Post-Doc (Sedimentology), Univ. of Reading

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THE UNIVERSITY OF READING

POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR SEDIMENTOLOGY



SEQUENCE EVALUATION OF THE KIMMERIDGE CLAY:  FROM CORED BOREHOLES AT THE
DORSET TYPE SECTION TO REGIONAL APPRAISAL (UKCS AND BEYOND)


INTRODUCTION
In October 1996 the NERC-funded project "Anatomy of a source rock:
environmental, climatic and stratigraphic signatures in the type Kimmeridge
Clay" began. This is a multi-institutional project involving the British
Geological Survey and researchers in earth science departments at the
universities of Oxford, Reading, Southampton, Newcastle, Luton and the
Open University. Its aims are to develop a high-resolution stratigraphy for
the Kimmeridgian Stage comparable to that already produced for the
Plio-Pleistocene. To these ends continuous core of the Kimmeridge Clay has
been obtained by drilling new wells close to the type section at
Kimmeridge, Dorset. The cores from these wells, and the very full suite of
newly obtained downhole logs, will provide the primary database for this
project.

AIMS
To investigate the sequence stratigraphic comparisons between the newly
cored wells (and the existing outcrop information) and Kimmeridgian
successions in adjacent areas onshore (Wessex-Weald Basins), the Channel
Basin, the North Sea  and Western Shelf areas.
To establish a sequence stratigraphic framework for the Kimmeridge Clay in
the British area and to correlate the cycles and sequences recognised in
the type area with successions in the more distant areas.
To evaluate the source rock facies in the Kimmeridge Clay in the context of
the stratal patterns recognised and both to calibrate and correlate the
sequences, and the cyclicity. In this context it will be particularly
important to integrate the organic geochemical results (generated by the
University of Newcastle) from the new wells with well-log information
derived both from the new wells and from wells in the offshore areas.

DELIVERABLES
This project will help to establish the sequence stratigraphic significance
of Kimmeridgian source rocks in particular, and of marine shale source
rocks in general, and help to define the cycle order within which
significant sands were delivered to basinal areas during Kimmeridgian times.

LIAISON AND INTERACTION WITH ENTERPRISE OIL PLC
The project will be supervised at Reading University (Postgraduate Research
Institute for Sedimentology) by Professor Bruce Sellwood and Dr Andrew
Parker and at Enterprise Oil by Mr Ron Daniel. The appointee with be
expected to spend approximately two months of each year working at
Enterprise using systems based on PC and LANDMARK workstations and to
interact closely with exploration and production teams there. Quarterly
reports of progress will be presented to Enterprise as the project proceeds.

STARTING DATE, REGISTRATION AND APPLICATIONS
It is hoped that the project will commence September 1997.
The appointee should have a good honours degree in Earth Sciences and  will
be registered for a higher degree by research.  Applications should be made
to Professor Bruce W. Sellwood at:

PRIS, The University of Reading, PO Box 227, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AB

Telephone:  0118 9318947      Fax:  0118 9310279       e-mail:
b.w.sellwood@reading.ac.uk




___________________________________________________________________

Dr. Norman MacLeod
Micropalaeontological Research
N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk (E-mail)

Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

Office Phone: 0171-938-9006
Dept. FAX: 0171-938-9277
E-mail: N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk
___________________________________________________________________