Dr. Juan Carlos Laya

Research Interests

• Carbonate reservoir characterization and modeling from outcrop analogues. Three-dimensional modeling has proved a very useful visualization tool to understand the distribution and geometries of facies and diagenesis. These parameters are major controls on porosity and permeability and therefore, the reservoir quality.
• Late Paleozoic carbonate petroleum systems and opportunities for exploration. involve the better understanding of Upper Paleozoic successions in South America, their basin setting and paleogeography, carbonate facies distribution, cyclicity and also the stratigraphic resolution, which needs improvement, using biostratigraphy and stable isotopes. My current research, however, also comprises the link between sedimentology with organic geochemistry of the potential source rocks in these successions.
• Diagenesis and porosity evolution. Carbonate diagenesis is a complex topic which still needs much research to provide a better understanding of the processes and products involved and to enable a degree of prediction of porosity evolution and its distribution. Issues that have still not been resolved include the controls on dolomitization and the prediction of dolomite porosity, and the silicification of limestone. All of the processes affect directly the evolution of the pore systems in reservoirs, an understanding of which is essential for managing oil and gas reservoirs. My research interests here concentrate on the role of diagenesis in the enhancement of the pore systems and include dolomitization, fractures and silicification in different cases of study worldwide.
• The use of stable isotope geochemistry in understanding deposition, diagenesis and correlation of upper Paleozoic successions.
• The role of microbial carbonates in petroleum systems, reservoirs and source rocks.

Recent Publications

• Laya, J. C., Tucker, M.E., (In preparation) Post-sedimentary events and petroleum potential of the Permian carbonates in the Venezuelan Andes (Palmarito Formation). For Journal of Petroleum Geology.
• Laya, J. C., Tucker, M.E., Gröcke, D. R., Perez-Huerta, A. (In revision) Metre-scale cyclicity of Permian ramp carbonates in the Venezuelan Andes: deposition under tropical Pangea tectonic and climatic regime. For Sedimentology.
• Laya, J. C., Tucker, M.E., Gröcke, D. R., Perez-Huerta, A. (In press) Carbon, oxygen and strontium isotopic composition of low-latitude Permian carbonates: Climate proxies of tropical Pangea. For Special publication of Geological Society of London. ‘Late Palaeozoic Climate Cycles: Their Evolutionary, Sedimentological and Economic Impact’.
• Laya, J. C., Tucker, M.E. (2012) Facies analysis and depositional environments of Permian carbonates in the Venezuelan Andes. Palaeogeographic implication to Northern Gondwana. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 332-332. 1-26 doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.02.011.
• Laya, J. C.; Pérez, R.; Viscarret, P. (2008). New sedimentological and stratigraphical data for the Lower Palaeozoic strata of the Southern Andean flank. Geominas. Vol. 36 Nº 46.
• Laya J. C., Guerrero O., Uzcategui M., Palacios Z., Hoeger T., Andara A. (2007). Petrography and diagenesis of Palmar Formation North Andean flank, Venezuela. Geominas. Vol. 35 Nº 43.
• Viscarret P.J., Laya J. C., (2007) Permian Sedimentary facies at southern Region of Venezuelan Andes. Ciencia e Ingenieria. Vol. 28 N°1. 

Professional Experience

(2003/2008, and  2012) Lecturer in Stratigraphy, Basin analysis, Sedimentary environments, Petroleum geology and Sedimentology at Universidad de Los Andes, Venezuela.

• My major responsibilities were teaching and research in sedimentology and petroleum geology, as well as, supervising undergraduate dissertations, most of them related with hydrocarbon exploration and production, and all of which have been successful, and have led to an increased understanding of exploration areas and knowledge of carbonate sedimentology and stratigraphy in the Venezuelan Andes. I was in charge to teach stratigraphy, sedimentology, Petroleum geology, sedimentary environments, historical geology and basin analysis
  

(2008/2011) Demonstrator (Teacher Assistant) Earth Materials, Sedimentary Systems. Durham University. UK

(2002/2003) Junior Geoscientist, Barinas, Venezuela, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA

• In charge of well-log interpretation and reservoir mapping in the Barinas Basin, Venezuela

Contributed Research Presentations

Laya, J.C. & Tucker, M.E. (2011) Carbon, oxygen and strontium isotopes of Permian carbonates in the Venezuelan Andes. Climate proxy of tropical Pangea. 14th Bathurst Meeting of Carbonate Sedimentologists. Bristol, United Kingdom. Abstracts.

Laya, J.C. & Tucker, M.E. (2010) Bedding, facies and fractures in Zechstein (Permian) carbonates, NE England: Reservoir implications. Advances in Carbonate Exploration and Reservoir Analysis. Geological Society of London, UK. Abstracts.

Laya, J.C. & Tucker, M.E. (2010) Stable isotope stratigraphy and sedimentary analysis of the Permo-Carboniferous succession in the Venezuelan Andes 18th International Sedimentological Congress. IAS. Mendoza, Argentina. Abstracts.

Laya, J.C. & Tucker, M.E. (2009) Permian– Carboniferous ramp carbonates of the Venezuelan Andes: Facies, cyclicity and sealevel changes. 27th International Association of Sedimentologists Meeting. Sardinia, Italy. Abstracts.

Laya, J.C. & Tucker, M.E. (2008) Permian– Carboniferous Ramp Carbonates of the Venezuelan Andes. British Sedimentological Research Group Meeting. Liverpool, UK.

Society Memberships

International Association of Sedimentologists
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

Awards

• 2010 American Association of Petroleum Geologist (AAPG) Grant in AID, ‘Horst & Jessie von Bandat Memorial Grant’
• 2010 International Association of Sedimentologists Postgraduate Grant Scheme.