Stuart Clarke

Covid-19 information and FAQs for applicants, students and staff >

Biography

I first came to Keele in 1992 as an undergraduate student studying Geology and Electronic Engineering. I quickly found a love for geology and specialised in Single Honours Geology to BSc level. Following graduation in 1995 I spent a couple of years in the oil industry before returning to Keele in 1999 to study for a PhD in faulting, fault zones and hydrocarbon flow through three dimensional sedimentary basins. It was through this work that I developed a long standing interest in three-dimensional numerical modelling of many aspects of sedimentary basins, including the construction of three-dimensional models from field outcrop and remotely sensed subsurface data, but particularly structural geological aspects of interest to the hydrocarbons industry.

Following graduation with a doctorate in 2001, I joined the British Geological Survey in Edinburgh as a survey geologist and numerical modeller and spent 6 years as a field geologist mapping the Carboniferous sediments of the Northumberland Trough and Aston Block in Northern England. During this time I was able to further develop my research interests in three-dimensional modelling and combine them with survey work to examine basin analysis problems in northern England and elsewhere. This research has lead to the development of commercial fault seal analysis and hydrocarbon flow modelling software that I now use to assess and risk the hydrocarbon potential of plays on behalf of British Geological Survey / BERR and commercial oil companies.

I was appointed Lecturer in Geology at Keele in 2008 and now teach basin analysis and sedimentology at all levels, and geological surveying and map-making on fieldtrips throughout the undergraduate course.

Research and scholarship

My main research areas are the three-dimensional modelling of structural and sedimentological aspects of geological basins from limited subsurface data, and the risking of hydrocarbon potential based on the geology and geological uncertainties. This work has lead to the development of algorithms to examine various aspects of faults and fault zones, their effects on hydrocarbon migration through faulted sediments, geological uncertainty and the risking of potential hydrocarbon accumulations. These algorithms now form a commercial software package that combines structural geometric modelling with sedimentology, hydrocarbon flow modelling and stochastic hydrocarbon accumulation risk analysis.

I am a member of the Basin Analysis Research Group.

Teaching

Year 1

ESC-10004 Introductory Petrology (Sedimentology)

Year 2

ESC-20002 Reconstructing Ancient Sedimentary Environments
ESC-200012 Advance Feildwork Skills

Year 3

ESC-30003 Advanced Sedimentology: Basin Analysis, Sequence Stratigraphy & Petroleum Geology
ESC-30026 Independent fieldwork

Selected Publications

Mitten AJ, Howell LP, Clarke SM, Pringle JK. 2020. Controls on the deposition and preservation of architectural elements within a fluvial multi-storey sandbody. SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY, vol. 401, Article ARTN 105629. link> doi> full text>
Howell L, Egan S, Leslie G, Clarke S, Mitten A, Pringle J. 2020. The influence of low-density granite bodies on extensional basins. Geology Today, vol. 36(1), 22-26. doi> link> full text>
Priddy CL and Clarke SM. 2020. The sedimentology of an ephemeral fluvial-aeolian succession. SEDIMENTOLOGY, vol. 67(5), 2392-2425. link> doi> full text>
Priddy CL, Pringle JK, Clarke SM, Pettigrew RP. 2019. Application of photogrammetry to generate quantitative geobody data in ephemeral fluvial systems. PHOTOGRAMMETRIC RECORD, vol. 34(168), 428-444. link> doi> full text>
Mitten AJ, Mullins J, Pringle JK, Howell J, Clarke SM. 2020. Depositional conditioning of three dimensional training images: Improving the reproduction and representation of architectural elements in sand-dominated fluvial reservoir models. MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, vol. 113, Article UNSP 104156. link> doi> full text>

Full Publications List show

Books

Pickett E, Young B, Lawrence DJD, Clarke SM, Everest J, Thompson G, Young R. 2006. Ancient Frontiers - Exploring the geology and landscape of the Hadrian's Wall area. British Geological Survey.

Journal Articles

Mitten AJ, Howell LP, Clarke SM, Pringle JK. 2020. Controls on the deposition and preservation of architectural elements within a fluvial multi-storey sandbody. SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY, vol. 401, Article ARTN 105629. link> doi> full text>
Howell L, Egan S, Leslie G, Clarke S, Mitten A, Pringle J. 2020. The influence of low-density granite bodies on extensional basins. Geology Today, vol. 36(1), 22-26. doi> link> full text>
Priddy CL and Clarke SM. 2020. The sedimentology of an ephemeral fluvial-aeolian succession. SEDIMENTOLOGY, vol. 67(5), 2392-2425. link> doi> full text>
Priddy CL, Pringle JK, Clarke SM, Pettigrew RP. 2019. Application of photogrammetry to generate quantitative geobody data in ephemeral fluvial systems. PHOTOGRAMMETRIC RECORD, vol. 34(168), 428-444. link> doi> full text>
Mitten AJ, Mullins J, Pringle JK, Howell J, Clarke SM. 2020. Depositional conditioning of three dimensional training images: Improving the reproduction and representation of architectural elements in sand-dominated fluvial reservoir models. MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, vol. 113, Article UNSP 104156. link> doi> full text>
Pettigrew RP, Rogers SL, Clarke SM. 2019. A microfacies analysis of arid continental carbonates from the Cedar Mesa Sandstone Formation, Utah, USA. The Depositional Record, Article dep2.99. doi> link> full text>
Dodd TJH, McCarthy DJ, Clarke SM. 2019. Clastic injectites, internal structures and flow regime during injection: The Sea Lion Injectite System, North Falkland Basin. Sedimentology, vol. 67(2), 1014-1044. link> doi> link> full text>
Zuchuat V, Sleveland ARN, Pettigrew RP, Dodd TJH, Clarke SM, Rabbel O, Braathen A, Midtkandal I. 2019. Overprinted allocyclic processes by tidal resonance in an epicontinental basin: the Upper Jurassic Curtis Formation, east‐central Utah, USA. The Depositional Record, Article dep2.69. doi> full text>
Howell L, Egan SS, Leslie G, Clarke S. Structural and geodynamic modelling of the influence of granite bodies during lithospheric extension: application to the Carboniferous basins of northern England. Tectonophysics. doi> full text>
Ellen R, Browne M, Mitten A, Clarke SM, Leslie AG, Callaghan E. 2018. The sedimentology, architecture and depositional setting of the fluvial Spireslack 1 Sandstone of the Midland Valley, Scotland: insights from Spireslack surface coal mine. Geological Society Special Publications. doi> full text>
Beaumont H, Clarke SM, Burley S, Taylor A, Mahapatra P. 2018. Sedimentology and the facies architecture of the Ghaggar-Hakra Formation, Barmer Basin, India: Implications for early Cretaceous deposition on the north-western Indian Plate margin. Depositional Record. doi> link> full text>
Woods M, Newell A, Farrant A, Haslam R, Clarke SM. 2018. High-resolution stratigraphy and physical property modelling of the Chalk. Engineering in Chalk: Proceedings of the Chalk 2018 Conference. full text>
Cain T, Leslie A, Clarke SM, Kelly, M, Krabbendam M. 2016. Evidence for pre-Caledonian discontinuities in the Achnashellach Culmination, Moine Thrust Zone: the importance of a pre-thrust template in influencing fold and thrust belt development. Scottish Journal of Geology. full text>
Bladon AJ, Burley SD, Clarke SM, Beaumont H. 2015. Geology and regional significance of the Sarnoo Hills, eastern rift margin of the Barmer Basin, NW India. BASIN RESEARCH, vol. 27(5), 636-655. link> doi> full text>
Bladon AJ, Clarke SM, Burley SD. 2014. Complex rift geometries resulting from inheritance of pre-existing structures: Insights and regional implications from the Barmer Basin rift. JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY, vol. 71, 136-154. link> doi> full text>
WILLIAMS GD, Clarke SM, Hughes D, Littler M. 2006. Modelling the effects of stratigraphical uncertainty on fault seal and trap-fill in faulted structures. Petroleum Geoscience, vol. 12(2), 143-156. doi>
WILLIAMS GD, Burley SD, Clarke SM. 2005. A three-dimensional approach to fault seal analysis: fault block juxtaposition & argillaceous smear modelling. Basin Research, vol. 17(2), 269-288. doi>
Clarke SM, Burley SD, Williams GD, Richards AJ & Meredith DJ. 2004. Four dimensional modelling of sedimentary basin architecture and hydrocarbon flow. Bolletino di Geofisica Teorica ed Applicata. Instituto Nationale di Oceanografia Sperimentale., vol. 45(N1), 194-198.

Chapters

Clarke SM. 2010. Permian, Triassic and Jurassic: deserts, rivers and shallow seas. In British Regional Geology: Northern England. Stone P, Millward D, Molyneux SG, Thomas JE (Eds.). (8th ed.). British Geological Society.
CLARKE S. 2007. Evolution of the rocks and landscape in the district. In Northumberland National Park geodiversity audit and action plan. Lawrence DJD, Arkley SL, Everest JD, Clarke SM, Millward D, Hyslop EK, Thompson GL, Young B (Eds.). British Geological Survey.
CLARKE S. 2007. Geological Structures. In Northumberland National Park geodiversity audit and action plan. Lawrence DJD, Arkley SLB, Everest JD, Clarke SM, Millward D, Hyslop EK, Thompson GL, Young B (Eds.). British Geological Survey.
Clarke SM, Burley SD, Williams GD, Richards AJ, Meredith D, Egan SS. 2006. Integrated 4D modelling of sedimentary basin architecture and hydrocarbon migration. In Analogue and numerical modelling of crustal scale processes. Butler SJH and Schreurs G (Eds.). (vol. 253). doi>
Clarke SM, Burley SD, Williams GD. 2005. Dynamic fault seal analysis and flow pathway modelling in three-dimensional basin models. In Proceedings of the 6th Petroleum Geology conference: NW Europe and Global Perspectives. Dore A and Vining B (Eds.). Geological Society.

Other

Ford JR, Powell JH, Waters CN, Clarke SM, O'Connor EA, Pitfield PEJ, Bramhil Khlil A. 2004. A recent suty of the Neoproterozoic and Palaeozoic Taudeni Basin of north-central Mauritania.
Jones S, Clarke S, Stricker S, Imber J, Henderson J, Egan SS. Controls on Sedimentary Fill in Salt-Walled Mini-Basins of the Triassic and Jurassic, Melville Basin, Western Approaches, United Kingdom. full text>
CLARKE S. NY74NE (Mohope) Bedrock, Superficial, Artificial & Mass-Movement Geology.
CLARKE S. NY74SE (Nenthead) Bedrock, Superficial, Artificial & Mass-movement Geology.
CLARKE S. NY75NE (Whitfield) Bedrock, Superficial, Artificial & Mass-movement Geology.
CLARKE S. NY75SE (Ninebanks) Bedrock, Superficial, Artificial & Mass-movement Geology.
CLARKE S. NY76SE (Allen Gorge) Bedrock, Superficial, Articicial & Mass-movement Geology.
CLARKE S. NY76SW (S) (Cawfields) Bedrock, Superficial, Artificial & Mass-movement Geology.
Al-Madhachi L, Clarke SM, Egan SS. Quantitative Subsidence Analysis of the Southeast of the Mesopotamian Basin, Southeastern Iraq: Implications for Basin Evolution Since the Middle Jurassic Period. AAPG. full text>
Howell L, Egan SS, Leslie G, Clarke SM. Structural and Geodynamic Modeling of the Influence of Granite Bodies During Lithospheric Extension: Application to the Carboniferous Basins of Northern England. AAPG. full text>
Imber J, Clarke SM, Egan SS, Daniels S, England R, Henderson R, Holdsworth B, Jones S, Lee J, McCaffrey K, Moore J, Selby D, Stricker S. The Influence of “Cimmerian” Exhumation on the Hydrocarbon Potential of the Southwest Approaches, Offshore NW Europe. full text>
Howell L, Egan SS, Brown C, Leslie G, Clarke S. The influence of granite bodies on extensional basins: insights from structural, geodynamic and thermal modelling. Geophysical Research Abstracts, V. 21, EGU2019-7863. full text>

PGR/PGT Students

Current PhD Students

Charlotte Priddy. PhD Thesis title: Climatic cyclicity and environmental interactions in arid continental basins: The Leman Sandstone, Southern North Sea.
Andy Mitten. PhD Thesis title: Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy in fluvial systems
L. Al-Madhachi. PhD Thesis title: The Cretaceous reservoir evolution of the south east Mesopotamian Basin, south-eastern: Geological Modelling evaluation.
David Cousins. PhD Thesis title: Controls upon facies distribution and cyclicity in aeolian systems: implications for successful exploration and development in a mature North Sea basin.
Ross Pettigrew. PhD Thesis title: Evaporitic/Clastic interactions in arid continental environments: Implications for reservoir quality, characterisation and fluid flow.
Tom Cain. PhD Thesis title: Fault geometry and fault-zone development in mixed carbonate/clastic successions: Implications for reservoir management

Past PhD students:

Hazel Beaumont. 2017. Cretaceous sedimentology of the Barmer Basin, Rajasthan, India. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Keele University. Link
Andrew Bladon. 2015. The early-stage structural evolution of the Barmer Basin rift, Rajasthan, northwest India. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Keele University.
Resulting papers: Basin Res ; Struct. Geol.
Amy Gough. 2015. Controls on sediment architecture and deposition in arid continental basin margin systems. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Keele University.
Thomas Randles. 2015. Structure and geometry of accommodation zones in host and supra-jacent sediments associated with the collapse of salt anticlines. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Keele University.
Rosie Smithells. 2014. A comparison of the geological, geodynamic and rheological evolution of the northern and southern Rockall Trough : a numerical modelling approach. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Keele University.
Oliver Wakefield. 2010. Aeolian, fluvial and shallow marine sedimentology system interactions in the Permian Cutler Group, southeast Utah, USA. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Keele University.

PGT students

Emmanuel Ofomona. 2016. Fracture network attirbutes distribution in Carbonate rocks of the Cantabrian Mountain fold and thrust belt at San Emiliano, Spain. Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University.
Hannah Warrener. 2016. The sedimentology of wet aeolian systems and their implications on hydrocarbon reservoirs: an example from the Navajo Formation, Western USA. Unpublished MSc Thesis, Keele University.