Soft-Sediment Deformation and Fluid Escape Features on Upturned Salt-Related Diapir Flanks

Geo Logica in collaboration with clastic sedimentation expert Deise Silveira from the Basin Analysis Research Lab (LABAP) at Federal University of Paraná (Brazil) is studying soft-sediment deformation and fluid escape features on the flanks of the Santa Cruz Diapir (Portugal).

Halokinesis is a process known to promote localised deformation of the sedimentary overburden deposited over and adjacent to salt structures (e.g., pillows, walls, diapirs).

In clastic settings where sediment consolidation rates are typically slow, bedding rotation induced by rapid diapir rise often involves soft-sediment deformation (SSD) and sediment rearrangement during flap development. Consequently, features such as slumps and deformation bands (e.g., granulation seams) are commonly observed, with increasing frequency near the salt diapir.

On the western flank of the Santa Cruz Diapir in the Lusitanian Basin (Portugal), Kimmeridgian-age deltaic fan units exhibit a steep upturned flap geometry. Along this flank, in addition to granulation seams and slumps, several SSD and fluid escape features, such as mega-scale convoluted bedding, and certain sand injectites cut through and intrude the sedimentary sequence. These structures are unevenly distributed along the flank.

Detailed sedimentological and structural fieldwork, complemented by UVA and LiDAR imagery interpretation, is being carried out on the western flank of the Santa Cruz Diapir to investigate the distribution and interrelationship of these structures and understand their origin and triggering mechanisms.

The fluid escape features can alter the permeability and connectivity of the reservoir, influence fluid migration, and affect the understanding of hydrocarbon distribution and storage, while playing a significant role in influencing stratigraphic and structural traps. The findings of this study highlight the importance of investigating and analysing these structures to improve the prediction of reservoir performance and hydrocarbon recovery strategies when modelling reservoirs and seals adjacent to salt diapirs.

These and other features associated with halokinesis are explained in our salt tectonics training course that will take place in October 2025. For more info about this course please visit our GeoTraining page: https://www.geologica.xyz/salt-tig-geo-logica-field-trip-i2

Fourth Edition of the Geo Logica Salt Basins Field Trip

Another successful Geo Logica Salt Basins Field Trip took place last week, between Algarve and Lusitanian Basins in Portugal.

The world-class exposures at mines, quarries and coastal outcrops visited allowed participants to consolidate their knowledge of salt deposition processes and tectonic principles and understand its implications on their daily work activities.

At the outcrops we observed how hydrocarbons can be generated and accumulated in and around salt structures, and discuss potential drilling issues and geohazard prediction while working with these structures for energy production and storage.

Many thanks to PETROBRAS PETROLEO BRASILEIRO SA and the Staatstoezicht op de Mijnen (SodM) for the ideas shared during the fourth edition of this comprehensive field-based training course. Special thanks to Ian Davison for joining us again in the field and for helping making this course a world reference in salt tectonics training.

Stay tuned to our media and website for future training courses and activities, or just contact us to tailor-suite a field-based training course for your team.

Related Link: Geo Logica Salt Basins Field Trip

Geo Logica at the "Salt Tectonics for the Energy Transition" Conference

Over the past two days Geo Logica participated in a super concentrated salty conference organized by Gonzalo Zamora Valcarce, Heijn van Gent , Oliver Duffy, Oriol Ferrer, Lorena G Moscardelli and Sian Evans at the Geological Society of London,

We were fascinated to have witness a great selection of talks related to the ultra important role of “salt tectonics in the energy transition”. Also extremelly grateful to have been given the opportunity to contribute as well with one Geo Logica presentation entitled “Understanding the riddles of energy and CO2 geostorage in and around salt structures from field examples in Portugal”

Amazing work is being carried out by this diverse, highly motivated, passionate and super fun group of professionals. Please keep bringing those super saturated and highly heterogeneous range of salty topics!

It was great to catch up with colleagues and friends and to meet new ones, in particular those I have been trying to meet personally for quite a while. Even so, with all the excitement, didn’t manage to meet you all! Need to wait for the next salty gathering!

Many thanks to you all for making these last two days another epic event at The Geological Society of London

Related link: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/expired/09-Salt-Tectonics-24

Geo Logica Presenting at IMAGE 2024 (Houston)

Geo Logica Managing director Pedro Barreto presented this week at IMAGE 2024 (joint SEG /AAPG) International Meeting of Applied Geosciences & Energy in Houston, Texas, the study entitled “Structural aspects of magmatic rocks: comparison between outcrop and seismic data from central Western Iberian Margin. Relevance for O&G, CCS and Natural Hydrogen.”

This work was developed in conjunction with João Mata (IDL), Tiago Cunha (Integrated Geochemical Interpretation Ltd) Marianne Nuzzo (Integrated Geochemical Interpretation Ltd) and Ricardo Pereira (@GeoBioTec / IDL), as part of a field-based training course that took place last May in Portugal.

More info: https://imageevent.aapg.org/portals/26/abstracts/2024/4100907.pdf

Conjugate Margins Conference 2024 Geo Logica Field Trip

Last weekend we run the joint Conjugate Margins Conference 2024 Geo Logica Field trip entitled “Structural Aspects of Magmatic Rocks: Outcrops Vs seismic and implications on HC potential and CCS”.

On Day 1, we looked at structures associated with intrusive magmatism associated with the Sintra Igneous Complex, around Peninha, Guincho, Cabo da Roca, Praia Grande and Lomba dos Pianos.

On Day 2, we looked into structural styles of extrusions associated to the Lisbon Volcanic Complex, around Anços, Penedo do Lexim and Fanhões.

Many thanks to all the participants and co-instructor Tiago Cunha for the constructive discussions and shared ideas throughout these two days and for making this another epic Geo Logica Field trip.

More info: Geo Logica Training Courses

Geo Logica on the Dutch TV show “Earth Challenge”

Recently, Geo Logica had the pleasure of participating on the Dutch TV show “Earth Challenge” episode 3:

https://npo.nl/start/serie/earth-challenge_1/seizoen-1/leven-op-het-land/afspelen

This is where GeoAdventure meets GeoCommunication! We went after Trilobites of ancient seas at the top of a mountain! It was a great day in the mountains looking for trilobites, abseiling cliffs in the search of their marks left on an ancient seafloor (“Cruziana” trace fossils) and meet fantastic people such as Stephanie and the KRO.NCRV film crew.

Many thanks to Sergio Esperancinha, Joana Rodrigues, Sofia Pereira, Marco Dias and the KRO.NCRV production team for helping putting this amazing day together.

Come with us to discover a planet in constant change!

Pittsburg-Johnstown University Geology Club Field Trip to Portugal

During the last 7 days Geo Logica took the Pittsburg-Johnstown University Geology Club on a field trip in Portugal that started in the north of the country and went all the way to the its southernmost tip.

This field trip was entitled “from Pangea to the Atlantic Opening”.

The group crossed the Douro valley and understood its geological evolution, from an endorheic to an exorheic basin, and its influence on the local terroir. Then looked at the Variscan Orogeny and the formation of Pangea at Foz do Douro metamorphic complex together with local expert Monica Sousa.

Afterwards, drove along Portugal’s central Atlantic coast, passing by Nazaré, Alcobaça, Óbidos and Peniche where the club observed salt diapirs, exhumed oil field, the formation process of giant waves and the Toarcian GSSP at Ponta do Trovão (Peniche).

Continuing southwards along the country, the participants went inside a squeezed salt diapir at Loulé, discovering how this structure was formed and why our lives wouldn’t be possible without the salt of the Earth!

Almost at the end of the field trip the group observed one of the most amazing outcrops in the world, the Ponta do Telheiro Angular Unconformity at Vila do Bispo. If James Hutton was Portuguese, this place would be his Siccar Point! In a nutshell, at this extraordinary Geosite the Pennsylvanian (Carboniferous) Brejeira Formation turbidites, tightly folded by the Variscan Orogeny, are truncated and overlain by Upper Triassic Silves Formation red beds, materializing a sedimentary hiatus of more than 70 million years. A superb chevron anticline affecting Carboniferous turbidites resembles a shed roof gives the name of this site, known as Praia do Telheiro.

The last outcrops visited where observed during a superb boat trip along the Central Algarve coast, where the students had the opportunity to study coastal erosional processes and even observe dolphins in their natural habitat.

Before flying back home,, the group had a final cultural stop at Lisbon, the country Capital.

For more info about Geo Logica Field Trips for Universities please contact us via letsdiscover@geologica.xyz

From Satellite to Field: Application of recent technologies in structural geological mapping

Last month Geo Logica run the course “From Satellite to Field: Application of recent technologies in structural geological mapping” in partnership Associação Portuguesa de Geólogos.

The main objective was to learn about a methodology that uses modern technologies (GIS freeware and geological mobile apps) together with satellite imagery to carry out detailed structural geology mapping in the field.

This three day training course included two days of in-class lectures and data compilation to use in the field, and one day ground checking previously compiled data and collecting new field data with GPS mobile apps.

The lectures were held in the Geological Museum of the National Energy and Geology Laboratory (LNEG) and field work took place between Palmela and Serra de São Luis (Portugal).

Geo Logica would like thanks APG for organising this training course, as well as the participants for attending and contributing for a successful course, and LNEG for hosting the event in the always mesmerising Museu Geológico de Portugal.

More info about this training course on our website: From Satellite to Field training course

Third Edition of the Geo Logica Salt Basins Field Trip

Last week latest we run the third Iteration of the Geo Logica Salt Basins field-based training course in portugal.

Not even the forecasted rain unsettled the participants urge to go back to the field looking to the amazing salty outcrops… salt geos don’t dissolve!!!

We are honoured for once again have gathered another enthusiastic group of geoscientist from academia, mining and energy industries.

Geo Logica hopes to see you all again (includ. all past field trip participants!) in the future somewhere on this planet in constant change!

For all those yet to be met in future training courses, keep tuned for the upcoming news regarding next year fieldtrip and training courses:

Related links: Geo Logica Training Courses