Sedimentary Basins
We are concerned with the sedimentological and structural evolution of sedimentary basins, including their stratigraphic & depositional evolution, tectonics, diagenesis, palaeoenvironments and surface processes. This wide range of activities is centred around a multidisciplinary group of earth scientists who are committed to evaluating both fundamental geological processes involving sedimentary basins, and their application to understanding the nature, origin and occurrence of natural resources, especially petroleum.
To achieve this we are involved in surface and subsurface investigations worldwide, using a combination of traditional field-based methods and state-of-the-art technologies for geological and geochemical data acquisition, processing, analysis and three-dimensional visualisation.
Research Themes
Sedimentology and Sequence Stratigraphy
The basin-scale analysis of clastic depositional systems within contrasting tectonic and climatic settings through to the detailed evaluation of different types of petroleum reservoir, their heterogeneities and how these influence hydrocarbon distribution, fluid flow and recovery.
Glacial Processes
Large and rapid climatic changes have taken place during the Quaternary associated with the glacial and interglacial cycles. The evidence for these climatic changes primarily comes from Antarctic and Arctic ice cores, ocean sediments and the glacial record on land.
Structural Geology
Fault growth in both extensional and compressional basins has a major impact on both the structural and stratigraphic development of the basins they bound. The lateral and vertical propagation of faults is also associated with fault-related folds of various scales which also influence basin development.
Earth and Planetary Surface Processes
Interactions that take place through the surfaces of Earth and Mars, and in particular the coupled system of rock exhumation, weathering and erosion, landscape evolution, sediment transport and deposition in sedimentary basins, and submarine processes on continental shelves.
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