PESA SA : Meandering Murray Field Trip & Fluvial Stratigraphy Workshop

Magnificent Meandering Murray field trip: a modern-day fluvial system analogue

Sep. 28th and 29th 2025

Brian Willis (ex Chevron ) & Andrew McKerron (Beach Energy)

Join PESA SA/NT for an Exclusive Distinguished Lecturer Event Featuring Brian Willis 

PESA SA/NT is proud to host Brian Willis, renowned fluvial sedimentologist and stratigrapher with decades of experience at Chevron and BP, as part of our Distinguished Lecturer Tour. This PESA Distinguished Lecture is made possible with the generous support of Santos Ltd.

This exciting two-day workshop offers a unique blend of field and classroom learning:

• Day 1: Field Excursion – Sunday, 28 September Explore the stunning landscapes of the Murray River on a guided geological field trip led by Brian Willis and Andrew McKerron

          Ticket Price: Free to attend | Logistics (Self organized) meeting point will be advised closer to the date

• Day 2: Fluvial Reservoir Heterogeneity Characterization Workshop – Monday, 29 September 

         Ticket Price: $250 per participant | Location: Ayers House

Whether you’re a student, professional, or enthusiast, this is a rare opportunity to learn directly from one of the industry’s leading experts.

Limited spots available – register now!

Workshop Details:

Fluvial Systems – From River to Reservoir

Traditional characterization of fluvial reservoirs focuses on relating vertical facies patterns observed in core samples to a static aerial view of an analogue river. Such comparisons fall short of generating precise predictions of the distribution of reservoir heterogeneities that can impact subsurface fluid flow and reservoir development behavior. Heterogeneity patterns within fluvial deposits are emergent structures (i.e., in systems analysis, “emergent structures” are patterns that arise from the collective actions of many individual parts and behaviors and have properties that the parts themselves do not have). In fluvial deposits, these patterns are formed by shifts in deposition and erosion during river floods, dynamic changes in grain sorting along a river channel during lateral migration and cutoff within a channel belt, and the stacking of channel belts as the floodplain aggrades. This course aims to build on traditional fluvial facies models to develop a more dynamic understanding of how a hierarchy of depositional processes defines heterogeneity patterns within fluvial reservoirs.

• Discuss terminology and concepts to define the hierarchy of processes and deposits that control reservoir-heterogeneity 3D patterns and scaling.

• Examine process-based, numerical, river depositional models to better understand the emergence of heterogeneities within evolving channel belts.

• Catalogue 3D facies patterns developed within a range of river systems as a template for defining reservoir heterogeneity.

Lectures will introduce the hierarchical organization of fluvial deposits and discuss models for the development of heterogeneities within fluvial channel belts. The focus is on considering how dynamic changes preserve 3D facies patterns and understanding how these facies patterns vary between a wide range of fluvial systems. Well log interpretation and correlation exercises will demonstrate subsurface applications. The workshop is structured to challenge experienced practitioners to rethink standard practices, while remaining general enough to benefit geologists with little experience in fluvial systems, as well as reservoir modelers and engineers, with a broad overview of potential subsurface variation patterns.

Workshop Timing:

9:30 am-5:00 pm

Brian Willis will be giving an evening talk at 5:30 pm. The talk is free for workshop attendees, but registration is required. Please register at:

https://pesa.com.au/events/pesa-sa-nt-evening-technical-talk-three-dimensional-architecture-of-wave-dominated-delta-deposits/

Please Note:

Day 2: Fluvial Reservoir Heterogeneity Characterization Workshop – Monday, 29 September- 

Complimentary Registration for Students – 9 Seats Available

Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Early registration is encouraged due to limited availability.

Please note that ticket sales will close on Friday September 26th at 5:00 PM.