1. 2017 RCRL Prospective Research Directions
Carbonate Reservoir Characterization Research Laboratory (RCRL)
Bureau of Economic Geology
The University of Texas at Austin

2. Research Statement Overview
The RCRL group has unique expertise that addresses various research questions in carbonate shelf to basin systems and at scale of investigation from nanopores to basinal architecture
Research questions and exploration and exploitation tools are developed using both subsurface datasets and outcrop analogs. We emphasize quantifying what we observe so that our research is applicable and valuable in providing predictive relationships and conceptual tools for reservoir characterization
Our research-focus areas, themes, and topics have been developed out of our experience and feedback from our sponsorship
During our 30 years of existence, we have found that the most valuable research was developed from feedback and collaboration with our sponsor companies

3. RCRL Staff
Charles Kerans (PI)- Carbonates, sequence stratigraphy, carbonate reservoirs
Robert Loucks (PI) - Carbonate depositional systems, pore networks, karst
Xavier Janson – Carbonate stratigraphy, 3D seismic, geomodeling, geomechanics
Chris Zahm – Carbonates and fracture systems, fluid flow, geomechanics
F. Jerry Lucia – Carbonate reservoirs, petrophysics and rock fabrics
Josh Lambert – Digital Outcrop Technician
Stephaine Lane – Program Coordinator
Associated Staff
Steve Ruppel – Carbonate reservoir characterization
Gregory Frebourg – Sedimentology and biostratigraphy
Hongliu Zeng – Seismic imaging of carbonate systems
Donnie Brookes – Geomechanic Laboratory Technician
Carla Sanchez – Seismic interpretation
Evan Sivil – Geochemical laboratory

4. Interface Opportunities
Annual Review Meeting (held in 3Q in Austin)
1-day Premeeting Core Workshop
2-day Technical Presentations (live broadcast)
3-day Postmeeting Field Trip
Spring Training Week (conducted 2Q, location TBD)
Rotate between field workshop, targeted core workshop, or “a la carte” short courses.
Mentor Activities
RCRL sponsors office visits (domestic and international)
Sponsor visits to Austin
Hosting Visiting Scientists for collaboration*
Company-specific projects*
Targeted consulting on datasets or field trips*
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* costs in addition to the annual membership fee

5. 2017 RCRL Research Initiatives by Scale and Time
Paleozoic
Mesozoic
Cenozoic
Platform-to-Basin Systems
Tectonics and stratigraphy of Early Permian Basin, West Texas
Shelf to basin framework of the CBP to Midland Basin
Regional synthesis of Lower Cretaceous platform architecture
Laramide reactivation of Paleozoic inherited tectonics
Back arc Miocene platforms of Mut and Adana Basins
Seismic stratigraphy and morphology, NW Shelf Australia
Reservoir Architecture
Stratigraphic architecture of Wolfcampian syntectonic platform, Wylie Mtns.
Mixed siliciclastic-carbonate influx and differential compaction effect on reservoir facies, CBP to Midland Basin
Ramp crest to intrashelf facies of the Ft. Stockton embayment
Albian marine microbialite and associated rudist mounds
Fault related fracture zones in Albian-age outcrops
Carbonate geobody distribution of isolated platforms and deepwater deposits
Icehouse facies distributions, sediment accumulation, and diagenetic
Rock Properties
Acoustic and mechanical measurements of carbonate pores and matrix properties
Mechanical stratigraphy evolution of Icehouse strata: Penn. & Pleistocene
Reservoir properties digital database of GOM carbonates
Acoustic and mechanical characterization of carbonate properties
Rock-strength evolution of grainstones and reefal facies, San Salvador and TCI
Marine vs. meteoric cements and the impact on rock strength
Pore Network Characterization
Wolfbone, Wolfcamp, & Avalon pore networks
MicroCT and imaging of micropores of Wolfbone & Avalon
Pore types and networks of Albian microbialites
Diagenetic alteration of porosity in Miocene to Pleistocene grainstones

6. 2017 RCRL Research Topics
Platform-Scale Stratigraphy and Geomorphology
Miocene carbonate platform in the Mut and Adana Basins, south Turkey
Multiscale seismic stratigraphy and geomorphology of Tertiary of mixed-carbonate siliciclastic Northwest Shelf Australia.
Cretaceous regional architecture of Lower Cretaceous margins around GOM
Platform-to-basin architecture of Lower Permian in Delaware Basin
Shelf and basin stratigraphic frameworks of the Central Basin Platform and Midland Basin
Mesozoic tectonics and impact on Mesozoic and Paleozoic sections

7. 2017 RCRL Research Topics
Reservoir Architecture and Intra-Play Evolution
Carbonate geobody distribution in Tertiary isolated platform and deep-water deposits
Pleistocene frameworks as analogs for structurally modified carbonate cycle development
Ramp-crest to Intrashelf basin facies distribution and stratigraphic architecture Fort Stockton embayment (Central/West Texas)
Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Segovia microbial mounds and associated rudist mounds
Fracture network associated with fault-damage zones
Stratigraphic architecture of Lower Permian syntectonic platform margins in the Delaware Basin
Influence of siliciclastics influx and differential compaction on the distribution of stratigraphic trap and reservoir facies in the Permian strata of the Central Basin Platform through the Midland Basin, West Texas

8. 2017 RCRL Research Topics Pore Network Characterization
Micropore (tight carbonate reservoir) general synthesis
Reservoir Properties Digital Database of GOM carbonates
Micro-CT Scan and other ultrahigh-resolution imaging of micropores in carbonates
Pore network of Lower Permian (Wolfbone and Avalon) mixed slope to basinal deposits in the Delaware Basin
Structural and Geomechanical Characterization
Mechanical and acoustic characterization of pore-network and matrix structure in carbonate rocks
Modeling of natural, early formed fracture systems
Chemostratigraphic Analyses of Carbonate Systems
Chemolithostratigraphy of the Wolfbone and Avalon in the Delaware basin
Age constraints of modern facies, West Caicos

9. Funding
Participation in the RCRL Industrial Associates Program for 2017 is:
$55,000 per year for 2017 only, or
$50,000 per year for 2017 and 2018 with 2-year agreement
We encourage sponsors to commit to a 2-year agreement so that we can better plan a longer-range research program and reduce the time and effort in securing agreements.
Agreement is such that a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) would be signed agreeing to a 2-year commitment, and payment would be due at the beginning of each year.

10. Data Transfer RCRL Website: http://www.beg.utexas.edu/rcrl/index.php
13+ years database of
research results
RCRL Website:
Annual meeting presentations and video broadcast archive
Large database and geological synthesis
Google Fusion database of digital results (photos, redraft sections, gocad models, porosity and permeability data, thin sections photos) is available from the main website.
Carbonate reservoir-quality database based on core-plug porosity and permeability analyses
Approx. 10,000 values from the Jurassic and Cretaceous strata from the GOM.
Data searchable by geographic location, formation, lithology, depth, temperature, etc.
On-the-fly scattergrams for visual inspection
Selected data can be transferred to an Excel sheet for further statistical analysis
RCRL Student Theses

11. Participating 2016 RCRL Industrial Associate Sponsors

12. How to Participate in the RCRL Industrial Associates Program?
Contact Charles Kerans (co-Principal Investigator) or Robert Loucks (co-Principal Investigator) for more information on becoming or maintaining membership within the Carbonate RCRL program:
Dr. Charles Kerans, Professor and Senior Research Scientist
Robert Goldhammer Chair in Carbonate Geology
Department of Geological Sciences and Bureau of Economic Geology
Jackson School of Geosciences
Office: Or
Dr. Robert Loucks, Senior Research Scientist
Bureau of Economic Geology
Office: