Research
This page details our past and present work, as well as our plans for future work including advertised phd projects. As a large part of our work is done in the field, we also plan to present a pictorial overview of field trips we have undertaken in the near future. Our research comprises four main themes, and a future proposals section. Alternatively, click here for a full list of publications.
(Projects will be constantly added to their appropriate themes as they come on line, and projects may be found in more than one theme if their scope allows).
Submarine Slope Systems - Offshore North African Continental Margin
Our research here has focused on the Tunisian offshore, and more recently the Nile Delta. We currently have a PhD and Postdoc working on this area to characterise the evolution and quantification of offshore channel systems and mass transfer complexes, as part of a wider regional study off the offshore North African continental margin.
Dorthe Hansen, Vicky Catterall, Jonathan Redfern, Gianluca Badalini, Myron Thomas, Duncan Irving
Basin Evolution and Geochemical Modeling
Our research here takes 3 main paths; a focus on the Ghadames basin of Libya, Algeria and Tunisia, a regional Apatite Fission Track study to evaluate the evolution of the North Africa Sedimentary basins, and a North African source rock study. The use of basin modeling software and geochemistry has given insights in to reservoir quality in the context of maturation, migration, timing and the role of structures on sedimentation.
Ruth Underdown, Jonathan Redfern, Sebastian Luning, Stefan Lubeseder, Frank Lisker, Mustafa Karer, Henning Kocks, Ralph Burwood, Michael Cope
Reservoir Characterisation / Modeling (including digital outcrop and seismic)
One of the recent additions to NARG research has been the introduction of digital outcrop mapping, using the University of Manchester's LIDAR. This has allowed mapping in unprecedented detail, often of locations that are impossible to visit in person, and the ability to bring the outcrop back into the laboratory. We also use the latest seismic software, from Charisma and IESX to Petrel, and are shortly to get the use of a state of the art 3D immersive Geowall to aid in interpretation.
Jonathan Redfern, Nadine Mader, Ivan Fabuel Perez, Dave Hodgetts, Gregg Pyke, Pat Corbett, Andy Gardiner, Dorthe Møller Hansen, Mustafa Karer,
Regional Structural, Stratigraphic and Facies Studies
As well as field mapping and the use of core and well data in regional studies, we also have a programme to collect field GR data, and samples (both outcrop and subsurface) suitable for for Apatite fission track analysis. Our current work includes the building of a sequence stratigraphic framework for the Paleozoic throughout the whole of North Africa, a study of the facies and diagenetic effects in reservoir quality, and a study of source rock quality for the upper Cretaceous, Silurian and Devonian.
Jonathan Wood, Frank Lisker, Jonathan Redfern, Dorthe Hansen, Stefan Lubeseder, Ian Carr, Rob L. Gawthorpe, Christopher A.L. Jackson, Ian Sharp, Ali Sadek, Mustafa Embaya, Henning Kocks, Sebastian Luning, Simon Beavington-Penney
Digital outcrop analysis
The LiDAR (Light detection and ranging) is a state of the art laser imaging system which can build 3D georeferenced models of outcrop from distances of up to 800m. The LiDAR has been used extensively since its acquisition by the Basin research Group, to collect digital outcrop data for the purposes of reservoir modeling, collection of geostatistics and geoconservation. Analysis of the data is performed using VRGS (Virtual Reality Geological Studio), built inhouse by Dr Dave Hodgetts.
Jonathan Redfern, Dave Hodgetts, Ivan Fabuel Perez, Nadine Mader
Proposed future work
This section details future projects we are advertising. If you are interested in joining NARG keep watching this section for upcoming projects. We currently have no positions available within NARG, although we create new projects frequently.