The course introduces participants to modern carbonate environments and explains how the constituents of carbonate sediments become lithified and altered after deposition to form potential reservoir rocks. Carbonate sediments, particularly those from the Arabian/Persian Gulf and the Caribbean, are examined in detail. Large-scale carbonate architectures are discussed and illustrated from a sequence stratigraphic perspective, with seismic-scale examples demonstrated using outcrop analogues. Numerous examples of ancient carbonates and associated evaporites from a wide range of depositional settings are also presented.

Petrophysical approaches to reservoir characterization are illustrated, with an emphasis on fracture modelling, fluid saturation modelling, and hydraulic flow units. Participants will be introduced to various rock-typing methods and will discuss the data requirements for each approach, as well as their applicability to different reservoir types. A broad selection of carbonate oil and gas plays and fields from around the world is also examined.