Funded
PhD
Opportunities:
Characterisation of Early Cretaceous Depositional Systems along
the
Atlantic Passive Margin, Morocco
Supervisors: Prof Jonathan Redfern, Dr David Hodgetts and Dr Stefan Schroeder (North
Africa Research Group, University of Manchester)
Two fully funded PhD scholarships are available immediately. The research projects aim to
evaluate the evolution of the Moroccan Atlantic Passive Margin during the Early Cretaceous,
by characterizing the depositional systems onshore along the well - exposed coastal sections,
and analysis of subsurface data offshore. The research will improve understanding of the
depositional systems, developing robust facies models and assessing the provenance and
nature of clastic input into the basin. This will be integrated with linked studies examining
the basin evolution, with the implications for the petroleum systems and prediction of
reservoirs, source distribution, generation, migration and seal.
The research is funded by the North Africa Research Group (NARG), which is sponsored by
leading international oil companies. Student will be joining a large interdisciplinary and
multi - scale research project to be undertaken in collaboration with a number of leading
Universities, and supported by ONHYM, comprising up to 5 PhDs, 1MRes student, 1 PDRA
and academic staff from the University of Manchester and Tu Delft.
Candidates should have strong sedimentological background, together with good mapping
skills and an understanding of basin tectonics and modeling. Familiarity with interpretation
of subsurface data (well logs and seismic) would be an advantage. Excellent writing and
communication skills in English are important, and a knowledge of French is an advantage.
The research will involve extensive fieldwork onshore Morocco, along the Atlantic margin to
undertake detailed analysis of onshore outcrops to develop improved sedimentological
models and establish depositional facies distributions through time, provenance, diagenesis
and improved chronostratigraphy. This will be integrated with analysis of available offshore
subsurface data (seismic and well data) provided by sponsoring companies, to develop
models for the evolution of the Cretaceous system and control on sedimentation and basin
evolution.
The Basin Studies and Petroleum Geoscience Group at the University of Manchester is one
of the largest in the UK, with 15 academic staff and over 30 PhDs working on a range of
projects across the globe, most funded by leading oil companies. We have access to
unrivalled facilities, including Field GR, LiDAR, a new petrophysical laboratory for porosity
and permeability analysis, in - house thin section facility, CL, SEM etc. In addition we have a
world - leading computing workstation suite, with over 50 workstations and access to all
leading industry standard software, including the full range of Schlumberger software
(Petrel, PetroMod etc).
The field study will utilise differential global positioning system (DGPS), digital
photogrammetry (using multiple digital images to reconstruct three dimensional
information) in addition to LIDAR, and will be georeferenced using ArcInfo. Manchester
leads in the use of quantitative outcrop data collection, using our proprietary software -
VRGS
Applicants should apply online:
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/howtoapply/
For additional information lease contact Prof Jonathan Redfern
jonathan.redfern@manchester.ac.uk
Deadline for applications September 30th 2013
The University of Manchester values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
