Current research interests

• Effect of petroleum filling on carbonate reservoirs. Combined research project with Norman Oxtoby (Fia, also at Department of Geology, Royal Holloway, University of London).
  
  Significant amounts of diagenesis occurs around the time that petroleum enters a reservoir in carbonate plays. This can take the form of cementation (a) by minerals such as dolomite, anhydrite or other unusual cements e.g. fluorite, kaolinite, quartz, potentially destroying large parts of the pore system or dissolution (b), creating significant amounts of late, secondary porosity (black) improving reservoir quality. The controls on these processes are, at present, poorly understood but studies of carbonate reservoirs worldwide show that their effects are more widespread than previously believed.
• Mixed carbonate-clastic sequences of the Cambro-Ordovician Haima Supergroup, Oman. (PDO sponsored Ph.D. studentship.)

Recent publications

• Neilson, J.E., Smewing, J.D., Ferguson, G.S. and Calvert, J.H.., (2005) - Carbonate reservoir development in the Say’un – Masila Basin, Republic of Yemen. Presented at PESGB carbonate conference, 2005
• Combined BP/NIOC project presented at GEO 2004, by Jeremy Goff (BP) – Discovery and Geology of a giant fossil Jurassic oil field in the Zagros Mountains SW Iran
• Combined BP/KIO project presented at GEO 2004 by Jeremy Goff (BP) – the Jurassic Najmah/Sargelu Petroleum System of West Kuwait: a producing fractured carbonate source rock reservoirs

Carbonate related publications

Neilson, J.E. and Oxtoby, N.H., 2008. The relationship between petroleum, exotic cements and reservoir quality in carbonates – a review. Marine and Petroleum Geology, v.25, p. 778-790.

Neilson, J.E., Oxtoby, N.H., Simmons, M.D., Simpson, I.R. & Fortunatova, N.K., 1998 - The relationship between petroleum emplacement and carbonate reservoir quality: examples from Abu Dhabi and the Amu Darya Basin. Mar. Pet. Geol., v.15, pp.57-72.

Neilson, J.E., Oxtoby, N.H., Simmons, M.D. & Loutfi, G., 1996 - Effect of petroleum emplacement on reservoir quality in the Thamama reservoirs of Abu Dhabi. SPE 36241.

Neilson, J.E., 1990 - Experimental investigation of controls on cementation in carbonates. Jour. Geol. Soc. Lond., v.147, pp. 949-958.

Oil Industry related publications

Neilson, J.E. & Schwab, A.M. 2007 – Exploration and Petroleum Geology. In Wils, J. & Neilson, E.C. The Technical and Legal Guide to the UK Oil and Gas Industry, p. 43 Aberlour Press.

Redgrave, S & Neilson, J.E. 2007 – Drilling Operations. In Wils, J. & Neilson, E.C. The Technical and Legal Guide to the UK Oil and Gas Industry, p. 103 Aberlour Press.

Freeman, C.J. & Neilson, J.E., 2007 – Reservoir Evaluation. In Wils, J. & Neilson, E.C. The Technical and Legal Guide to the UK Oil and Gas Industry, p. 135 Aberlour Press.

Contact Details

Office: Meston 102
Tel: (+44) 01224 273457
Fax: (+44) 01224 272785
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