Rudi Meyer

Rudi Meyer

Positions

Associate Professor (Teaching)

Faculty of Science, Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment

Contact information

Email

rmeyer@ucalgary.ca

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 210-7848

Location

Office: ES110

Background

Educational Background

Doctor of Philosophy Geology & Related, University of Calgary, 1998

Master, Science Struct. Geol. Geology & Related, Michigan State University, 1983

B.A. Geology & Related, Lawrence University, 1975

Research

Areas of Research

Sedimentology
Petrophysics
Petroleum geology
Geoscience education
Activities

I am interested in the history of sedimentary rocks encompassing provenance (sediment source rocks and regions), depositional settings and diagenesis, including burial ± uplift and exposure. Within this broad theme I am particularly interested in:

  • Early diagenesis of siliciclastic rocks to link the geometry and stratigraphic stacking of sedimentary bodies to early authigenesis, cementation and dissolution events
  • Modification of porosity and pore networks during progressive burial and its effects on the magnitude, relative homogeneity and anisotropy of multi-directional permeability fields
  • Meso-scale, causal linkages between characteristic properties of sedimentary rocks (e.g. bedding types, current and biogenic structures, grain size attributes, pore networks) and the style and intensity of deformation during diagenesis

I am interested in the use of well-exposed (quasi-continuous, multi-directional) outcrops as analogues for subsurface fluid reservoirs because spatial relationships between different sedimentary bodies and facies can be ascertained leading to a better model framework. However, outcrops are invariably affected by late diagenetic effects during relative uplift and exposure. Hence, examination of subsurface core samples is very relevant to complement any outcrop data.

Aside from my interests in sedimentology, I continually investigate concepts and methods that can be applied to improve student learning. Aside from experimenting with various methods of delivery, the nature of written and/or oral assignments, and the design of appropriate assessment instruments, I am presently investigating:

ASSESSMENT METHODS. Exams collected to compare student responses to multiple-choice questions to those of written, short-answer questions. The aim is to assess the relevance and validity of multiple-choice questions and test for correlation between types of questions. Main questions are: What do these questions measure? What determines success in answering these types of questions?

3-D VISUALIZATION. Learn about the teaching & learning of 3-D Spatial Thinking Skills in geoscience, that is, concepts that aim to understand the steps applied to 3-D visualization (as developed by neuroscience and cognitive psychologists) and methods and techniques that can be used to teach/learn 3-D visualization as applied in geoscience.

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
GLGY 381 Sedimentary Rocks and Processes Fall
GLGY 577 Introduction to Petroleum Geology Fall
GLGY 343 3D Geologic Structures and Methods Winter
GLGY 353 Surficial Systems Winter

Awards

  • Award for Service, UofC Department of Geoscience. 2018
  • Faculty of Science Dean's List Reception, Individual: Undergraduate Geology student. 2017
  • SEPM Excellence of Oral Presentation, Society for Sedimentary Geology. 2003
  • Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Best Ph-D Thesis Award, Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. 1998

Publications

  • Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, southern Alberta. Rodolfo Meyer. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. 3. (2019)
  • Unconformities within a progradational estuarine system: the Upper Santonian Virgelle Member, Milk River Formation, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. Federico Krause; Rodolfo Meyer; Dennis Braman. Society for Sedimentary Geology. 129-141. (1998)

More Information

Refereed publications:

  • Tonkin, N.S., McIlroy, D., Meyer, R., and Turpin, A., 2009. Bioturbation influence on reservoir quality: A case study from the Cretaceous Ben Nevis Formation, Jeanne d'Arc Basin, offshore Newfoundland, Canada.  American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 94, no. 7, p. 1059–1078, DOI: 10.1306/12090909064.
  • Meyer, R. and Krause, F.F., 2006. Permeability anisotropy and heterogeneity of a sandstone reservoir analogue: An estuarine to shoreface depositional system in the Virgelle Member, Milk River Formation, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, southern Alberta. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, 54, 4, 301-318, DOI: 10.2113/gscpgbull.54.4.301
  • Hopkins, J.C. and Meyer, R., 2001.  Lithology of paleovalley-fills from petrophysical data: Mannville  Group, Lower Cretaceous, southern Alberta, Canada.  Petrophysics (Journal of the Society of Professional Well Log Analysts), v. 42, no. 5, 444–456.
  • Meyer, R. and F. F. Krause, 2001.  A comparison of plug- and probe-derived permeabilities in cross-bedded sandstones of the Virgelle Member, Alberta, Canada: The influence of flow directions on probe permeametry.  American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 85 , no. 3, p. 477–489, DOI: 10.1306/8626C929.
  • Meyer, R., F. F. Krause, and D. R. Braman, 1998.  Unconformities within a progradational estuarine system: the Upper Santonian Virgelle Member, Milk River Formation, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada.  In C. Alexander, R. Davis, and V. Henry (editors), Tidalites: Processes and Products: Tulsa, Oklahoma, Society for Sedimentary Geology, Special Publication of SEPM No. 61, p. 129–141.
  • Meyer, R. and F. F. Krause, 1998.  Experimental evidence for permeability minima at low-velocity gas flow through naturally formed porous media.  Journal of Porous Media, v. 1, no. 1, p. 93–106. 

Non-refereed publications and internal reports:

  • Meyer, R., 2008. Virgelle Member at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, southern Alberta: analogue for a subsurface exploration target. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, May 2008, Field Trip Guide associated with 2008 CSPG CSEG CWLS Conference 47 pp.
  • Merchan, S., Srinivasan, S., and Meyer, R., 2002.  Characterization of an estuary/shoreface-type reservoir using outcrop analogues and modeling of flow using a nonuniform coarsened grid. SPE Paper 75226 presented at SPE/DOE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, April 13–17, 2002, Tulsa, OK, U.S.A.
  • Meyer, R., 2002.  Anisotropy of sandstone permeability (CREWES) Research Report 2002, v. 14, 12 pp.
  • Richardson, S., Meyer, R., Lawton, D.C., and Langenberg, W., 2001.  Seismic modeling of coal bed methane strata, Willow Creek, Alberta. Consortium for Research in Elastic Wave Exploration Seismology (CREWES) Research Report 2001, v. 13, 113–142. 

Conference presentation abstracts:

  • Alfarhan, M., Deng, J.H., White, L.S., Meyer, R., Oldow, J.S., Krause, F.F., Aiken, C.L., and Aguilera, R., 2009. LiDAR technology as a means of improving geologic, geophysical and reservoir engineering evaluations: From rocks to realistic fluid flow models, Canadian International Petroleum Conference, CIPC, Calgary, AB, June 2009.
  • Tonkin, N., McIlroy, D., and Meyer, R., 2008. Ichnofabric and enhanced reservoir quality in the Cretaceous Ben Nevis Formation, Jeanne d'Arc Basin, offshore Newfoundland. Presented by N. Tonkin at the Annual Geological Society of America Conference, October 2008, Houston, TX, USA.
  • Meyer, R., 2006. Tectonic fractures controlled by paleosol fabrics: an example from the Kootenai Formation, southwestern Montana, USA. Abstract presented at 2006 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, October 22-25, 2006.
  • Bonnell, B., Hurich, C., and Meyer, R., 2006. High-resolution characterization of reservoir heterogeneity with cross-well seismic data – A feasibility study. Abstract presented for 2006 CSPG-CSEG-CWLS Conference, Calgary, Alberta, May 15-18, 2006.
  • Dearin, A., Meyer, R., and Enachescu, M., 2006. Provenance of Ben Nevis Formation reservoir sandstones. White Rose Field, Grand Banks, Newfoundland, Canada. Abstract presented at 2006 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, USA, May 9-12, 2006.
  • Normore, L. and Meyer, R., 2005. Diagenetic controls on permeability of the Ben Nevis sandstone, White Rose Field, Jeanne d’Arc Basin, Newfoundland, Canada. Abstract presented at 2005 AAPG Annual Convention, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 19-23, 2005.
  • Meyer, R., 2004. Controls of sedimentary fabric on heterogeneity and anisotropy. Abstract presented at the 2004 Geological Association of Canada-Newfoundland Section Meeting, February 23-24, 2004, St. John’s, NL.
  • Meyer, R., 2003. Depositional controls on the distribution of ferroan dolomite cement in Virgelle Member sandstones (Eagle sandstone equivalent), Writing-on-Stone, southern Alberta, Canada. Abstract presented at 2003 AAPG Annual Convention, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, May 11-14, 2003.