Khushboo Arora

The main purpose of my current research is to establish a model of where, why, and how hummocky bedforms and associated HCS (Hummocky Cross-Stratification) forms, allowing us to interpret hydrodynamic conditions such as wavelength, orbital velocity, wave period, wave-motion direction, water depth, storm frequency and magnitude, and, potentially, the extent to which storms influenced the ancient shelf.

HCS is commonly reported in outcrop and core throughout paleo-shelf deposits of the U.S. Western Interior (WI)seaway, where these facies are a component of many low net:gross hydrocarbon reservoir sytems. The Gallup Formation, Tocito Sandstone, and El Vado Sandstone deposits are part of a middle-to-late Cretaceous age clastic wedge prograding into the WIC in the present day San Juan Basin of northwest New Mexico. During my research, I will be examining that shoreline, proximal to distal, and combining outcrop observations with large amounts of subsurface data through these units, to independently test our HCS-based calculations of water depth, wave conditions, and sand distribution along this ancient shelf. Observations will be couched within a framework of key surfaces and stratal organization that enable transfer of observations to similar ancient settings around the world.

Current Research Projects

Origin and implications of hummocky bedforms and cross-stratification (HCS) in the rock record

Winner, Gulf Coast Challenge Bowl - Society of Exploration Geophysicists (2013 - 2013)

Nirja Sahay Medal - Mining, Geological & Metallurgical Institute of India (2009 - 2009)

Institute Silver Medal - Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (2009 - 2009)

Prof. K.L. Chopra Award - Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (2009 - 2009)

Student Grant - 19th World Petroleum Congress, Spain (2008 - 2008)