Petroleum Geology at UNL

STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY 

Structural Geology & Tectonics
Cara Burberry looks at the tectonic development and petroleum potential of fold belts and foreland basins worldwide, using remote sensing, analog modeling, fieldwork and seismic interpretation.  Other areas of interest include the construction of balanced cross-sections through deformed regions and the prediction of fracture networks in reservoir units.  Current research focuses on understanding the effect of early or basement faulting on subsequent deformational events within a foreland basin system.

SEDIMENTARY SYSTEMS

Clastic Sedimentology & Stratigraphy
Chris Fielding and his students examine stratigraphic stacking patterns in modern and ancient glacial, fluvial, coastal plain and shallow marine successions in order to improve understanding of subsurface reservoir geometry and flow properties, and other petroleum system characteristics. The Fielding lab is currently undertaking field-based studies in Wyoming, Utah, Nebraska, Atlantic Canada, eastern Australia, and Antarctica.

Carbonate sedimentology, geochemistry, and diagenesis
Tracy Frank and her students examine the sedimentology, petrography, and isotope geochemistry of marine carbonates to examine past changes in climate, the oceans, and depositional environments. Projects combine field and laboratory work. The Frank lab is currently undertaking field-based studies in the central and southwest USA, Australia, and Antarctica. These efforts are complemented by studies of drillcores obtained by he Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, ANDRILL, and petroleum companies

MICROPALEONTOLOGY

Calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy
David Watkins and his students use calcareous nannofossils (coccoliths) from marine sediments to examine questions of evolution, biostratigraphy, and paleoceanography during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The Watkins Lab has on-going work on quantitative biostratigraphy of Cenozoic sequences in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pyrenees, and the Upper Cretaceous of the Western Interior Basin (USA), as well as Late Cretaceous paleoceanography from the Atlantic.

GEOPHYSICS

Irina Filina and her students utilize the integrative approach in geophysical data analysis. They seek the answer (i.e. geological model of the subsurface) that fits all available geophysical data while remaining geologically valid. Data include seismic, gravity and magnetics along with other available constraints such as surface geology, well logs or tectonic restorations. The Filina Lab has ongoing research focused on tectonic studey of the Gulf of Mexico and geophysical studies in Nebraska.

SPECIALTY PROGRAMS

GRADUATE COURSES