AB Dartmouth College 1952

M.S. and Ph.D Northwestern University 1956

Sequence Stratigraphy; Seismic, Well log, and Outcrop Interpretation; Computer Assisted interpretation and Basin Fill Simulation

Email: vail@rice.edu
Phone: (713) 348-4888
Office: Room 201, Keith-Weiss Geological Laboratories
Web Address:
No Title

Sequence stratigraphy is a method for correlating and analyzing sedimentary rocks. When coupled with biostratigraphy and tectonic subsidence analysis it provides a procedure for making more accurate geologic time correlations, paleogeographic reconstructions and predictions of reservoir, source and seal rocks ahead of the drill.

My research involves the documentation of the distribution of depositional sequences on a global scale in outcrop and the subsurface, determining their cause, defining the relation of depositional systems and rock types to systems tracts and tectonic subsidence variations and understanding how this information can best be used for paleogeographic reconstructions and resource evaluation. In addition, I am involved in the development of interactive computer interpretation procedures and basin fill simulation to improve the ease and accuracy of the interpretative procedures.

My research approach is based on cooperative studies with a number of groups located in Europe, North and South America, Australia, and the Far East. Currently, I have nine projects in Europe and six in other parts of the world.

Publications

W. Wornardt, Jr., B. Shaffer P.R. Vail "Revision of tiocene, Pliocene and Pleisce Cycles.."  Houston Geological Society Bulletin (October, 1998).

Wornardt, W.W., Vail, P.R. "Revision of the Late Miocene Pliocene and Pleistocene Sequence Cycles, in the Nile Delta Offshore Egypt and Gulf of Mexico."  Nile Delta Symposium, Mansoura University, Cairo, Egypt (March, 1999).

Sanabria, Diego I., Van Wagoner, John C., Vail, Peter R. "Climatic Control on Facies Architecture of Continental Stratigraphic Sequences in the Lower Jurassic Kayenta Formation of the Colorado Plateau."  GCS SEPM Foundation 19th Annual Research Conference, Advanced Reservoir Characterization (5-8 December 1999): 109-120.

Klein, A., Baum, G., Vail, P., and Thompson, P. "Subsurface sequence stratigrphic analysis of the Eocene-lower Oligocene of Alabama [abs.]."  GCAGS Trnsactions (2000).

N. Vandenberghie, P. Laga, E. Seurbaut, J. Hardenbol and P.R. Vail "Tertiary Sequence Stratigraphy at the southern border of the North Sea in Belgium."  SEPM Special Pub, No 60 (1998): 91-118.

B. Duval, C. Cramez and P.R. Vail "Stratigraphic Cycles and major Marine Source Rocks."  SEPM Special Publication, No.60 (1998): 43-52.

R. Catalano, E. DiStefano, A. Sulli, F.P. Vitole, S. Infuso and P.R. Vail "Sequences and Systems Tracts calibrated by High Resolution Bio-Chronostratigraphy: The Central Mediterranean Plio-Pleistocene Record:."  SEPM Special Pub, No 60 (1998): 155-178.

R.A. Gygi, A.L. Coe and P.R. Vail "Sequence Stratigraphy of the Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian Stages (late Jurassic) in northern Switzerland."  SEPM Special Pub, No. 60 (1998): 527-544.

J.F. Flinch and P.R. Vail "Plio-Pleistocene Sequene Stratigraphy and Tectonics of the Gibralter Arc."  SEPM Special Pub, No 60 (1998): 199-208.

V.S. Abreu, Hardenbol. G.A. Haddad, G.R. Baum, A.W. Droxler and P.R. Vail. "Oxygen Isotope Synthesis: A Cretaceous Ice-House?."  SEPM Special Pub, No. 60 (1998): 54-75.

G. Vakares, J. Hardenbol, V.S. Abreu, P.R. Vail, P. Varnai and G. Tari "Oligocene-middle Miocene Depositionales of the Central Paratethys and their Coron with Regional Stages."  SEPM Special Pub, No. 60 (1998): 209-232.

"Mesozoic and Cenozoic Sequence Stratigraphy of European ean Basins."  SEPM Special Publication, No. 60 (1998): introduction.

Pierre-Charles de Gracionsky, Jan Hardenbol, Thierry Jacquin and Peter R. Vail "Mesozoic and Cenozoic Sequence Stratigraphy of European basins: PREFACE."  SEPM Special Publication, No. 60 (1998).

S. A. Bowman, P.R. Vail "Inte Stratigraphy of the Baltimore Canyon Section, Offshore New Jersey with Philaatigraphic Simulator n Numerical Experiment Stratigraphy."  SEPM Memoir, No. 63 (1998).

T. Geel, T.B. Roep, J.E. van Hinte and P.R. Vail "Eocene Tectono-Sedimentary Patterns in the Alicante Region (Southwestern Spain)."  SEPM Special Pub, No 60 (1998): 289-302.

J. Harde Thierry, M.ley, T. Hacquin, P.aciansky and P.R. Vail "Append to: Mesozoic and Cenozence Chronostratigraphic Framework of European Basins."  SEPMcial Pub, No. 60 (1998): 763-782.

P. daciansky, G. Dardeu, J.L. Donumerques,. Durlet, D. Marchand, T. Dumarto, S.P. sselbo, T. Jaquin, V. Goggia, C. Meister, R. Mouterderde, J. Rey and P.R. Vail. "Ammonite Biostratigraphic Correlation and Sequence Stratigraphy in France: Comparisons with Some United Kingdom sections.."  SEPM Special Pub, No. 60 (1998): 583-622.

edited by Pierre-Charles de Graciansky, Jan Hardenbol, Thierry Jacquin, and Peter R. Vail "Mesozoic and Cenozoic Sequence Stratigraphy of European Basins."  : 783.

Presentations

"Seismic Stratigraphy of the Lower Congo, Kwanza and Benguela Basins."  Angola West Africa Poster, International AAPG, Birmingham, England.  (October 1999) With Elle Marie Schollnberger.

"Sequence Stratigraphy of European Basins."  Sedimentology Society, Free University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  (May 29, 2000)

"Climatic Control on the Development of Continental Stratigraphic Sequences: An Example from the Lower Jurassic Kayenta Formation of the Colorado Plateau."  AAPG National Convention, San Antonio, TX.  (April, 1999) With Diego I. Sanabria.

"Jan van Hinte, a leader in quantitification of Geology."  The Netherlands Royal Academy of Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  (May 31, 2000)

"Historical development of the coastal onlap chart and eustatic sea level chart (Keynote speaker)."  AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA.  (April 16 - 19, 2000) With G. R. Baum.

"Revision of the Late Miocene Pliocene and Pleistocene Sequence Cycles, in the Nile Delta Offshore Egypt and Gulf of Mexico."  Nile Delta Symposium, Mansoura University, Cairo, Egypt.  (March, 1999) With W.W. Wornardt.

"Oxygen isotope synthesis: a Cretaceous ice-house?."  AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA.  (April 16 - 19, 2000) With V.S. Abreu, J. Hardenbol, G. Haddad, and G.R. Baum.

"Sequence Stratigraphy of a Middle Miocence Carbonate Platform, N.W. Australia."  Symposium on Paleoceanography of Reefs and Carbonate Platforms, Aix-en-Provence, France.  (September 27-30, 1999) With Anika Mutch.

"Deposition, sequence stratigraphy and hydrocarbon potential of a sandy debris flow and turbidity current deposit in an interior cratonic ramp setting, Middle Mississippian Carper Sandstone (Borden Group) eastern Illinois Basin, USA."  AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA.  (April 16 - 19, 2000) With N. Ahmad and B.D. Keith.

"Seismic sequence stratigraphy stratigraphic sections in Gulf of Mexico, Egypt, Albania, Black Sea, Vietnam, East China Sea and Aruba."  AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA.  (April 16 - 19, 2000) With W.W. Wornardt.

"Variations in detrital and authigenic components in Paleogene sediments, south Alabama: a sequence-keyes petrographic look at Gulf Coastal Plain sequences [abs.]."  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs [32] (won first place student poster award for the SE section of SEPM), . With Klein, A.C., Baum, G.R., and Vail, P.R.

Theses

Vitor S. Abreu, Doctoral.  " Evolution of the Conjugate Volcanic Passive Margins: Pelotas Basin (Brazil) and Offshore Namiba (Africa): Implication for Global Sea-Level Changes."  (1998).

Gabor Vakares, Doctoral.  "e Stratigraphy of the Cenozoic Pannonian Basin, Hungary."  (1998).

Alexei Vladimirovih Vyssotski, Masters.  "A sequence stratigraphic analysis of the Upper Jurassic - Turonian in the context of the evolution of the West Siberian Basin."  (2000).

Anika J. Mutch, Masters.  "A Sequence Stratigraphic Analysis of an Oligocene to Miocene Carbonate Platform; Beagle and Northern Dampier Subbasins, Australia."  (2000).

Martin Long, "No Title."  

Anika Mutch, "No Title."  

Elle Maria Schollnberger, "No Title."  

Alexei Vysstoski, "No Title."  

Diego Sanabria, "No Title."  

Elle Marie Schollnberger, "No Title."  

Diego Sanabria, "No Title."  

Elle Marie Schollnberger, "No Title."  

Martin Long, "Sequence Stratigraphy of the Plio-Pleistocene Gulf of Mexico Shelf.."  

Andre Klein, "Sequence stratigraphic analysis of the Alabama Coastal Plain (Tertiary)."  

Nadeem Ahmad, "former Rice Class III student, now at Indiana University."  

Andre Klein, "Sequence stratigraphic analysis of the Alabama Coastal Plain (Tertiary)."  

Nadeem Ahmad, "former Rice Class III student, now at Indiana University."