Invitation to Fault and Top Seals 2025
Seals play a critical role in trapping and storing fluids in reservoir rocks. Evaluating their presence and properties has been a key focus for the oil and gas industry for many years, particularly in describing the properties of faults and top seals. More recently, industries such as geothermal energy, hydrogen and CO2 storage, and nuclear waste management have joined this effort to better assess faults and top seals. The growing awareness of climate change and the push to reduce carbon footprints have increased the need to accurately characterise reservoirs and seals.
A multidisciplinary approach is essential for a comprehensive fault and top seal assessment. This conference aims to gather experts from various disciplines - structural geology, geomechanics, geophysics, petrophysics, geochemistry, reservoir engineering, and hydrogeology - from both academia and industry. The goal is to present the latest advances using diverse approaches, such as outcrop analogues, laboratory analysis, framework and reservoir modeling, and simulations. Sharing knowledge from different techniques will help reduce uncertainty and mitigate risk for conventional, emerging and future applications.
The conference features oral sessions and poster presentations of the most recent scientific results and case studies, framed by discussions. The event will include a one-day field trip in the Carpathians foothills, showcasing relevant reservoir and seal outcrops.
“Let us bridge the gap between conventional and unconventional applications for FTS and prepare for future developments with FTS25 together. We are excited to unite those working on faults and top seals from various disciplines.”
Sarah Weihmann, Aachen University
FTS2025 Co-chair
Dr. Sarah Weihmann is a specialist in geomechanics and flow behavior in geoenergy applications, with focus on fractured petroleum reservoirs and subsurface storage of nuclear waste in deep geological repositories. Engaged at RWTH Aachen University, she contributes to the international degree program of Mineral Resource Engineering through both teaching and conceptual roles. Dr. Sarah Weihmann is renowned for fostering collaborations between academia and industry, and has been honoured with multiple scholarships and awards for her academic and outreach contributions.
Ioan Munteanu, Bucharest University
FTS2025 Co-chair
Dr. Ioan Munteanu is a structural geologist that graduated from the University of Bucharest with a master’s degree, followed by a PhD. in Earth Science at Utrecht University in 2012. He has significant experience in both academia and industry, being a teacher for the past 15 years and also being involved in research projects focused on structural geology, tectonics, basin analysis, sequence stratigraphy, geothermal and carbon storage. Ioan developed his technical and managerial skills during his 8 years at Repsol Exploration as senior exploration geologist and Technical Committee Representative (TCR) alternative for Romanian and Bulgarian projects, he was responsible for exploration activities, volumetric calculations and project approvals.
