Research
Cratonic basin formation – Parnaíba basin of Brazil |
Lithospheric evolution through time and basins |
Hybrid reservoir systems of the UK |
Cratonic basins cover a significant proportion of the continental crust. They are characterized by their large size (>500kmsq) and sub-circular outlines, shallow marine and paralic sedimentation and long lived subsidence profiles. Unlike continental rifts, these basins do not appear to have their origin in continental stretching. There is, however, no consensus on how these basins form. Nor how they relate to the ‘Wilson Cycle’ in terms of their plate tectonic context.
To address this uncertainty, I am participating in a major research project on the Parnaíba basin of Brazil. Based around a 1400km deep crustal seismic reflection profile, an integrated basin analysis is being undertaken. This is a multinational collaborative project involving five Brazilian and three British Universities funded by BP Exploration. In addition to Parnaiba, examples of cratonic basins in Africa and N America are included in the research. |
The African continent has provided many insights into the evolution of continental crust from Precambrian tectonics to the active processes of plateau formation, rifting, and continental break up. This evolution is being further explored through the integration of new geophysical data and surface wave tomography, hi-resolution satellite imagery thermo chronometry and systems based geology and basin analysis.
My current projects include an enquiry into Copper basin exploration with the UKRI/NERC funded CuBES project. Passive seismic, subsidence analysis and PTt investigation will comprise the basic foundation of a sophisticated examination of the mineral pathways, proxies and controls of strata bound copper and cobalt mineralisation. Recent work on the African landscape has revealed a bi-modal deformation of todays erosion surface through convective uplift, rifting and associated flexural processes. These processes defining the major drainage basins and wetlands of Central Africa. |
The UK is undergoing an energy transition from coal to lower carbon sources of power generation. Natural Gas will play a significant role in this transition and the UK’s greatest potential for domestic gas lies in the Carboniferous rocks of northern England and the Southern North Sea. The results of legacy exploration in these areas indicate that, although much gas has been found, the reservoir rocks are tight and unconventional.
The focus of our research is the Mississippian and Lower Pennsylvanian section of the Northumberland, Stainmore and Southern North Sea basins, which are in part characterized by cyclical parasequences, known locally as Yoredale cycles. The cycles comprise limestones, carbonaceous shales and thick fluvial sandtone and siltsone sequences. The stratigraphic and tectonic history of these basins and their cyclical sedimentation is being examined through 2D and 3D seismic interpretation and basin modeling of source and reservoir potential. |