RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Research

Wellstrat Services Limited pursues an active research programme, in collaboration with a number of top British universities. This ensures that personnel keep fully up to date with, and are at the forefront of new developments within the industry. Projects include

  • Early Cretaceous palynology and palynofacies analysis of the UK
  • Late Cretaceous palynology and palynofacies analysis of the USA
  • Application of palynofacies
  • Late Cretaceous and Tertiary biostratigraphy and zonation of North Africa
  • Sequence stratigraphical modelling and correlation of Palaeozoic, Mesozoic and Tertiary sequences across North Africa
  • Wellstrat's personnel were involved in the development work of biosteering in sand dominated sequences and routinely offer this service at the wellsite
  • Potential of the use of biostratigraphical control in the exploration of the Tertiary of Uganda

Developing expertise

Wellstrat is always seeking to develop and update its database of knowledge and expertise. This is achieved through expansion into new geographical areas, developing and improving in-house knowledge, and pursuing an active research programme.

Sudan

Wellstrat is particularly active in Sudan. This is a frontier area for palynological studies, and considerable knowledge and experience has been gained from a multi-well correlation study of the Muglad Basin in Southwest Sudan. Sequences from Neocomian to Quaternary have been studied for palynology and palynofacies. A full understanding of the stratigraphical distribution of palynomorphs from this palynofloral province has been achieved. Projects Wellstrat's personnel have developed include:

  • Multi-well correlation study
  • Single well analysis
  • Hot-shot studies
  • Development of a photographic atlas of key palynomorphs
  • Integration of palynological data with wireline logs
  • Palynofacies analysis and subsequent palaeoenvironmental analysis
  • Training in sequence stratigraphical analysis of the Muglad Basin

Libya

Wellstrat's personnel and associates continue to be very active in Libya. We have developed unrivalled experience in the biostratigraphy of Palaeozoic to Tertiary sequences with particular emphasis on Cretaceous and Tertiary sections of the region.
Projects include:

  • Multi-well correlation studies from Palaeozoic to Neogene
  • Development of palynological, micropalaeontological and nannofossil biozonations of Cretaceous and Tertiary sequences
  • Palynofacies and microfacies analyses
  • Sequence stratigraphical modelling and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions
  • Development of a photographic atlas of key forms taxa from palynological, micropalaeontological and nannofossil disciplines

Publications

Wellstrat's personnel have been involved in academic and industrial research for many years. Some of the publications include: -

STEAD, D. T. AND AWAD, M. Z., 2003. Tertiary Palynology of Non-Marine Sediments, Muglad Basin, Sudan. AASP – BMS - NAMS, UCL, London, 2002 Paper. Palynology, 27,247.

KEEGAN, J. B., COLES, G., STARKIE, S., STEAD, D., SWIRE, P. AND THUSU, B., 2003. Integrated biozonation scheme for the Late Cretaceous to Tertiary of North Africa. AASP – BMS - NAMS UCL, London, 200l Poster. Palynology, 27, 260.

KEEGAN, J. B., 2000. The use of Palynofacies in characterization of clastic reservoirs. In: Thusu, B., et al. (eds.). First International Workshop on North African Micropalaeontology for Petroleum Exploration – Abstracts and Programme UCL, London. 48.

KEEGAN, J. B., 2000. The potential use of Reduviasporonites stoschianus in stratigraphical interpretation. In: Thusu, B., et al. (eds.). First International Workshop on North African Micropalaeontology for Petroleum Exploration – Abstracts and Programme UCL, London. 48.

SAWYER, M. AND KEEGAN, J. B., 1996. The use of palynofacies analysis in sand-dominated sequences, Brent Group, Ninian Field. Petroleum Geoscience, 2, 289-297

KEEGAN, J. B., RASUL, S. M. AND SHAHEEN, Y., 1990. Palynostratigraphy of the Lower Palaeozoic Cambrian to Silurian sediments of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 66, 167 – 180.

HIGGS, K. T., McPHILEMY, B., KEEGAN, J. B. AND CLAYTON, G., 1989. New data on Palynological boundaries within the Irish Dinantian. Rev. Paleobot. Palynol., 58, 61 – 68.

HIGGS, K., CLAYTON, G. AND KEEGAN, J. B., 1988. The stratigraphic and systematic palynology of the Tournaisian rocks of Ireland. Geol. Surv. Ire. Special paper 7.

CLAYTON, G., KEEGAN, J. B. AND SEVASTOPULO, G. D., 1982. Palynology and stratigraphy of Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous rocks, Ardmore, County Waterford, Ireland. Pollen et Spores, 24, 511 –521.

KEEGAN, J. B., 1981. Palynological correlation of the Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous in Central Ireland. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 34, 99 – 105.

KEEGAN, J. B. AND FEEHAN, J., 1981. Palynofloras from Tournaisian lacustrine and tidal sequences in Slieve Bloom, Counties Laois and Offaly, Ireland. J. Geol., 16, 271 – 285.

SEVASTOPULO, G. D. AND KEEGAN, J. B., 1980. A technique revealing the stereom microstructure of fossil crinoids. Palaeontology, 23, 749 – 756.

KEEGAN, J. B. AND PENNY, S. R., 1978. Lower Carboniferous miospore assemblages from the Portlaw Area, County Waterford, Ireland. Pollen et Spores, 20, 569 – 581.

CLAYTON, G., HIGGS, K., KEEGAN, J. B. AND SEVASTOPULO, G. D., 1978. Correlation of the palynological zonation of the Dinantian of the British Isles. Palinologia, 1, 137 – 147.

KEEGAN, J. B., 1977. Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous miospores from the Galley Head – Leap Harbour region of Southwest Ireland. Pollen et spores, 19, 545 – 573.

CLAYTON, G., HIGGS, K. T. AND KEEGAN, J. B., 1977. Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous occurrences of the miospore genus Emphanisporites McGregor in Southern Ireland. Pollen et Spores, 19, 415 – 425.

CLAYTON, G., COLTHURST, J. R. J., HIGGS, K., JONES, G. LL. AND KEEGAN, J. B., 1977. Tournaisian miospores and conodonts from County Kilkenny. Geol. Surv. Ire. Bull., 2, 99 – 106.