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Sponsored by Shell, pilipiliÂþ»­ stratigraphy and petroleum geoscience students attend several field seminars each fall. The Shell Field Seminars are led by Prof. Grant Wach of the Basin and Reservoir Lab, and include field visits to Point Pleasant Park, Cambridge Cove, Rainy Cove, the Cheverie Coast, and the Joggins Cliffs.The annual field seminars would not be possible without the support of the Shell Experiemental Learning Fund (SELF), as well as the hard work of involved teaching assistants, Department staff, and Basin and Reservoir Lab team members. This year the field trips were held virtually.

Point Pleasant Park— ERTH 4153 (Petroleum Geoscience) students visit Point Pleasant Park, located in the South End of Halifax. Students observe and describe low density turbidite deposits within the Meguma Terrane. Students are also able to observe Ordovician paleogeography, stratigraphy, passive margins, Gondawanaland, Pangea, and Wilson cycles were highlighted.

Cambridge Cove— ERTH 3303 (Stratigraphy) student travel to Cambridge Cove to examine the stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Wolfville Formation (Fundy Group) and deduce the ancient depositional environments, paleocurrent trends, and bedform geometries. The Fundy Group lie unconformably over rocks of Carboniferous age where students can touch the spectacular breakup unconformity. Students measure sections and interpret photo pans to record the lateral facies changes and structural fault controls on potential fluid flow.

Rainy Cove— ERTH 4153 (Petroleum Geoscience) students visit Rainy Cove in order to observe modern (recent) tidal sand flats and Triassic braid channel and sheet deposits as reservoir analogues within a petroleum system. Non-marine sequence stratigraphy can be observed, as well as reservoir geometry and architecture, and the Evolution of the Fundy Basin. Students take permeability measurements and outcrop gamma ray logs, and investigate the depositional environments and structure of the Carboniferous section to demonstrate fracturing and key parameters of unconventional hydrocarbon production.

Cheverie Coast—The Cheverie Coast is part of the Windsor Group. Once there, ERTH 4153 (Petroleum Geosciences) students observe ancient Sabkha deposits with stromatolites and algal mat deposits. Spectacular examples of karsting and collapse structures are visible. The students cab smell the dead oil preserved in the evaporates and discuss the section as both a potential source and seal in a petroleum system.

Joggins— ERTH 3303 (Stratigraphy) students travel annually to the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Joggins Fossil Cliffs to examine the paleoecology, climate, sedimentology, and stratigraphy of the Pennsylvanian (upper Carboniferous Period). The setting is the High Accommodation Cumberland basin, a salt withdrawal basin.

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