1. 2018 RCRL Prospective Research Directions
Carbonate Reservoir Characterization Research Laboratory (RCRL)
Bureau of Economic Geology
The University of Texas at Austin

2. Research Statement Overview
The RCRL group has unique expertise that addresses various research questions in carbonate shelf to basin systems and at scale of investigation from nanopores to basinal architecture
Research questions and exploration and exploitation tools are developed using both subsurface datasets and outcrop analogs. We emphasize quantifying what we observe so that our research is applicable and valuable in providing predictive relationships and conceptual tools for reservoir characterization
Our research-focus areas, themes, and topics have been developed out of our experience and feedback from our sponsorship
During our 30 years of existence, we have found that the most valuable research was developed from feedback and collaboration with our sponsor companies

3. RCRL Staff
Charles Kerans (PI)- Carbonates, sequence stratigraphy, carbonate reservoirs
Robert Loucks (PI) - Carbonate depositional systems, pore networks, karst
Xavier Janson – Carbonate stratigraphy, 3D seismic, geomodeling, geomechanics
Chris Zahm – Carbonates and fracture systems, fluid flow, geomechanics
F. Jerry Lucia – Carbonate reservoirs, petrophysics and rock fabrics
Josh Lambert – Digital Outcrop Technician
Stephaine Lane – Research Program Coordinator
Associated Staff
Steve Ruppel – Carbonate reservoir characterization
Hongliu Zeng – Seismic imaging of carbonate systems
Donnie Brookes – Geomechanic Laboratory Technician
Evan Sivil – Geochemical laboratory

4. Interface Opportunities
Annual Review Meeting (held in 3Q in Austin)
1-day Pre-meeting Core Workshop
2-day Technical Presentations (live broadcast)
3-day Post-meeting Field Trip
Spring Training Week (conducted 2Q, location TBD)
Rotate between field workshop, targeted core workshop, or “a la carte” short courses.
Mentor Activities
RCRL sponsors office visits (domestic and international)
Sponsor visits to Austin
Hosting Visiting Scientists for collaboration*
Company-specific projects*
Targeted consulting on datasets or field trips*
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* costs in addition to the annual membership fee

5. 2018 RCRL Research Topics
Permian shelf‐to‐basin syntectonic to early post‐tectonic stratigraphy of the in the Delaware and Midland Basins
Stratigraphic Architecture of Wolfcampian to Guadalupian Platforms, Delaware Basin
Slope Stratal Architecture and Depositional Processes, Delaware and Midland Basins
Shelf‐to‐Basin Framework and Analogs of the Midland Basin and Central Basin Platform, Fasken Ranch area
3D Fault Framework within the Northern Midland and Delaware Basins and Implications for Early Permian Synorogenic Deformation and Deposition
Improved San Andres Flow‐Unit Development using Sedimentological Elements
Pore Network Characterization of Wolfbone, Wolfberry and Avalon
Mesozoic tectonics and impact on Mesozoic and Paleozoic sections

6. 2018 RCRL Research Topics
Gulf of Mexico Carbonate Reservoir Settings, Pore Systems, Fracture Character, and Margin Variability
Regional Synthesis of Lower Cretaceous Platform Architecture around the GOM
Ramp Crest to Intrashelf Basin Facies Distribution and Stratigraphic Architecture of the Fort Stockton Embayment, Maverick Basin
Documentation of Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Large‐Scale Microbial Mounds and Associated Rudist Mounds
Upper Cretaceous Buda and Austin Chalks Regional Study

7. 2018 RCRL Research Topics
Fractured Carbonate Reservoir Characterization in Outcrop
and Subsurface Analogs
Critical Stress State of Faults within the Permian Basin
Finite‐element numerical modeling of early formed fractures in carbonates
Laramide Tectonic Reactivation of Pre‐existing Paleozoic Structures and the Impact on Cretaceous Fault Systems
Fault‐Related Fractures in Carbonate Systems
3D Multibeam Imaging Along the Leeward Margin of the Caicos Platform

8. 2018 RCRL Research Topics
Cenozoic Carbonate Platforms Systems, High‐Resolution
Stratigraphy, and Structural Configuration of Shelf Margins
Miocene Carbonate Platform in the Mut and Adana Basins, south Turkey
Shelf to Basin Analysis of Tertiary Mixed‐Carbonate Siliciclastic Depositional Systems of Northwest Shelf, Australia
3D Multibeam Imaging Along the Leeward Margin of the Caicos Platform
Fundamental Overarching Research Projects within RCRL
Reservoir Properties Digital Database of GOM carbonates
Origin and Petrophysics of Tight Limestone and Dolomite Reservoirs
Carbonate Rock Mechanics and Acoustic Properties Research

9. Funding
Participation in the RCRL Industrial Associates Program for 2017 is:
$55,000 per year for 2017 only, or
$50,000 per year for 2017 and 2018 with 2-year agreement
We encourage sponsors to commit to a 2-year agreement so that we can better plan a longer-range research program and reduce the time and effort in securing agreements.
Agreement is such that a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) would be signed agreeing to a 2-year commitment, and payment would be due at the beginning of each year.

10. Data Transfer RCRL Website: http://www.beg.utexas.edu/rcrl/index.php
13+ years database of
research results
RCRL Website:
Annual meeting presentations and video broadcast archive
Large database and geological synthesis
Google Fusion database of digital results (photos, redraft sections, gocad models, porosity and permeability data, thin sections photos) is available from the main website.
Carbonate reservoir-quality database based on core-plug porosity and permeability analyses
Approx. 10,000 values from the Jurassic and Cretaceous strata from the GOM.
Data searchable by geographic location, formation, lithology, depth, temperature, etc.
On-the-fly scattergrams for visual inspection
Selected data can be transferred to an Excel sheet for further statistical analysis
RCRL Student Theses

11. Participating 2017 RCRL Industrial Associate Sponsors

12. How to Participate in the RCRL Industrial Associates Program?
Contact Charles Kerans (co-Principal Investigator) or Robert Loucks (co-Principal Investigator) for more information on becoming or maintaining membership within the Carbonate RCRL program:
Dr. Charles Kerans, Professor and Senior Research Scientist
Robert Goldhammer Chair in Carbonate Geology
Department of Geological Sciences and Bureau of Economic Geology
Jackson School of Geosciences
Office: Or
Dr. Robert Loucks, Senior Research Scientist
Bureau of Economic Geology
Office: