Dr Boyan Vakarelov

Biography/ Background

I am a Lecturer at the Australian School of Petroleum, where I teach courses in Sedimentology and Sequence Stratigraphy.

I am a co-PI of the WAVE Consortium, which is an eight company-supported  research initiative  investigating the impact of shallow marine mixed-influence stratigraphic heterogeneity on reservoir performance.

My research interests are in high-resolution sequence stratigraphy, with emphasis on sub-seismic scale stratigraphic heterogeneity of shallow marine reservoirs, and shallow marine reservoir facies models. I am also involved in CO2 storage research.

I hold a PhD in Sedimentology/Stratigraphy from the University of Texas at Dallas, USA (2006), and a Bachelor's Degree in Geology from the University of Toronto, Canada (2001).

 

Professional Work History

• Lecturer, Australian School of Petroleum 2007-
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian School of Petroleum/CO2CRC 2006-2007
• Teaching/Research Assistant, University of Texas at Dallas 2001-2006

Qualifications

Ph.D. in Geosciences, 2006, University of Texas at Dallas , Texas , USA

Dissertation: Controls on Stratigraphic Architecture in Shallow Marine Environments: Tectonic Forcing and Mud Geometries, Advisor: Janok P. Bhattacharya

B.Sc. (Honors), Geology, 2001, University of Toronto , Toronto , Canada

Teaching Interests

University Courses:

ASP Geology Courses (Short Course Format):

• Siliciclastic Depositional Environments (3 day)

• Concepts of Sequence Stratigraphy (2 day)

• Reservoir-Scale Sequence Stratigraphy (3 day)
  

• Sandstone Petrology and Diagenesis (4 days)
  

• Amadeus Field Course (7 days)

Semester Courses:

• PETROENG 2005 (Sedimentology and Stratigraphy for Engineers)

 

Short Courses for Industry:

Currently Available:

• Reservoir-Scale Sequence Stratigraphy and Depositional Environments (5 days) - This is a five day course that focuses on the practical application of depositional environment interpretation and sequence stratigraphy.
• Geology of Clastic Reservoirs (5 days) - This course offers an in-depth analysis of the distributions, geometries and sedimentary architectures of clastic reservoir facies. Participants will learn the criteria for distinguishing reservoir facies using wireline log and core data, how to interpret facies distributions at regional and field scales, and how to integrate this information into exploration and development projects.

Previously Presented:
NExT, Moscow, Russia (Sequence Stratigraphy, 5 days) - Sept, 2007

NExT, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Sequence Stratigraphy, 5 days) - July, 2008

NExT, Beijing, China (Sequence Stratigraphy, 5 days) - October, 2008

NExT, Kuala Lumpurt, Malaysia (Sequence Stratigraphy, 5 days - inhouse couse for Petronas) - February, 2009

Research Interests

• Shallow Marine Stratigraphic Architecture: Understanding the principles that govern 3D reservoir and seal architecture, with special emphasis on sedimentation during Greenhouse times of Earth history.
• 3D Reservoir Modeling: Creation of 3D object models to be used for flow simulation, incorporating recent finding from both modern and ancient systems.
• Architecture of mud-dominated portions of sedimentary basins: While mud-dominated clinoforming sets (mud belts) are frequently mapped in the Holocene systems, their importance is vastly underappreciated in the ancient record.
• Effects of syntectonic deformation on shallow marine depositional systems
• Sub-seismic resolution sequence stratigraphy and correlation methodology
• Basin Analysis
• CO2 migration and storage: Examining the effects of stratigraphic architecture on long distance CO2 migration and storage.

Publications

PUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS:

Vakarelov, B.K ., and Bhattacharya, J.P. (2009), Effect of Local Tectonic Control on Parasequence Architecture: Second Frontier Sandstone, Powder River Basin, Wyoming . AAPG Bulletin, v. 93, p.295-327.

Miall, A.D., Catuneanu, O., Vakarelov, B.K ., Post, R. (2008), The Western Interior Basin: North American Sedimentary Basins volume, Sedimentary Basins of the World Series Volume 5, Elsevier Science, K. J. Hsu, Series Editor, p.331-364.

Vakarelov, B.K ., Bhattacharya, J.P., and Nebrigic, D.D. (2006), The Importance of high-frequency tectonic sequences during greenhouse times of earth history: Geology, v. 34; p. 797-800.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:

Vakarelov B.K. and Ainsworth, R.B., 2009 (talk), When the Wave-dominated Shoreface Model Breaks Down: Observations form an Ancient Wave-dominated, Tide-influenced Shoreline System, AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, CO.

 

Ainsworth, R.B. and Vakarelov B.K., 2009 (talk), Dynamic Prediction of Clastic Coastal Depositional Style Through Time and Space, AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, CO.

 

Nanson, R., Vakarelov, B.K., Ainsworth, R.B., O'Reilley, D. and Midtkandal, I., 2009 (poster), Assessment of the Relationships Between Coastal Geometry and Depositional Environment on the Australian Coastline; Developing Models for Application to Ancient Systems,  AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, CO.

 

Vakarelov, B.K., Ainsworth, R.B. and Nanson, R., 2008 (poster), Modern Shoreface-to-Shelf Profiles: Implications for Understanding Ancient Regressive Systems, SEPM Research Conference, Rock Springs, WY.

 

Vakarelov, B.K. and Ainsworth, R.B., 2008 (talk), The Quest to Build Robust Stratigraphic Models for Shallow Marine Systems: Lessons from the Holocene, AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, TX.

 

Ainsworth, R.B. and Vakarelov, B.K., 2008 (poster), Improved Prediction of Depositional Elements in Mixed-process Coastal Depositional Systems, AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, TX.

 

Vakarelov, B.K. and Bhattacharya, J.P., 2008 (poster), Local Tectonic Control on Parasequence Architecture: Upper Cretaceous Second Frontier Sandstone, Powder River Basin, AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, TX

 

Vakarelov, B.K. and Ainsworth, R.B., 2008 (poster), Are Ancient Shallow Marine Stratigraphic Models Oversimplified? Potential Compartmentalization Lessons from Holocene Regressive Systems, Reservoir Compartmentalization Meeting, London, United Kingdom

Vakarelov, B.K ., 2006 (talk), The Importance of Mud Deposition in Generating Realistic Stratigraphic Models, AAPG Annual Convention, Houston , TX

Vakarelov, B.K ., Bhattacharya, J.P., Nebrigic, D., 2006 (talk), The Importance of High-Frequency Tectonic Control during Greenhouse Times of Earth History, AAPG Annual Convention, Houston , TX

Vakarelov, B.K ., Winker, C.D., Bhattacharya, J.P., 2005 (talk), The Missing Mudbelts of the Ancient Record: Implications for Sequence Stratigraphy, AAPG Annual Convention, Calgary , Alberta , Canada Webcast available at: http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/documents/2005/av/vakarelov/softvnetplayer.htm

Bhattacharya, J.P., MacEachern, J.A., Vakarelov, B.K ., Howell, C.D, Covault, A.H. 2005, Hyperpycnal Versus Hypopycnal River Plumes and the Origin of Shelf Muds: Examples from the Cretaceous of the Western Interior Seaway, North America, AAPG Annual Convention, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Vakarelov, B.K. and Bhattacharya, J.P., 2005 (talk), High-Frequency Syntectonic Uplift in Outcrop and Subsurface: Examples from the Lower Belle Fourche Member of the Frontier Formation, WY, Cordilleran GSA/Pacific AAPG Joint Meeting, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs , Vol. 37, No. 4, p. 87

Vakarelov, B.K. , Winker, C.D., 2005 (poster), Mud Belts: A New Architectural Element in Sequence Stratigraphy, Seismic Geomorphology Research Conference, Houston , TX

Vakarelov, B.K ., Bhattacharya, J.P., 2004 (talk), The Missing Mud Belts of the Ancient Record, GSA Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs , Vol. 36, No. 5, p. 461

Vakarelov, B.K ., Bhattacharya, J.P., 2004 (poster), High-Frequency Tectonic Sequences in a Cretaceous Foreland, AAPG Annual Convention, Dallas, TX, AAPG 2004 Annual Convention Abstracts Volume, p. A142

Vakarelov, B.K ., Bhattacharya, J.P., 2003 (poster), High-Frequency Syntectonic Deformation in a Distal Foreland Setting, Powder River Basin, Wyoming, GSA Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs , Vol. 35, No. 6, p. 427

Vakarelov, B.K ., Payenberg, T.H.D., Miall, A.D., 2002 (talk), Evidence Of First Order Tectonic Control and Point Load Migration in the Upper Cretaceous Milk River - Basal Belly River Interval in the Alberta Foreland Basin (abs.), AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, TX

REPORTS AND FIELD GUIDES:

Gibson-Poole, C M, Edwards, S, Langford, R P and Vakarelov, B.K ., 2006. Review of Geological Settings for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in Victoria . Australian School of Petroleum, The University of Adelaide , Adelaide . ICTPL Confidential Consultancy Report Number ICTPL-RPT06-0506.

Bhattacharya, J.P., Vakarelov, B.K ., Howell, C.D., Jr., Sadeque, J., Tang, H., 2005, Facies Variability, Stratigraphic Compartmentalization, and Tectonic Controls in Mixed-influenced Delta Fronts, Frontier Formation, Powder River Basin, Wyoming, U.S.A., UTD Quantitative Sedimentology Consortium Field Trip, July 29th-August 3rd, 2005, 134p.

Entry last updated: Tuesday, 26 May 2009