Richard Ainsworth

• Biography/ Background

  Bruce holds the South Australian State Government Chair of Petroleum Geology. He joined the Australian School of Petroleum in 2007 following fifteen plus years industry experience with Shell International Exploration and Production Company and two years as a Statoil and BP funded research assistant at the University of Liverpool, UK. His career has covered all aspects of the upstream petroleum industry from exploration to appraisal, development, production and research. Bruce worked for five years in Shell Research Laboratories and gained practical experience in exploration and production companies around the globe and has work experience of geological systems from fourteen countries. He has niche expertise in sedimentology, seismic and sequence stratigraphy and the application of the inherent uncertainties in these data and interpretations to multiple scenario three-dimensional reservoir modelling. Bruce is currently the leader of the ASP Reservoir Analogues Research Group (RARG; http://www.asprg.adelaide.edu.au/RARGwww/rarg_index.html) and leader of the WAVE Consortium (http://waveknowledgebase.net/) which focusses on reservoir heterogeneities in mixed process (wave/fluvial/tidal) sandbodies. From 2007 to 2010 he was Discipline Leader for the Reservoir and Seals Characterisation group, CO2CRC (CO2 geosequestration).

• Qualifications

  1. PhD, 2003, University of Liverpool, UK. Sequence stratigraphic-based analysis of depositional connectivity using 3-D reservoir modelling techniques. Supervised by S. Flint and J. Howell.
  2. MSc, 1991, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Sedimentology and high resolution sequence stratigraphy of the Bearpaw-Horseshoe Canyon transition (Upper Cretaceous), Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. Supervised by R.G. Walker.
  3. BSc Honours, 1987, Imperial College, London, UK.

• Teaching Interests

  1. 3D Reservoir Modelling
  2. Sedimentology
  3. Sequence Stratigraphy
  4. Seismic Stratigraphy

• Research Interests

  1. 3-D Reservoir Modelling: Application of the inherent uncertainties in sedimentological, sequence stratigraphic, seismic and structural data and interpretations to multiple scenario 3-D reservoir modelling.
  2. Reservoir Connectivity: Impact of depositional and structural architecture on the predictability of connectivity and compartmentalisation of reservoirs.
  3. Sedimentology & Sequence Stratigraphy: Particular interests in marginal marine and fluvial depositional systems focussing on the prediction of coastal depositional style and reservoir heterogeneity related to accommodation/sediment supply regimes and basin morphology.
  4. High Resolution Seismic Stratigraphy: Relationships between sedimentary and stratigraphic architectures and high-resolution seismic geometries and attributes.
  5. Geological Sequestration of CO2: Reservoir and seal characterisation studies for the sequestration of CO2.

• Publications

  Key Publications:

  Vakarelov, B. K. and Ainsworth, R. B. 2013. A hierarchical approach to architectural classification in marginal marine systems – bridging the gap between sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy. AAPG Bulletin, v. 97, p. 1121-1161.

  Ainsworth, R.B., Hasiotis, S.T., Amos, K.J., Krapf, C.B.E., Payenberg, T.H.D., Vakarelov, B.K., Sandstrom, M.L. and Lang, S.C. 2012. Tidal signatures in an intracratonic playa lake. Geology, v. 40, p.607-610.

  Ainsworth, R.B., Vakarelov, B.V., and Nanson, R.A. 2011. Dynamic Spatial and Temporal Prediction of Changes in Depositional Processes on Clastic Shorelines: Toward Improved Subsurface Uncertainty Reduction and Management. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 95, p. 267-297.

  Ainsworth, R.B. 2010. Prediction of Stratigraphic Compartmentalization in Marginal Marine Reservoirs. In: Jolley, S.J, Fisher, Q.J., Ainsworth, R.B., Vrolijk, P. and Delisle, S. (eds.), Reservoir Compartmentalization. Geological Society of London Special Publication No. 347, p. 199–218.

  Ainsworth, R.B, Flint, S.S. and Howell, J.A. 2008. Predicting Coastal Depositional Style: Influence of Basin Morphology and Accommodation to Sediment Supply Ratio within a Sequence Stratigraphic Framework. In: Hampson, G.J., Steel, R., Burgess, P.B. & Dalrymple, R.W. (eds.) Recent Advances in Models of Siliciclastic Shallow-marine Stratigraphy. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication No. 90, p. 237-263.

  Ainsworth, R.B. 2005. Sequence Stratigraphic-based Analysis of Reservoir Connectivity: Influence of Depositional Architecture - A Case Study from a Marginal Marine Depositional Setting. Petroleum Geoscience, v.11, p. 257-276.

  Ainsworth, R.B., Sanlung, M. and Duivenvoorden, S.T.C. 1999. Correlation Techniques, Perforation Strategies and Recovery Factors. An Integrated 3-D Reservoir Modeling Study, Sirikit Field, Thailand. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 83/10, p. 1535-1551.

  Ainsworth, R.B. and Pattison, S.A.J. 1994. Where have all the lowstands gone? Evidence for attached lowstand systems tracts in the Western Interior of North America. Geology, v. 22, p. 415-18.

  See attached file for a full list of publications.

   

• Professional Associations

  1. American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG).
  2. International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS).
  3. Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM).
  4. The Geological Society, London.
  5. Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia (PESA)

• Files

  • Publications as at July 2013 - Bruce_Ainsworth_Publications_July_2013.pdf [80.0K] (application/pdf)

Entry last updated: Thursday, 27 Jun 2013