The Book Cliffs of Utah have become the premier locality globally for field teaching of sequence stratigraphy. Continuous, well-exposed, and easily-accessible outcrops make it possible to analyze facies relationships of stratigraphic sequences in great detail, both in terms of lateral variation (systems tracts) and vertical stacking patterns (parasequences). Most significant clastic depositional systems are represented, including meandering, braided, and anastomosed fluvial; fluvially- and wave-dominated deltas; transgressive and regressive shore faces; tidally-dominated estuaries, and deep-water mudstones. This makes the Book Cliffs an excellent classroom to study the interrelationship between the eustatic and tectonic development of accommodation space and subsequent filling by clastic sediment.

The Book Cliffs region is often cited as an analog for subsurface exploration, particularly in foreland basins, and sequence stratigraphy has become one of the leading methods for correlating and mapping depositional packages, leading to significant discoveries of petroleum in fields that had been abandoned, as well as new discoveries. To that end, this course directly applies to petroleum reservoirs’ exploration, characterization, simulation, and development. Specifically, this course allows participants to view sequence stratigraphic features directly in outcrop, giving a better perspective when making similar interpretations based on cores, logs, and seismic sections. This course would be particularly valuable to geologists who have had limited exposure to real rock bodies.

The course runs five days, with a format consisting of early morning instructional sessions at the hotel, followed by further instruction and completion of exercises in the field.