lithology, and shale architecture measurements, integrated with over 100 kilometers of detailed architectural drawings from photopanoramic images. Datasets include significant subsurface logs integrated with outcrop data, as well as porosity, permeability, and velocity measurements. These data are being harvested for the morphologic information that they document. Both the seismic-derived and outcrop-derived data form the basis for probabilistic models of reservoir occurrence, character, and evolution. Results are conveyed to members as statistical as data sets, modeling studies using both Schlumberger’s Petrel and Landmark’s DecisionSpace software, and are combined with results from published works and previous studies to form a larger searchable Sedimentary Analogs Database (SAND).

Current Study Areas

Seismic data is our currency. We pride ourselves in the breadth of our research both geographically and in the geomorphologic settings that we investigate. These data provide a three-dimensional view of systems that simply can not be viewed in even outcrop. Seismic studies are complimented with outcrop studies in similar depositional systems to form observations at a variety of scales.

Studies currently underway include:

• 3D modeling approaches in complex tidally influenced shorelines (modeling, outcrop and subsurface)
• 3D modeling in shelf deltaic deposits of the Pennsylvania (Petrel, ArcGIS, Lidar) Influence of Submarine Topography in deposition of deep water facies (numerical modeling and seismic-log-core studies) 3D modeling in shelf deltaic deposits of the Pennsylvania (Petrel, ArcGIS, Lidar) Influence of Submarine Topography in deposition of deep water facies (numerical modeling and seismic-log-core studies)
• 3D modeling of complex shoreline deposits (various localities)
• Sand distribution across wave and storm influenced shelves (seismic and logs)
• Reservoir distribution in the El Vado, Tocito and Gallup shelf systems of the San Juan Basin, New Mexico
• Application of hyper spectral analysis to distribution of clays and clay types in high net:gross fans, mass failures, etc. (New Zealand, Borneo, Arkansas)
• Mass Transport Deposits – rheology and morphology, nature of clay deformation and implications for sealing capacity (outcrop, laboratory analysis, subsurface seismic, log and core data; New Zealand, Borneo, Arkansas).
• Active versus passive margin fan development; architecture, facies distributions, etc. (outcrop and subsurface studies; Arkansas)
• Rift basin accommodation formation and fill; Australian northwest shelf, Albuquerque Basin, New Mexico
• Seismic geomorphology of axial versus transverse fluvial systems in rift settings (northwest shelf of Australia)

Some areas currently under study:

• Gulf of Mexico, U.S.A. (deep and ultradeep, shallow shelf, onshore)
• Utah Book Cliffs Sego Sandstone
• New Mexico San Juan Basin Tocito Sandstone and El Vado Sandstone
• North Slope Alaska Prince Creek and Schrader Bluff Formations
• Canada McMurray Formation
• New Zealand Taranaki Basin
• Trinidad Eastern and Northern Offshore Marine Areas
• North Sea Heidrun Field
• Morocco Eastern Offshore

Challenge(s)

Clastic systems are highly complex and deterministic description is often highly uncertain. Probabilistic approaches require dense databases, but those data must be quality controlled and rigorously collected to ensure quality. The SAnD consortium is providing those data bases as well as cutting edge research to support understanding of these systems and the context within which such data is collected.

As companies grow, so do the challenges of disseminating information throughout the organizations. Companies rely more and more on electronic dissemination of corporate knowledge. The SAnD consortium is providing digital products that are user friendly, not space intensive, interactive and informative for all levels of geoscience experience.

Reservoir bodies are three-dimensional. Complexities involved in finding and producing both deep and shallow marine, and fluvial deltaic reservoir systems are four dimensional, involving temporal variability as well as spatial variability. For this reason, geoscientists must turn to multi-dimensional data sets to provide insight into these systems. 3D seismic provides the spatial and temporal perspective, but outcrop and core analysis of such deposits strengthen the details needed that can escape us a the seismic scale. The SAnD consortium is heavily focused on providing answers using 3D seismic data, ground truthed with sediment data and outcrop understanding.

Staff

• Lesli J. Wood, Professor and PI; Seismic geomorphology, subsurface and outcrop studies
• Darrin Burton, Affiliated Faculty; outcrop and subsurface to modeling research
• Mary Carr, Research Administrator; outcrop and subsurface studies, modeling approaches
• Andi Niess, Webmaster

Terms

• Research calendar each year begins January 1 and runs through December 31.
• One to two annual meetings held worldwide
• Access to research group’s website is limited to membership years; however annual folders of material remain available for years of membership
• Annual 2 day visit to member offices to work with geoscientist, teach, etc.
• A standard letter of agreement
• $45,000 per company per year