Darragh O'Connor

Darragh graduated in 2011 from Dalhousie University with a BSc having studied the Petrogenesis of nepheline syenites and phonolites from the lofdal intrusive complex, Kunene region, Namibia. in 2012 and 2013 Darragh was an intern with Imperial Oil in Calgary. In 2016 he completed his MSc at Dalhousie University and researched the Facies distribution, fluvial architecture, provenance, diagenesis, and reservoir quality of synrift successions from the breakup of Pangea: examples from the Fundy Basin and Orpheus Graben. From 2016-2019 Darragh was a Research Manager in the Basins studies department of Dalhousie University before joining us at NARG. Darragh's project will be fully funded by NARG and using data provided by TGS, BP and other NARG sponsors.

The extensive passive margin sedimentary fill has striking similarities across the Central Atlantic, but also notable differences. The study will focus on comparison and correlation of sedimentary mega sequences across the Central Atlantic conjugate margin, to refine our understanding of the stratigraphy and age relationships, with a focus on constraining the mechanisms that control the development of major unconformities. This will allow refined palaeogeography, facies trends and understanding of the evolution of the passive margins. The study will assess the interplay of climate, basinal and hinterland tectonics and global sea level.

The work will build on a new stratigraphic framework that has been developed in NW Africa (Morocco, Senegal) and compilation of extensive fission track data that has begun to develop a super regional tectonstraigraphc framework. The PhD will extend this correlation across to Trinidad/Cuba, East Coast of the USA and offshore Nova Scotia. The study will integrate data from existing wells (cuttings data and wireline log data), with sampling from outcrop studies, with new dating where required, and analysis of onshore / offshore of seismic and gravity / magnetic data to define stratal relationships.

The key questions: Are the major unconformities observed across the Central Atlantic synchronous? What are the main controls on development of these major unconformities? Are there fundamental differences the evolution of the NW Africa passive margin with its conjugate margin. How does the control of climate and basinal/hinterland tectonics influence the depositional mega sequences observed on the conjugate margins. What are the implications for understanding the prospectively of hydrocarbon systems along the margins.

The PhD is supervised by Prof Jonathan Redfern, Prof Giovanni Bertotti, (TuDelft) Dr Luc Bulot, Dr Stefan Schroeder, Prof. Mads Huuse.