1. 2016 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 basin architecture
Research questions 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 the 28 years of existence, we have found that the most valuable research is 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
Harry Rowe – Geochemistry and chemostratigraphy
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 – Geomechanics Laboratory Technician

4. Interface Opportunities
Annual Review Meeting (held in 3Q in Austin)
1-day Pre-meeting Core Workshop
2-day Technical Presentations (live broadcast)
3-day Post-meeting 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. 2016 RCRL Research Topics – Part 1
Platform-Scale Stratigraphy and Geomorphology
Platform-to-basin architecture of Lower Permian
Morphometric Analysis of Slope Deposits
Cretaceous regional framing of Aptian ramps and Albian intrashelf basins
Reservoir Architecture and Intra-Play Evolution
Integrated stratigraphic and structural framework of Guadalupe Mountains
Seismic and stratigraphic architecture of Leonardian prograding margin and slope
Pleistocene strandplain grainstone depositional patterns, Turks and Caicos
Characterization/modeling studies, Clear Fork, Goldsmith Field, Grayburg CBP
Lower Cretaceous large-scale microbial mounds, Central Texas
Shelf interior mixed evaporite-carbonate-siliciclastic system of the Permian Seven Rivers
Pore Network Characterization
Origin and petrophysics of tight limestone and dolomite reservoirs
Micro-CT Scan and other ultrahigh-resolution imaging of micropores in carbonates
Dual-pore network research and NMR analysis

6. 2016 RCRL Research Topics – Part 2
Structural and Geomechanical Characterization
Geomechanical property evolution in carbonate systems
Effect of pore type on dynamic and static mechanical moduli
Modeling of natural, early-formed fracture systems
Influence of pre-existing fabrics on reservoir fractures, Maverick, Permian Basins
Rock properties and natural fractures within Dev. Grosmont and Miss. Madison
Refinement of handheld tools for geomechanical property characterization
Chemostratigraphic Analyses of Carbonate Systems
Chemolithostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Buda and Austin Chalk
Reservoir quality, isotope, and chemostratigraphy of OAE-1B
Research in carbonate chemofacies improved methods
Age constraints of modern facies, West Caicos

7. Funding
Participation in the RCRL Industrial Associates Program for 2016 is:
$55,000 per year for 2016 only, or
$50,000 per year for 2016 and 2017 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.

8. 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

9. Participating 2015 RCRL Industrial Associate Sponsors

10. How to Participate in the RCRL Industrial Associates Program?
Contact Charles Kerans (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: