Biography
Arif Hussain is a PhD researcher in the iCRAG hydrocarbons research spoke. He holds a bachelor degree in Petroleum Geology from university of Punjab, Pakistan. He obtained Erasmus Mundus Master in Clay science from university of Poitiers, France and Technical university of Crete, Greece. He worked with Total SA on Chlorite coated sandstones from North Sea and West coast of Africa. In 2016, he joined iCRAG under the supervision of Prof. Peter Haughton. His research deals with clay distribution and clay segregation mechanisms from pore to bed scale and link these to sediment gravity flow processes, reservoir quality and petrophysical character. The study will utilize both industry subsurface and behind-outcrop core datasets. General research interests includes Reservoir quality predictions, Clay mineralogy of fault materials, process sedimentology and sedimentary petrology.
Petroleum reservoirs often contain very tiny minerals known as “clays” that can prevent efficient extraction of oil and gas from these reservoirs. My research focusses on understanding distribution pattern of these minerals. I am also focussing on what factors controls their distribution and to extent they can impede fluid flow.
Project title: Controls on clay distribution at bed-level in deep-water sandstones; implications for permeability and hydrocarbon drainage
Technical description
Sediment gravity flow deposits form important hydrocarbon reservoirs in many basins, including potentially the Irish offshore. Emerging evidence suggests detrital clays in these flows can modify flow character and subsequent bed make-up forcing the deposition of sand and clay together as the flow decelerates. Variable clay distribution has important implications for reservoir quality in deep-water successions as documented in many producing North Sea and Gulf of Mexico fields, particularly close to distal and lateral pinch-outs. However determining the details of continuous clay distribution at bed-level and relating this to original flow processes poses significant challenges. This research project deals with understanding clay distribution and clay segregation mechanisms from pore to event bed scale and link these to sediment gravity flow processes, reservoir quality and petrophysical character. The research will utilize behind-outcrop core dataset and industry subsurface data.
Role
- Postgraduate Researcher
Institution
- UCD
Research Area
- Energy Security
Expertise
- Basin Evolution, Applied Mineralogy , Petrography, Hydrocarbons, Sedimentology
