Professor Gary Hampson

My current research is focussed in two related areas: (1) process-based stratigraphic analysis of depositional systems, and (2) modelling the impact of stratigraphy, facies architecture and heterogeneity on fluid flow.
 

Process-based stratigraphic analysis

Ancient sedimentary rocks preserve a fragmented and incomplete record (“stratigraphy”) of changes in sedimentary environments resulting from numerous external controls (e.g. variations in sea-level, climate, tectonic setting, oceanographic circulation) and internal behaviours (e.g. switching of delta lobes) operating at widely varying time-scales. Unravelling this record requires interrogation of stratigraphy via a range of different techniques and approaches. My research has focussed principally on shallow-marine and coastal depositional systems, and is grounded in rigorous description of outcrop and sub-surface geology. I also collaborate extensively with specialists in allied geoscientific fields (e.g. tectonics, palaeontology, seismic interpretation, numerical modelling) in order to develop new techniques and concepts for interpreting the stratigraphic record. This research area provides fundamental insights into how sediments are eroded, transported, deposited and preserved on the Earth’s surface.

Characterisation and modelling of fluid flow

Stratigraphy and associated distributions of sedimentary rocks with different physical properties play a major role in controlling fluid flow. A significant proportion of my work has used extensive and integrated subsurface data (e.g. rock cores, wireline logs, seismic data, well tests, fluid pressures, etc.) to interpret the sedimentology, stratigraphy and internal heterogeneity of reservoirs and storage units for hydrocarbons, CO₂ and other fluids. A critical part of this work involves selecting appropriate outcrop analogues for high-resolution stratigraphic analysis, and to use such analogues to guide subsurface correlation and interpretation of rock volumes that are very sparsely sampled by wells. The aim of this work is to construct geologically rigorous numerical reservoir models, which faithfully represent porosity, permeability and other rock property distributions. Subsequent numerical simulations enable predictions of fluid flow and fluid displacement behaviour, which control storage capacity and recovery. This research is cross-disciplinary and collaborative; my contribution is to: (1) identify appropriate geological concepts and outcrop analogues that provide rigorous constraints on numerical reservoir models, (2) to supervise the collection and analysis of field data from outcrop analogues for input to numerical reservoir models, and (3) to check that the resulting numerical models retain the integrity of the geological concepts and field datasets that they are intended to represent. This research area facilitates the efficient use of natural resources.

Previous PDRAs and PhD students

Daisy Pataki, PhD ("Geological constraints on surface-based models through development of Rapid Reservoir Modelling" 2015-2020) - now at Imperial College London

God'spower Onyenanu, PhD ("Characterisation and modelling of heterogeneity in thinly bedded, shallow-marine sandstone reservoirs" 2015-2019) - now at Data Consulting Group

Thomas Le Blévec, PhD ("Geostatistical facies modelling of cyclicity and rhythmicity in shallow-marine reservoirs" 2015-2018)

Christopher Dean, PhD ("Untangling the web of life: reconstructing spatial patterns in the palaeoenvironment, palaeoecology and taphonomy of the Western Interior Seaway" 2013-2018) - now at Natural History Museum

Yacine Debbabi, PhD ("Generic modelling of reservoir heterogeneity and its impact on flow" 2013-2017) - now at XR Trading

Marijn Van Cappelle, PhD ("Facies architecture of the fluvial to tidal transition of mixed-influence deltas" 2012-2017) - now at Fugro

Carl Jacquemyn, PDRA ("Development and application of novel modelling methods for carbonate reservoirs" 2013-2016) - now at Imperial College London

Yulia Melnikova, PDRA ("Surface-based geological modelling for reservoir simulation using unstructured adaptive meshing" 2015-2016) - now at Fugro

Yvette Flood, PhD ("Combined facies analysis and quantitative characterisation of fluvial stratigraphic architecture at outcrop and in subsurface well data" 2011-2015) - now at Future Academies

Benoit Massart, PhD ("Improved characterisation and modelling of heterolithic tidal sandstone reservoirs" 2009-2014) - now at Equinor

Nick Holgate, PhD ("Geological characterisation of shallow marine to deltaic sandstone reservoir targets: Krossfjord and Fensfjord formations, Troll Field, Norwegian North Sea" 2009-2014) - now at Shell UK

Aruna Mannie, PhD ("The rise and fall of diapirs during regional extension and its influence on the deposition of a net-transgressive coastal-plain-to-shallow-marine succession: Middle-to-Upper Jurassic, Norwegian Central Graben" 2011-2014) - now at Premier Oil

Gavin Graham, PhD ("Improved characterization and modelling of thinly-bedded, shallow-marine sandstone reservoirs" 2009-2013) - now at Total Geoscience Research Centre

Peter Fitch, PDRA ("Impact of stratigraphic, sedimentologic and diagenetic heterogeneity on fluid flow in carbonate reservoirs" 2010-2013) - now at University College London

Stefano Patruno, PhD ("Geological characterisation of sand-prone subaqeuous delta systems: a case study of the Upper Jurassic Sognefjord Formation (Troll Field, northern North Sea, offshore Norway) and global examples" 2009-2013) - now at University of Nicosia

Berit Legler, PDRA ("Improved characterisation and modelling of low permeability coastal and deltaic sandstone reservoirs" 2009-2011) - now at Wintershall

Andrew Mitchell, PhD ("Numerical modelling of tides and tsunamis in ancient epicontinental seas" 2006-2011)

Rachel Kieft, PhD ("Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of shallow-marine sediments in a syn-rift setting: Hugin Formation, South Viking Graben" 2006-2010) - now at Senex Energy

Peter Deveugle, PhD ("A comparative study of reservoir modelling techniques using high-resolution outcrop datasets" 2005-2009) - now at Neon-BLU Oil & Gas Consulting

Samantha Taggart, PhD ("Quantifying the impact of geological heterogeneity on hydrocarbon recovery in marginal aeolian reservoirs" 2005-2009) - now at OMV

Margaret Stewart, PhD ("3D seismic analysis of Pleistocene tunnel valleys in the Central North Sea" 2004-2009) - now at British Geological Survey

Oliver Jordan, PDRA ("A comparative study of transgressive sandstone reservoirs" 2006-2008) - now at Equinor

Martin Wells, PhD ("Tidal modelling of modern and ancient seas and oceans" 2004-2008) - now at BP

Karl Charvin, PhD ("Forward and inverse modelling of shallow-marine stratigraphy" 2004-2008) - now at Ithaca Energy

Alexander Kulpecz, PhD ("Controls on facies architecture in the Middle Jurassic Ravenscar Group, Yorkshire coast, UK" 2003-2008) - now at Pulsar Energy Capital

Kevin Choi, PhD ("Impact of heterogeneity on flow in fluvial-deltaic reservoirs: implications for the giant ACG Field, South Caspian Basin" 2003-2008) - now at Antonoil Integrated Field Management Services

Wendy Matthews, PhD ("Controls on sedimentary facies architecture in evolving salt basins" 2002-2008) - now at BP

Richard Sech, PhD ("Quantifying the impact of geological heterogeneity on gas recovery and water cresting, with application to the Columbus Basin gas fields, offshore Trindad " 2003-2007) - now at Shell

Jenny Morris, PhD ("Characterisation of an intensely bioturbated, shallow-marine reservoir: the Bridport Sands, Wessex Basin, UK " 2001-2005) - now at Chrysaor

Peter Sixsmith, PDRA ("Brent Group reservoir study: transgressive, shallow-marine Tarbert Formation, UK North Sea" 2000-2003; "Outcrop characterisation of a transgressive sandstone reservoir analogue: Hosta Sandstone, New Mexico, USA" 2003-2005) - now at Chevron Energy Technology Company