Skip to main content

Sedimentary Basin Analysis and Modeling Lab

clarks fork canyon

STAFF:

  • Will Parcell (Professor, Assoc)
  • Julia Schwartz (Educator, Asst)
  • Jack Dalton (Instructor)

STUDENTS:

  • Mitch Baker (MS student)
  • Makenna Roths (MS student, starting fall 2025)

The Sedimentary Basin Analysis and Modeling Lab focuses on developing and improving geologic techniques and applications in the search for energy, water and mineral resources in sedimentary basins.

The lab trains the next generation of geoscientists looking at critical societal issues - our need for energy and mineral resources.

Expertise includes characterization and modeling of subsurface and outcrop analogs, sequence and seismic stratigraphy, microbial carbonate reservoirs, and communicating uncertainty in geologic data.

Pure Research

Artificial intelligence applications in sedimentology and stratigraphy

Visualizing stratigraphic knowledge and reasoning

Topic

Visualizing stratigraphic knowledge and reasoning

Researchers

  • Wm Parcell
  • collaborators:
    • Ernest Mancini - Univ. of Alabama
    • Joe Benson - Univ. of Alabama
    • Wen-Tai Yang - Univ. of Alabama

Fuzzy logic approach to modeling surface dynamics in carbonate systems

Topic

Fuzzy logic approach to modeling surface dynamics in carbonate systems

Researchers

  • Wm Parcell
  • collaborators:
    • Ernest Mancini - Univ. of Alabama
    • Joe Benson - Univ. of Alabama
    • Wen-Tai Yang - Univ. of Alabama

Modeling stratigraphic sequences using multi-valued logic

Topic

Modeling stratigraphic sequences using multi-valued logic

Researchers

  • Wm Parcell
  • collaborators:
    • Ernest Mancini - Univ. of Alabama
    • Joe Benson - Univ. of Alabama
    • Wen-Tai Yang - Univ. of Alabama

Philosophical and historical approaches to stratigraphic interpretation.

Conceptual geologic models of Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680)

Visualizing stratigraphic knowledge and reasoning

Topic

Visualizing stratigraphic knowledge and reasoning

Researchers

  • Wm Parcell
  • collaborators:
    • Wm Vanderburgh - Wichita State Univ.

Expert systems and semiotics to communicate geologic uncertainty

Topic

Modeling stratigraphic sequences using multi-valued logic

Researchers

  • Wm Parcell
  • collaborators:
    • Lisa M. Parcell - Wichita State Univ.

Applied Research

Computer simulations for geologic field work, education, and geoinformatics.

Computer simulations for geologic field work, education, and geoinformatics.

Topic

3D and 360 visualization

Researchers

  • Wm Parcell
  • Julia Schwartz
  • external collaborators:
    • Austin Parcell - Trinity Univ.

Characterization of microbialite fabrics and associated paleoenvironments

Characterization of Mesozoic paleoenvironments

Topic

Characterization of Mesozoic paleoenvironments:

  • Cretaceous Eagle Formation, northern Bighorn Basin, using trace element concentrations
  • Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation, northern Bighorn Basin, Using trace element concentrations
  • Stratigraphy and depositional facies in the Middle Jurassic, WY and MT

Researchers

  • Wm Parcell
  • Julia Schwartz 
  • *Jack Dalton (2023-present)
  • *Kyle Day (2010-2012)
  • *Clark Gilbert (2010-2012)
  • *Charles Lapeyre (2010-2012)
  • *Monica Williams (2002-2005)

Development of ancient microbial carbonate fabrics

Topic

Development of ancient microbial carbonate fabrics:

  • Jurassic Smackover Formation, AL and MS
  • Ordovician Arbuckle Group, MO and KS
  • Jurassic microbialite in Western Europe (France, England, Spain, Portugal)
  • Middle Jurassic Gypsum Spring and Sundance Formations, WY and MT

Researchers

  • Wm Parcell
  • Julia Schwartz
  • *Mitch Baker (2023 - present)
  • *Kyle Day (2010-2012)
  • *Peter Whieland (2010-2012)
  • *Ganganath Korelegadara (2005-2009)
  • *Chamandika Warusavitharana (2012-2014)
  • *Manwika Ploynoi (2002-2004)
  • collaborators:
    • Joe Benson - Univ. of Alabama
    • Ernest Mancini - Univ. of Alabama
    • Llinas - Univ. of Alabama
    • Ahr - Texas A&M Univ.
    • Aurell - Universidad de Zaragoza

Petroleum reservoir characterization

Topic

Petroleum reservoir characterization:

  • Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation, AL
  • Cretaceous reservoir systems, AL and MS

Researchers

  • Wm Parcell
  • *Kyle Day (2010-2012)
  • *Ganganath Korelegadara (2005-2009)
  • *Peter Wheiland (2012-2014)
  • collaborators:
    • Ernest Mancini - Univ. of Alabama
    • Marcello Badali - Univ. of Alabama
    • Joe Benson - Univ. of Alabama
    • Juan Carlos Llinas - Univ. of Alabama
    • Wayne Ahr - Texas A&M Univ.
©