Sedimentology, geochemistry, and sequence stratigraphy of the Hawar Member
Dr. Thomas Steuber
Despite the long history of geoscience research in Abu Dhabi, the relevant stratigraphical models are in a continuous process of revision and improvement. There are still uncertainties with correlation of key units of the Lower Cretaceous sedimentary sequences, causing issues with exploration and production. The application of new geochemical and geochronological methods will result in data that are also important in order to understand formation and evolution of reservoir facies in the context of fundamental Earth system science.
Tectonic and chronostratigraphic study of Pre-Khuff clastic sequence
Dr. Andrea Ceriani
The project aims to integrate structural, sedimentologic, petrographic, and geochronologic studies of pre-Paleozoic clastic units, providing a broad picture of provenance and detrital distribution pattern of clastic sediments during post-Hercynian, pre-Khuff time. A detailed geochronologic study is expected to better define the age of the Paleozoic clastic formations in Abu Dhabi and facilitate correlation with equivalent units in the region. Such a comprehensive analyses will provide a foundation for future chemostratigraphic and reservoir characterization research.
Origin and evolution of microporosity in carbonate reservoirs
Dr. Sadoon Morad
This project focuses on developing improved predictive models for the stratigraphic and structural, pore architecture of carbonate reservoirs, aiming to explain local and regional patterns of macro- and microporosity, permeability, and saturation in productive reservoirs. The results will be a critical input for static and dynamic modeling of existing fields, as well as for exploration prospect risk analysis. Heterogeneities and compartmentalization in carbonate reservoirs are mainly related to depositional facies and subsequent diagenetic processes so that proper understanding of reservoir facies can only be accomplished beyond the field scale. The assumption that many of these critical diagenetic processes are caused by fluids that circulate on a regional scale during basin evolution is one concept to be tested.
The sediment record and geochemistry of climatic turnovers in the Jurassic and Cretaceous systems on the Arabian Plate
Dr. Dominik Hennhoefer
The Jurassic and Cretaceous systems are commonly associated with peak sea levels, high concentrations of greenhouse gases, and major climatic disturbances. This project aims to examine selected key intervals during this time from wells and outcrops in the UAE, to investigate the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental conditions through sedimentological descriptions and chemostratigraphic correlations of carbonate successions.
Upper Jurassic isotope stratigraphy in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Northern Germany
Dr. Alexander Petrovic (KAUST, Saudi Arabia), Dr. Dominik Hennhoefer (KU)
This joint project between KAUST (Saudi Arabia) and KU aims to contribute to the above project on the stratigraphy on the Arabian Plate in the Late Jurassic, by investigating coeval intervals in the region as well as from the northern Tethyan margin (Germany).
Geochemical analysis across the J/K boundary in NE Mexico
Dr. Dominik Hennhoefer (KU), Dr. Patrick Zell (LfD Hessen, Germany)
Late Jurassic–earliest Cretaceous (Kimmeridgian–earliest Berriasian) marine shelf sediments in northeastern Mexico reveal repeated climatic and biotic turnovers and further host major petroleum source rocks in the Gulf of Mexico. Detailed geochemical analysis across the Jurassic-Cretaceous (J/K) boundary aims to understand regional and global processes; based on chemostratigraphic correlation and repeated mollusk assemblage changes reflecting significant environmental fluctuations, including sea-level and marine redox conditions.
