Full Title: Using Basic Sandstone Petrology Concepts and Petrography Data to Understand the Resource and Storage Potential of Porous and Permeable Formations
Endorsed by: GSA's Environmental and Engineering Geology Division
Industry tracks: Energy, Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology
Led by: David Awwiller, Suzanne Kairo
Date: Sat. 18 Oct. 2025
Time: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Format: In-Person
CEUs: 0.8
This course aims to raise awareness that sedimentary petrology and petrography have value in interpreting, assessing and predicting the resource and storage potential of porous and permeable sandstones. For decades, sandstone petrology concepts, analyses and data have been used to address questions regarding reservoir provenance, storage, and transmissibility, providing perspective other data (e.g. seismic, well log, core analysis) only indirectly provide, but recently the approach has become underutilized. Furthermore, there is a concerning deficit in the number of young geoscientists trained in and capable of characterizing sandstones at the scale of grains and pores. This course targets these issues. Basic sandstone petrology concepts of provenance, transport, deposition, compaction, and diagenesis will be presented in the context of how they control or influence lithology and reservoir properties. An emphasis on petrographic analysis of mineralogy, texture, paragenesis, and pore systems provides perspective on how rock framework and pore systems control rock properties and complement interpretation and calibration of core analyses, petrophysical logs and seismic data. Techniques to identify and quantify characteristics will be introduced and practiced. Examples combining techniques and data sets enforce benefits of integrated interpretation. Appropriate for advanced students with a working knowledge of sedimentary geology. Petrography skills not required.
By purchasing this item, you are buying a seat for an in-person course.
Short courses offer continuing education units (CEUs). One CEU equals 10 hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.
Learn more about this and other GSA Connects 2025 events.
For additional information, please contact Rebecca Taormina, rtaormina@geosociety.org, GSA Field Trip and Short Program Coordinator.
Product Code: SC25CN528
Product Category: SHORTC