Sequence Stratigraphy of Siliciclastic Systems - The ExxonMobil Methodology

SEPM Concepts in Sedimentology and Paleontology (CSP) Series 9. The stratigraphic concept of a depositional sequence was introduced to the scientific literature by Exxon Production Research Company (EPRco) in the late 70s, building on the shoulders of giants like Chamberlain, Sloss and Wheeler. Since then, several papers compared and contrasted the original Exxon (and later, ExxonMobil) sequence/stratigraphic school with other approaches to subdivide the geologic record, as well as, debating the ExxonMobil model validity and impact on the community. At its core, the ExxonMobil geomodel is really a stratigraphic interpretation method, which was never explicitly documented in the literature. The objective of this book is to present the ExxonMobil sequence stratigraphic method in its current form in an attempt to clarify its usage and application in diverse geologic data and depositional environments. This publication is the result of more than 3 decades of Sequence Stratigraphy research and application at EPRco and at the ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company (URC). The objective is to emphasize the most important aspects of Sequence Stratigraphy . a method to guide geologic interpretation of stratigraphic data (seismic profiles, well logs, cores and outcrops) across scales (from local to regional and global) and depositional environments (from continental to deep marine).