School of Geology and Geophysics 
Roger M. Slatt
Professor, Lew and Myra Ward Chair in Reservoir Characterization and Director, Institute of Reservoir Characterization, Sarkeys Energy Center
Ph.D., 1970, University of Alaska
M.S., 1967, University of Alaska
B.A., 1965, California State Univ. San Jose
A.A., 1961, San Francisco City College
Reservoir characaterization with emphasis on deepwater (turbidite) petroleum systems
Papers Available for Download (PDF format)
Significance of Shales and Mudrocks in Oil and Gas Exploration and Reservoir Development
Click here for figures for the above paper (Size-5mb)
About
Roger M. Slatt is currently the Gungoll Family Chair Professor in Petroleum Geology and Geophysics at University of Oklahoma. He was Director of the School of Geology and Geophysics and Eberly Family Chair Professor at University of Oklahoma from 2000-2006. He formerly was Head of the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at Colorado School of Mines (1992-2000) and Director of the Rocky Mountain Region Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (1995-2000).
After receiving his Ph.D. in 1970 from the University of Alaska, he taught geology for 8 years at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Arizona State University. He then spent 14 years in the petroleum industry with Cities Service Research, ARCO Research, and ARCO International Oil and Gas. Co. before joining Colorado School of Mines in 1992. He has published over 90 papers and abstracts, and has made numerous presentations on the subjects of petroleum geology, reservoir geology, seismic and sequence stratigraphy, shallow marine and turbidite depositional systems, geology of shale, glacial and Pleistocene-Quaternary geology, and geochemical exploration. He sits on various professional society committees, has organized technical conferences for American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), and teaches short courses for industry and AAPG on the "Introduction to the petroleum geology of deep-water (turbidite) depositional systems" and on "Principles of geologic reservoir characterization". He also offers a global, web-based course on Introduction to geologic reservoir characterization" to people from many different countries. He has taught his two courses in many places in the U.S., as well as in many countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, and England.
While employed in the international oil and gas industry, he had the opportunity, as Director of Reservoir Evaluation, to study numerous oil and gas fields and exploration prospects worldwide, and to make recommendations to senior management for international investment. Many of Dr. Slatt's publications have dealt with the subject of exploration for, and development of deepwater submarine fan (turbidite; basin floor fan) oil and gas reservoirs. He is considered an expert on deepwater submarine fan exploration and development, and has worked in both industry and as a consultant on many such reservoirs globally. At the present time, he is co-authoring a book titled: Introduction to the Petroleum Geology of Deepwater (Turbidite) Depositional Systems, to be published in 2005 by American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He is also completing a book titled Introduction to Geologic Reservoir Characterization, to be published through Elsevier in late 2004. Since 2002, he has taught a web-based course semi-annually for AAPG titled Introduction to Geologic Reservoir Characterization.
In 1996 he received the AAPG Distinguished Service Award. In 1999 he was the Esso Australia Distinguished Lecturer in Petroleum Geology. In 2001-2, he was an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer, giving a presentation titled "Outcrop/behind outcrop characterization of deepwater (turbidite) petroleum reservoir analogs: why and how". In 2002-3, he offered the same presentation as an SPE Distinguished Lecturer in 2003. In 2003, he was awarded with AAPG Honorary Membership. In 2006 he received the AAPG Grover Murray Distinguished Educator Award.
World Wide Web Course on Introduction to Reservoir Characterization
The course described below will be taught by Dr. Roger Slatt as an Online 3 credit course. Students will be provided with an access code and all 'lectures' and 'exercises' can be accessed on a 24hour/7day basis. Time limits will be placed on completion of each exercise, and there will be online discussion periods. There will also be an open time slot for local students to meet with Dr. Slatt for discussion and questions; this time slot will be announced at the start of the class.
The online method of teaching is relatively new in the geosciences. This course was taught online last year at OU for the first time. Students were generally satisfied with the course and this mode of teaching. Advantages included being able to read the lectcures at a students own time and pace, fewer distractions in course content than would be the case in a traditional course, and the ability to even do the work while a student travels. The main disadvantage was the reduced personal contact, though this was partially overcome by emails and a weekly, optional discussion session. Dr. Slatt was also satisfied with this mode of teaching because students did as well on assignments and exercises as they did during the 8 years he taught the course in a traditional classroom setting; this indicated that the important points of the course were comprehended via the online mode .
Course Description:
Principles and practice of characterizing petroleum reservoirs using geologic and engineering data, including well logs, sample descriptions, routine and special core analyses and well tests. Emphasis is placed on practical analysis of such data sets from a variety of clastic depositional environments. The compartmentalized nature of reservoirs will also be emphasized. Most modules have electronically-based exercises. Many exercises will be done by hand, without computer-assist (i.e. mapping, correlation, etc.). No sophisticated software will be used. The following is a list of the modules of the course:
- Introduction to reservoir characterization;
- Tools and techniques for characterizing static and dynamic properties of oil and gas reservoirs;
- Value of outcrops;
- Structure and structurally compartmentalized reservoirs;
- Stratigraphy and stratigraphically compartmentalized reservoirs;
- Basics of sequence stratigraphy;
- Incised valley fill reservoirs;
- Shoreface reservoirs;
- Deepwater clastic (turbidite) reservoirs;
- Geologic controls on reservoir quality (porosity and permeability);
- Diagenesis and diagenetically compartmentalized reservoirs;
- Simple volumetric calculations, and geologic controls on volumetrics;
- Petrophysical properties of reservoirs;
- Fractured reservoirs;
- Introduction to geological modeling.
Deep-Water (Turbidite) Research Studies at University of Oklahoma
It has become common knowledge that for the foreseeable future, a greater portion of the U.S. energy mix will come from natural gas. The University of Oklahoma, with its many energy-related programs, is in an excellent position to both educate the future energy workforce and provide research and technology to the mid-size and smaller companies that will conduct most of the domestic exploration for this vast resource. For the past several years, Roger Slatt has been conducting studies of deepwater (submarine fan) sandstone gas reservoirs using a combination of subsurface reservoir data and analog outcrops. The main emphasis has been on the Pennsylvanian Jackfork Group of Arkansas (currently gas is produced from the Jackfork in eastern Oklahoma) and the Cretaceous Lewis Shale of Wyoming.
Prior Research
Research to date has been heavily weighted toward graduate student education and research activities in order to not only provide scientific detail on the architecture of submarine fan reservoirs, but also to provide graduates who can conduct deepwater exploration and development studies with oil and gas companies upon their employment in the industry. To date, work in Arkansas has resulted in completion of one Ph.D. dissertation at Colorado School of Mines, Slatt's former employer. Work in Wyoming has resulted in completion of 7 M.S. theses with 1 more M.S. and 2 Ph.D. theses in progress at Colorado School of Mines. More recent activity at the University of Oklahoma is discussed below.
Oklahoma-Arkansas Studies
In Arkansas, studies are moving westward from Arkansas into eastern Oklahoma where there is a major, active gas play in the Lynn Mountain Syncline/Potato Hills area. Work is being focused more into the subsurface, utilizing the outcrop investigations previously completed in Arkansas to evaluate subsurface stratigraphy, architecture, and reservoir quality. Core studies are integral to subsurface evaluation, as conventional well log suites do not provide reliable information on facies and architecture (Slatt and Stone, 2001). In particular, based upon recent outcrop studies, a working hypothesis is that there is a sedimentary facies control on reservoir quality-sheet sand stones are highly cemented, brittle, and fractured (providing fracture porosity), while channel-fill sandstones exhibit significant matrix porosity, probably of secondary origin.
Tosan Omatsola is investigating this hypothesis as his M.S. thesis at OU. One particularly spectacular outcrop (Fig. 1) exhibits about 40ft. of unconsolidated sand sandwiched between sets of highly-cemented sandstones. If such unconsolidated zones exist in the subsurface, and can be recognized with subsurface data, they can provide significant drilling targets. Seth Busetti is investigating the relation between sedimentary facies and fracturing in these same rocks, as a M.S. thesis under the direction of Dr. Kevin Smart (see related article in this Earth Scientist). Prediction of the distribution of the two major deepwater facies types (sheet and channel-fill sandstones) can provide important insight into the geographic and stratigraphic occurrence of reservoir 'sweet spots'.
Two more M.S. students, Alison Garish and Gloria Romero, are beginning subsurface studies of the Jackfork in eastern Oklahoma. Alison is working with a complete suite of well data supplied by Ward Petroleum Co. (Myra Ward is an SG&G alumnus) along their trend north of the Windingstair Fault. She will be evaluating the stratigraphy of the Jackfork Group in this area, and the geologic controls on production. Gloria is evaluating well logs (including borehole image logs) and core provided by GHK Company in their Potato Hills trend. In particular, she will focus on identification of sedimentary features from dip and borehole image data. Both theses will benefit from cuttings samples provided by the Ardmore sample library, run by Bob Allen (also an SG&G alumnus).
Wyoming Studies
In Wyoming, there is a significant Lewis Shale gas play evolving in the Greater Green River Basin, including the area that has been the focus of the above-mentioned outcrop and subsurface studies at Colorado School of Mines. In this area, sedimentologic criteria have been recognized from outcrop studies to differentiate deepwater sheet from channel sandstones; these criteria have been identified on borehole image logs (Fig. 2). It is very important from an economic standpoint to be able to differentiate the two sandstone types because between the two, volumetrics will vary, as will optimum orientations for exploration, sidetrack, and infill wells in Lewis gas reservoirs (Fig. 3). In addition to providing information for gas exploration and development in this area, the outcrops provide excellent analogs for deepwater leveed-channel systems, which are important reservoirs in the deep/subsalt Gulf of Mexico, offshore west Africa, offshore Brazil, and other exploration areas. Field work is being added to the previous studies by Staffan VanDyke in order to develop a 3D geologic model of this unique depositional system; this work will form an M.S. thesis by Staffan. Also, Michelle Abraham is developing a neural net program to auto-pick bed boundaries and calculate bed thicknesses and trends using Lewis Shale borehole image log data as part of her Ph.D. dissertation.
It is hoped that the number of student studies in both of these areas will increase. For students seeking a career in the petroleum industry, experience in deepwater sedimentary and exploration environments is a real plus. Almost all company recruiters who interviewed students this past Fall indicated that 'new-hires' begin working 'deepwater' soon after employment. As well, we hope that the research provides useable information to companies drilling in both the Jackfork and Lewis Shale.
Selected Publications
Slatt, R.M., 1998, Forward: Compartmentalized reservoirs--The exception or the rule:, in, Slatt, R.M. (ed.), Compartmentalized reservoirs in Rocky Mountain Basins, Rocky Mtn. Assoc. Geol. p. v-vii.
Hoffman, K.S. and Slatt, R.M., 1998, Three-dimensional visualization of a structurally and stratigraphically complex reservoir can improve development strategy, in Slatt, R.M. (ed.), Compartmentalized reservoirs in Rocky Mountain Basins, Rocky Mtn. Assoc. Geol. p. 219-230.
VanKirk, C.W., Thompson, R.S., and Slatt, R.M., 1998, Reservoir simulation and economic analysis of the highly compartmentalized Hambert-Aristocrat field, Weld County, Colorado, in Slatt, R.M. (ed.), Compartmentalized reservoirs in Rocky Mountain Basins, Rocky Mtn. Assoc. Geol. p.231-250.
Slatt, R.M.(ed.), 1998, Compartmentalized reservoirs in Rocky Mountain basins, Rocky Mtn. Assoc. Geol. 1998 Symposium Vol., 250 p.
Slatt, R.M., Browne, G.N., Davis, R.J., Clemenceau, G.R., Colbert, J.R., Young, R.A., Anxionna, N., and Spang, R.J., 1998, Outcrop-behind outcrop characterization of thin bedded turbidites for improved understanding of analog reservoirs: New Zealand and Gulf of Mexico, Soc. Pet. Engn. Ann. Mtg., New Orleans, Pap. 5PE49563, p. 845-853.
Slatt, R.M., Al-Siyabi, N., Vankirk, C.K., Williams, R.W., 1998, From geological characterization to reservoir simulation of a turbidite outcrop. Arkansas, U.S.A., EAGG/AAPG Third Research Symp., Developing and managing turbidite reservoirs.
Slatt, R.M., 1998, Why outcrop characterization for reservoir studies, keynote address, EAGE/AAPG Third Research Symp., Developing and managing turbidite reservoirs.
Slatt, R.M, and Weimer, P., 1999, Turbidite, McGraw-Hill 2000 Yearbook of Science and Technology, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Weimer, P. and Slatt, R.M., 1999, Petroleum geology of turbidite depositional systems: Part I, Seismic scale characteristics, The Leading Edge, April, p. 454-463.
Slatt R.M. and Weimer, P., 1999, Petroleum geology of turbidite depositional systems: Part II, Sub-seismic scale reservoir characteristics, The Leading Edge, May, p. 562-567.
Slatt, R.M., Hurley, N.F., Witton, E.M., Clemenceau, G.R., Homann, H., Davis, R.J. and Browne, G.H., 1999, Behind-outcrop borehole imaging for improved characterization of turbidite reservoirs, 19th Ann. GCSSEPM Found. Res. Conf., Dec., 1999, Houston
Young, R.A., B.E. Peterson, and R.M. Slatt, 1999, 30D ground penetrating radar imaging of turbidite outcrop analogs, , 19th Ann. GCSSEPM Found. Res. Conf., Dec., 1999, Houston
Pyles, D.R. and Slatt, R.M,1999, An Outcrop-Based Sequence Stratigraphic Framework for the Upper Cretaceous Lewis Shale and Fox Hills Sandstone, South-Central Wyoming, Rocky Mtn. Sec. Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Ann. Mtg., Bozeman, Mt.
Witton, E.M., Slatt, R.M., Hurley, N.F., Ward, W.B., Murphy, W., Orrange, J., Reischer, A., and Homann, H., 1999, Confined, unconfined, and thin-bedded turbidites and sandy debris flows, Lewis Shale, Wyoming, AAPG Intl. Conference, Birmingham, Engl.
Browne, G.H., R.M. Slatt and P.R. King,, 2000, Outcrop and behind-outcrop characterization of a Late Miocene slope fan (channel-levee complex), Mt. Messenger Formation, New Zealand, in Bouma, A.H., C. Stelting, and C.G. Stone (eds.), Fine-grained turbidite systems, , Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem. 72/Soc. Sediment. Geology Spec. Publ. 68, p. 143-152.
Slatt, R.M., H.A. Al-Siyabi, C.W. VanKirk, and R.W. Williams, 2000, From geologic reservoir characterization to 'reservoir simulation' of a turbidite outcrop, Arkansas, U.S.A., in Bouma, A.H., C. Stelting, and C.G. Stone (eds.), Fine-grained turbidite systems, Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem. 72/Soc. Sediment. Geology Spec. Publ. 68, p. 187-194.
Slatt, R.M., 2000, Why outcrop characterization of turbidite systems?, in Bouma, A.H., C. Stelting, and C.G. Stone (eds.), Fine-grained turbidite systems, Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem. 72/Soc. Sediment. Geology Spec. Publ. 68, p. 181-186.
Slatt, R.M., C.G. Stone, and P. Weimer, 2000, Characterization of slope and basin facies tracts, Jackfork Group, Arkansas, with applications to deepwater (turbidite) reservoir management, in Weimer, P., Slatt, R.M., Coleman, J. L. Jr. and., Bouma, A.H (eds.) Deep-water reservoirs of the world, Gulf Coast Sect. Soc. Econ. Paleon. & Mineral. Found. 20th Ann. B.F. Perkins Resarch Conference, p. 940-980.
Coleman, J. L. Jr., G.H. Browne, P.R. King, R. M. Slatt, R.J. Spang, E.T. Williams, and G.R. Clemenceau, 2000, The interrelationships of scales of heterogeneity in sub-surface deep water E&P projects---Lessons learned from the Mount Messenger Formation, (Miocene), Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, in Weimer, P., Slatt, R.M., Coleman, J. L. Jr. and., Bouma, A.H (eds.) Deep-water reservoirs of the world, Gulf Coast Sect. Soc. Econ. Paleon. & Mineral. Found. 20th Ann. B.F. Perkins Resarch Conference, p. 263-279.
Pyles, D.R. and R.M. Slatt, 2000, A high frequency sequence stratigraphic framework for the shallow through deep-water deposits of the Lewis Shale-Fox Hills Sandstone, Great Divide and Washakie Basins, Wyoming, in in Weimer, P., Slatt, R.M., Coleman, J. L. Jr. and., Bouma, A.H (eds.) Deep-water reservoirs of the world, Gulf Coast Sect. Soc. Econ. Paleon. & Mineral. Found. 20th Ann. B.F. Perkins Resarch Conference, p. 836-857.
Goolsby, S.M., R.M. Slatt, and N.F. Hurley, 2001, Core and boehole image log characterization of turbidite sandstones in the Lewis Shale, Green River Basin, Wyoming, Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Ann. Mtg.
Slatt, R.M. and P. Weimer, 2001, Styles of compartmentalization of deepwater (turbidite) reservoirs and associated performance issues, Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol. Ann. Conv. (by invitation).
Slatt, R.M., D.R. Pyles, C. Bracklein, R. Young, and J. Staggs, 2001, Architecture of a sinuous submarine channel complex, Lewis Shale, southern Wyoming, Geol. Soc. Amer. Ann. Mtg.
Weimer, P. and R.M. Slatt, 2001, A global overview of deepwater systems, presented at international conference on Petroleum Geology of Deepwater Depositional Systems, The Geol. Soc. London (by invitation).
Young, R.A., J.G. Staggs, R.M. Slatt, and N.F. Hurley, 2001, Turbidite outcrop 3-D ground penetrating radar imaging: Lewis Shale, Wyoming, Soc. Explor. Geophy. Ann. Mtg.
Slatt, R.M. and C.G. Stone, 2001, Deepwater (turbidite) sandstone elements of the Jackfork Group in Arkansas: Applications to exploration and development in eastern Oklahoma, Shale Shaker, v. 51, No. 6, p. 93-101.
Slatt, R.M., R.A. Young, and J.G. Staggs, 2002, Applications of ground-penetrating radar to turbidite
outcrops, invited paper, Conference in Parma, Italy on New Concepts in Turbidite Geology. 5/02. (Paper submitted to Mar. & Petrol. Geol. on same subject with R. Young as senior author).
Slatt, R.M. and D. R. Pyles, Field Guidebook to the Lewis Shale-Fox Hills Sandstone depositional system, eastern Greater Green River Basin, Wyoming (prepared for field trip: 9/5-9/8)
Pyles, D.R. and R. M. Slatt, 2002, Sratigraphic response to tectonic forcing in the Cretaceous western interior seaway, Lewis Shale and Fox Hills Sandstone, Wyoming, Rocky Mtn. Sec., Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Meeting, Laramie, Wyoming NOTE: THIS PAPER WAS AWARDED A.I. LEVORSEN AWARD FOR BEST ORAL PRESENTATION AT THE MEETING
Slatt, R.M., D.R. Pyles, C. Bracklein, R. Young, and J. Staggs, 2002, Sub-seismic scale architecture of a sinuous submarine channel complex, Lewis Shale, Southern Wyoming, AAPG Ann. Conv. Houston,Abs.
Slatt, R.M., Pyles,D.R., Bracklein, C.,Young, R.,Staggs, J., 2002, Architecture of a sinuous submarine channel complex, Lewis shale, southern Wyoming, Annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Denver, October 26-30.
Slatt, R.M., N.F. Hurley, and D.R. Pyles, 2002, Lewis Shale (Wyoming and Colorado), Exploration and Production Issues related to stratigraphy, Rocky Mtn. Sec., Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Meeting, Laramie, Wyoming
Browne, G. H. and R.M. Slatt, 2002. Outcrop and behind-outcrop characterization of a late Miocene slope fan system, Mt. Messenger Formation, New Zealand: AAPG Bulletin v. 86, p. 841-862.
Slatt, R.M., 2003. Importance of shales and mudrocks in oil and gas exploration and reservoir development, in Scott, E.D., A. H. Bouma, and W.R. Bryant (eds.), Siltstones, mudstones and shales: depositional processes and characteristics, SEPM/GCAGS Spec. Publ., SEPM, May, p. 1-22.
Young, R.A., R.M. Slatt, and J.G. Staggs, 2003, Application of ground penetrating radar imaging to deepwater (turbidite) outcrops, Mar. and Petrol. Geol., v. 20, p. 809-821.
VanDyke, S., R. Slatt, J. Staggs, R. Young, and A. Witten, 2003, Fine-scale architecture of a deepwater channel complex, AAPG Annual. Conv. Salt Lake City, Abs., p. A175.
Staggs, J.G., R.A. Young, and R.M. Slatt, 2003, Identifying a sinuous deepwater channel in outcrop using GPR imaging, SEG Annual Mtg., Dallas, Abs., p. 1158-1161.
Staggs, J.G., R.A. Young, and R.M. Slatt, 2003, Ground-penetrating radar facies characterization of deepwater turbidite outcrops, in: Young R.M. and Jol (eds.), Ground-penetrating radar in unconsolidated and consolidated sediments, The Leading Edge, v. 22, p. 888-891.
Slatt, R.M., Outcrop/behind outcrop characterization of deepwater (turbidite) petroleum reservoir analogs: why and how, 2003 (Keynote address: SPE and AAPG Distinguished Lecture presentation), Pacific Section AAPG/Western Region SPE joint convention, May, p. 89.
Ragas, A. R.M. Slatt, and D.W. Jordan, 2003, Characterization and fracture potential of the Viola Limestone, I-35 Roadcut, Carter County, Oklahoma, AAPG Mid-Continental Ann. Conv., Abs.
Romero, G. and R.M. Slatt, 2003, Stratigraphy and composition of turbidite deposits, Jackfork Group, eastern Oklahoma, AAPG Mid-Continental Ann. Conv., Abs.
Busetti, S., Smart, K.J., and Slatt, R.M. (2003) Fracture characterization of the Pennsylvanian Jackfork Group, Ouachita Mountains, southeastern Oklahoma. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 35(6), p. 641. Invited presentation for Theme Session on Structure and Stratigraphy: New Perspectives on Lithotectonic Processes.
Omatsola, T. O. and R. M. Slatt.2003, Origin and Distribution of Friable and Cemented Sandstones in Outcrops of the Pennsylvanian Jackfork Group, Southeast Oklahoma, AAPG Mid-Continental Ann. Conv., Abs.
Garich, A. and R.M. Slatt, 2003, Identification and characterization of friable and cemented sandstones in southeastern Oklahoma, AAPG Mid-Continental Ann. Conv., Abs.
Slatt, R.M. and S. Mark, 2004, Geologic knowledge key to reservoir characterization, The Amer. Oil and Gas Reporter, p. 111-113
Weimer, P. and R.M. Slatt, in press., Introduction to the petroleum geology of deepwater (turbidite) depositional systems, SEG Distinguished Lecture Tour Book.
Minken, J., R.M. Slatt, and H. Posamentier in press., Erosional remnants in deep-water channel systems: outcrop and subsurface characterization, AAPG Ann. Conv., Dallas
Stepler, R.P., A.J. Witten, and R.M. Slatt, in press, Three dimensional imaging of a deep marine channel-levee/overbank sandstone behind outcrop with electromagnetic induction and ground penetrating radar, The Leading Edge.
Weimer, P. and R.M. Slatt, in prep., Introduction to the petroleum geology of deepwater (turbidite) depositional systems, AAPG (CD book).
Slatt, R.M., in prep, Introduction to petroleum geologic reservoir characterization, Elsevier Publ. Co. (book)