Petroleum GeoscienceSequence Stratigraphy and Biostratigraphy for Exploration
Correlating wells in layer cake fashion across a basin can join sands that were never connected and miss stratigraphic traps altogether. A chronostratigraphic framework, built from relative sea level cycles and dated with fossils, avoids that mistake. Delegates begin with accommodation, sediment supply and base level, then define systems tracts, sequence boundaries and maximum flooding surfaces on seismic, logs and core. Biostratigraphy follows: foraminifera, calcareous nannofossils and palynomorphs as tools for age dating, palaeoenvironment and real time zonation while drilling. The two disciplines are then combined to build correlation panels and to predict lowstand fans, incised valleys and pinch outs. Examples draw on West and East African margin settings. Delegates leave able to build a sequence framework, integrate fossil data and identify stratigraphic play opportunities.
Course objectives
- Explain how accommodation and sediment supply control stratal stacking
- Identify sequence boundaries, flooding surfaces and systems tracts on seismic and logs
- Interpret biostratigraphic zonations from foraminifera, nannofossils and palynology
- Apply fossil assemblages to palaeoenvironmental interpretation
- Build chronostratigraphic well correlation panels
- Predict the location of lowstand reservoirs and stratigraphic traps
- Use biostratigraphy to support casing and coring point decisions
Who should attend
- Exploration geologists
- Seismic interpreters working stratigraphic plays
- Biostratigraphers and palynologists
- Development geologists correlating reservoirs
- Basin analysts at national oil companies
Course outline
- 01Base level, accommodation and supply
- 02Sequence boundaries and systems tracts
- 03Seismic sequence stratigraphy
- 04Log and core sequence stratigraphy
- 05Micropalaeontology and nannofossils
- 06Palynology and palaeoenvironments
- 07Chronostratigraphic correlation
- 08Stratigraphic traps and play prediction
- 09Biostratigraphy while drilling
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 to 16 October 2026 | Online | Online | R8,500 per delegate | |
| 8 to 12 February 2027 | Pretoria, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | |
| 8 to 12 March 2027 | Kampala, Uganda | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate |
Sequence Stratigraphy and Biostratigraphy for Exploration
From R8,500