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Seismic Studies

SPODDS scientists use 3D and 2D seismic data to investigate the geometry and evolution of ancient deep-water systems at the intermediate to large scale.
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Seismic Studies

Modern Seafloor Depositional Systems

Many SPODDS studies have focused on modern sea-floor depositional systems, including submarine canyons in the South China Sea and off west Africa and canyon and fan activity in the Continental Borderland of southern California.
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Modern Seafloor Depositional Systems

Shale Geochemistry

SPODDS researchers use a combined sedimentological and geochemical approach to understand fine-grained sedimentary rocks.
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Source-to-Sink Studies of Deep-water Systems

Many past and ongoing projects integrate petrographic, geochemical, and detrital geochronology datasets to understand provenance and sediment routing during the evolution of deep-water sedimentary basins.
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Outcrop Analogs of Subsurface Deep-water Systems

Much of SPODDS research involves studies of outcropping deep-water systems to develop a better understanding of the processes of sedimentation and the architecture of the resulting deposits.
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Outcrop Analogs
Seismic Studies
Modern Seafloor Depositional Systems
Shale Geochemistry
Source-to-Sink Studies of Deep-water Systems
Outcrop Analogs of Subsurface Deep-water Systems

About SPODDS

The Stanford Project on Deep-water Depositional Systems (SPODDS) is a research program in the Department of Geological Sciences in the School of Earth Sciences. We focus on the ancient and modern deep-water deposits around the world, providing opportunities for students, faculty, and participating companies to collaborate via guided research and exploration.  Our scientific community includes a wide-range of internationally-based affiliate companies and research institutions. In this era of ever dwindling natural resources, we seek greater understanding of deep-water deposits as reservoirs for energy products on the ancient sea floor and modern continental margins. A huge highlight of the program is the annual field trip to one of the world's classic deep-water basins.

News

SPODDS welcomes Professor Erik Sperling and Dr. Matthew Malkowski!

SPODDS welcomes Prof. Erik Sperling and Dr. Matthew Malkowski to the program as part of our continued mission to scientifically explore the full spectrum of modern and ancient deep-water depositional systems across all scales and grain sizes.

Recent Publications

Kremer, C.H., McHargue, T., Scheucher, L., & Graham, S.A. (2018). Transversely-sourced mass-transport deposits and stratigraphic evolution of a foreland submarine channel system: Deep-water tertiary strata of the Austrian Molasse Basin. Marine and Petroleum Geology. Article link

Malkowski, M.A., Jobe, Z.R., Sharman, G.R., & Graham, S.A. (2018). Down-slope facies variability within deep-water channel systems: Insights from the Upper Cretaceous Cerro Toro Formation, southern Patagonia. Sedimentology. Article link

AlKawai, W.H., Mukerji, T., Hosford Scheirer, A., and Graham, S.A. (2017). Combining Seismic Reservoir Characterization Workflows with Basin Modeling in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Mississippi Canyon Area. AAPG Bulletin. Article link