CGeol - Chartered Geologist, Geological Society of London
Chair Of Energy Geoscience
- About
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- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 273713
- Office Address
- School/Department
- School of Geosciences
Biography
How and why sediment is deposited, the processes by which it consolidates and lithifies, and its micro- and macro-mineralogy fascinate me. I integrate data from global to sub-micro-scale, examining basin evolution, sediment provenance and its relationship to climate change including weathering and erosion and diagenesis. While focussing on understanding process, my research has a strong element of resource evaluation, and its contribution to the inventory of Earth resources.
For more than 25 years, the Sand Injection Research Group (SIRG) studied the natural injection of fluidised sand into actively propagating hydraulic fractures, and their influence on fluid migration and expulsion. This is significant for resource entrapment and recovery, and waste (nuclear, CO2) or resource (hydrogen, CH4) sequestration. Other research includes a) self-sufficient low C energy systems in rural environments, b) the origin, physical characterisation, and climatic significance of loessite, specifically associated with mass extinction events, c) modelling the effect of micro-scale granular features on rock physical characteristics, d) mineral-chemical stratigraphy.
Since 1992 I held the Chair in Production Geoscience (now Energy Geoscience). I am a former Director of MSc IPG and taught MSc IPG, OGEM & Oil & Gas Engineering, as well as level 1 and 4 UG courses. In 2015 I was awarded a Blaustein Professorship at Stanford University.
I was an elected Trustee of the Geological Society of London and served on various GSL committees. I served on senior committees in the AAPG and EAGE and I am an active member of the International Association of Sedimentology. I co-founded and was Chief Editor of Petroleum Geoscience (GSL/EAGE). As part of the Deepwater Horizon Trial between 2011 and 2014, I was engaged as an expert witness for the prosecution during which I was cross examined in court.
Sand Injection Research Group (SIRG)
Sand injectites - Regional development of natural hydraulic fractures in the shallow crust, and concomitant sand fluidisation and injection; their role in the evolution of sedimentary basins.
Loessite – Origin and provenance of loessite and its significance as extra-basinal fill and as an indicator of ancient atmospheric circulation patterns.
Green rural energy – Self-sustainable energy by repurposing domestic waste, integrating agricultural waste with energy crops, and reduction of transport.
Qualifications
- PhD Geology1981 - University of Reading
- BSc Hons Geology & Mineralogy1977 - University of Aberdeen
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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Throughout my career I assiduously avoided serving on University of Aberdeen committees.
- External Memberships
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I am member of the: Geological Society of London (C Geol), European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE), American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS), and Geoscience Energy Society of Great Britain.
Latest Publications
Investigation of coupled hydro-mechanical modelling of hydraulic fracture propagation and interaction with natural fractures
International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, vol. 169, 105418Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2023.105418
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Outcrop Characterization and Modelling of Sand Injection Complexes
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Provenance Variability in Coeval Slope Channel Systems: Hermod S2 Member Sandstone (Eocene), South Viking Graben (North Sea)
Geosciences (Switzerland), vol. 12, no. 12, 450Contributions to Journals: ArticlesPermeability heterogeneity of sandstone intrusion fluid-escape systems, Panoche Hills, California: Implications for sedimentary basins globally
Sedimentology, vol. 69, no. 6, pp. 2463–2485Contributions to Journals: ArticlesA giant sand injection complex: Processes and implications for basin evolution and subsurface fluid flow
American Journal of Science, vol. 322, no. 6, pp. 729-794Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.2475/06.2022.01
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Prizes and Awards
1993 William Smith Award (Geological Society of London)
2004 Wegener Medal (European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers)
2007 Distinguished Service Award (American Association of Petroleum Geologists)
2012 Grover E Murray Distinguished Educator Award (American Association of Petroleum Geologists)
2015 Blaustein Professor in Geology, Stanford University
- Research
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Research Areas
Funding and Grants
Since 1998 research on sand injectites became a huge part of my research activity. Chevron UK initiated the first 2-year project in 1998 that in 2000 became the Sand Injection Research Group (SIRG) consortium, which remains active today. Almost 40 energy companies have invested in SIRG consortia
- Publications
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Page 2 of 3 Results 51 to 100 of 109
The geometry and emplacement of conical sandstone intrusions
Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 30, no. 7, pp. 854-867Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2008.03.012
Sand injectites
Oilfield Review, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 34-49Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Regional-scale subsurface sand remobilization: geometry and architecture
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 165, no. 3, pp. 609-612Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/0016-76492007-096
Outcrop characterisation of turbidite reservoir analogues deformed by fluidisation - Implications for reservoir models
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Outcrop analogues for reservoir-scale conical intrusion
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Reservoir analogues of sand injectites - Internal heterogeneities and implications for reservoir modelling
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Seismic expression of turbidity-current and bottom-current processes on the Northern Mauritanian continental slope
Geological Society Special Publications , vol. 277, pp. 237-252Contributions to Specialist Publications: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.2007.277.01.14
Transition metal complexes and the B-to-Z DNA transition: Investigating the role of charge, hydrogen bonding and stereochemistry
51st Annual Meeting of the Biophysical-Society, pp. 411A-412AContributions to Journals: AbstractsSand Injectites: Implications for Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production
American Association of Petroleum Geologists. 274 pagesBooks and Reports: BooksGASLOG - Numerical modelling of wireline logs from borehole gas and drilling data
Contributions to Conferences: Papers- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Meso-scale heterogeneities in reservoir-scale sand injectite complexes
Contributions to Conferences: Papers- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Prediction of petrophysical characteristics from borehole gas and drilling data
Contributions to Conferences: Papers- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Extrusive sandstones (extrudites): a new class of stratigraphic trap?
Special Publication - Geological Society of London, vol. 254, pp. 289-300Contributions to Specialist Publications: ArticlesDeep-water clastic reservoirs: A leading global play in terms of reserve replacement and technological challenges
Geological Society, London, Petroleum Geology Conference series, pp. 1111-1120, 10 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/0061111
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Aqueous and petroleum fluid flow associated with sand injectites
Basin Research, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 241-257Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2117.2005.00262.x
Origin and timing of sand injection, petroleum migration, and diagenesis in Tertiary reservoirs, south Viking Graben, North Sea
AAPG Bulletin, vol. 89, no. 3, pp. 329-357Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSuccessful exploration of a large-scale sandstone injection complex, Block 24/9, Norwegian North Sea
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Kilometre-scale sandstone intrusions in the Eocene of the Outer Moray Firth (UK North Sea): migration paths, reservoirs and potential drilling hazards
Petroleum Geology: North-West Europe and Global Perspectives - Proceedings of the 6th Petroleum Geology Conference, pp. 1577-1594, 17 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersSand injectites: An emerging global play in deep-water clastic environments
Petroleum Geology Conference Proceedings, vol. 6, pp. 133-144Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/0060133
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Sedimentary architecture of a canyon-style fairway feeding a deep-water clastic system, the Miocene Cingoz Formation, southern Turkey: significance for reservoir characterisation and modelling
Sedimentary Geology, vol. 173, pp. 91-119Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2003.11.024
Sand injectites provide a global exploration opportunity
Offshore, vol. 64, no. 12, pp. 54-56Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Fluidisation and injection in the deep-water sandstones of the Eocene Alba Formation (UK North Sea)
Sedimentology, vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 503-529Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.2004.00634.x
The structural and diagenetic evolution of injected sandstones: examples from the Kimmeridgian of NE Scotland
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 160, no. 6, pp. 881-894Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/0016-764902-091
Characterisation of the physical properties of porous media using monochrome imaging
Contributions to Conferences: PapersFluid escape from reservoirs: implications from cold seeps, fractures and injected sands - Part II. The fluids involved
Journal of Geochemical Exploration, vol. 78-79, pp. 297-300Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0375-6742(03)00048-7
Down-channel variations in stratal patterns within a conglomeratic deepwater fan feeder system (Miocene, Adana Basin, Southern Turkey)
In: Confined Turbidite Systems (eds. Lomas, S.; Joseph, P.) Geological Society of London, pp. 241-260, 19 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersFluid escape from reservoirs: implications from cold seeps, fractures and injected sands - Part I. The fluid flow system
Journal of Geochemical Exploration, vol. 78-9, pp. 293-296Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0375-6742(03)00046-3
Fluidization structures in produced by upward injection of sand through a sealing lithology
In: Subsurface sediment mobilization (eds. Van Rensbergen,P.;Hillis,R.;Maltman,A. J.;Morley,C.K.), Geological Society Of London, London, pp. 123-137, 14 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.2003.216.01.09
Palaeo-carbonate seep structures above an oil reservoir, Gryphon Field, Tertiary, North Sea
Geo-Marine Letters, vol. 23, no. 3-4, pp. 323-339Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-003-0145-y
Sandstone intrusions: detection and significance for exploration and production
First Break, vol. 9, no. 21, pp. 15-24Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSignificance of large-scale sand injectites as long-term fluid conduits: evidence from seismic data
GeoFluids, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 263-274Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-8123.2003.00066.x
Injected and remobilized Eocene sandstones from the Alba Field, UKCS: core and wireline log characteristics
Petroleum Geoscience, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 99-107Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSynthetic well test modelling in a high net-to-gross outcrop system for turbidite reservoir description
Petroleum Geoscience, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 19-30Contributions to Journals: ArticlesGeneric relationships in the mineral-chemical stratigraphy of turbidite sandstones
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 158, no. 3, pp. 401-404Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs.158.3.401
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Generic relationships in the mineral-chemical stratigraphy of tubidite sandstones
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 158, no. 3, pp. 401-404Contributions to Journals: ArticlesHigh resolution marine geophysical data as proxies for prediction of reservoir quality and geometry in deep-water settings: analogue data from modern, high and low N:G settings and their application to the sub-surface.
Contributions to Conferences: AbstractsThe origin of consolidation laminae and dish structures in some deep-water sandstones
Journal of Sedimentary Research, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 136-143Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEquilibrium profile development in graded deep-water slopes: Eocene, Eastern Turkey
Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 157, pp. 943-955Contributions to Journals: ArticlesLower Cretaceous deep-water sandstone reservoirs of the UK Central North Sea
Petroleum Geoscience, vol. 6, pp. 231-240Contributions to Journals: ArticlesReservoir modelling sand-rich deep-water clastics: the necessity of down-scaling
Petroleum Geoscience, vol. 6, pp. 67-76Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSand body geometry in a sand-rich, deep-water clastic system, Miocene Cingoz Formation of southern Turkey
Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 17, pp. 239-252Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSuperb exposure of a channel, levee and overbank complex in an ancient deep-water slope environment
Sedimentary Geology, vol. 132, pp. 205-216Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSwanson's 30-40-30 rule
AAPG Bulletin, vol. 84, pp. 1883-1891Contributions to Journals: ArticlesVertical and lateral organization of a carbonate deep-water slope marginal to a submarine fan system, Miocene, southern Turkey
Sedimentology, vol. 47, pp. 801-824Contributions to Journals: ArticlesReconciling gravity and seismic data in the Faeroe-Shetland Basin, West of Shetland
Petroleum Geology Conference series, pp. 595-600, 6 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/0050595
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Reservoir Studies - Introduction and review
Petroleum Geology of Northwest Europe: Proceedings of the 5th Conference, 1175., 1 pageChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/0051175
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Textural and geochemical micro-analysis in the interpretation of clay mineral characteristics: lessons from sandstone hydrocarbon reservoirs
Clay Minerals, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 137-149Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1180/000985599545993
Sand-rich fairways in deep-water clastic reservoirs: Genetic units, capturing uncertainty, and, a new approach to reservoir modeling
AAPG Bulletin, vol. 83, pp. 1096-1118Contributions to Journals: ArticlesA history of events in the exploration for the Wytch Farm oilfield, southern England
Petroleum Geoscience, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 377-379Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo.4.4.377
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
One-man-operable probe permeameters
Geological Society Special Publication, vol. 122, pp. 11-18Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1997.122.01.02
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus