51cg

School of Geosciences

Dr Joyce Neilson

In this section
Dr Joyce Neilson
Dr Joyce Neilson
Dr Joyce Neilson

Emeritus Senior Lecturer

51cg
Email Address
j.neilson@abdn.ac.uk
School/Department
School of Geosciences

Biography

Following completion of a B.Sc. at the 51cg in 1984, I studied for a Ph.D. at Imperial College, London, completing in 1987.  After this I worked for BP Research for 5 years which took me across the globe before becoming an independent consultant.  During this time, I also began teaching at the 51cg, a role which increased rapidly.  I eventually joined the staff in 2005 in a part-time role (0.4/0.6 FTE) before retiring in 2024 and being awarded an Emeritus position.

During the course of my career in Geology, I have seen a huge increase in the role of women in both industry and academia.  Early summer placements with Shell saw me spending time offshore as the only woman on the rigs I visited. Work roles in the Middle East with BP again saw me operating as the only woman in many male teams.  Later I served on the Geological Society of London's Petroleum Group which included appointments as Treasurer and Secretary, the first woman to have office bearing roles in that group.  All of this has helped open pathways for women in Geoscience.  I currently sit on the Geological Society of Londons Awards Committee.

My interests in Geology focus on carbonate systems - depositional and diagenetic.  Over the years, I have applied this to the exploration for and production of hydrocarbon reservoir systems.  An understanding of these reservoirs are key for subsurface sequestration and storage of carbon dioxide and hydrogen.  Carbonates however also tell us a lot about ancient depositional environments and ocean chemistry and in recent years, my personal research has focused more on these issues.  My publication list can be found on this webpage and Research Gate.

External Memberships

Geological Society of London - Member of the Awards Committee

Latest Publications

  • Hydrolytic weakening controls Jurassic to early Cretaceous mylonitisation in the basement of the Pyrenees

    González-Esvertit, E., Casas, J. M., Canals, ?., Bons, P. D., Konrad, K., Llorens, M., Serrano-López, G., Prieto-Torrell, C., Neilson, J., Domínguez-Carretero, D., Beranoaguirre, A., Gerdes, A., Gomez-Rivas, E.
    Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 203, 105584
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Stylolite Networks: Geometrical Controls Exerted by Sedimentary Facies and Their Effects on Carbonate Rock Permeability and Diagenesis

    Gomez-Rivas, E., Martín-Martín, J. D., Humphrey, E., Bons, P. D., Neilson, J., Griera, A., Travé, A., Koehn, D.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [ONLINE]

  • Fluid evolution and halogen fractionation in orogenic belts: A comparative fluid inclusion appraisal in the Eastern Pyrenees

    González-Esvertit, E., Fusswinkel, T., Canals, ?., Casas, J. M., Neilson, J., Wagner, T., Gomez-Rivas, E.
    Chemical Geology, vol. 674, 122578
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Granitoid metasomatism and giant quartz vein formation by mineral replacement:: insights from the Canigó Massif, Eastern Pyrenees

    González-Esvertit, E., Canals, ?., Prieto-Torrell, C., Bons, P. D., Llorens, M., Casas, J. M., Aguilar, C., Neilson, J., Elburg, M. A., Gomez-Rivas, E.
    Journal of Petrology, vol. 66, no. 2, egaf007
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Genesis of honeycomb buildups in the Permian Zechstein Group, Southern North Sea

    Houghton, T., Neilson, J., Underhill, J., Brackenridge, R.
    Marine and Petroleum Geology
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

View My Publications

Research

Research Overview

Much of my research has focused on the effect that burial fluids and petroleum filling has on carbonate diagenetic reactions.  This not only involves carbonate sedimentology and diagenesis but also structural geology (e.g. large scale tectonic movement, faults, fractures and stylolitisation).  The data collected and studied ranges from sedimentology, geochemistry, structural geology, geophysics and petrophysics.  Several Ph.D. students have been involved with this research in areas such as the Middle East and Mediterranean, the results of which have been published and widely disseminated. 

Recent research has also included the investigation of ocean chemistry, using isotopic and elemental analysis, in deep time (late Cambrian) in Newfoundland and Oman through study of the marine carbonates precipitated at the time.  This has given new insights into global ocean chemistry around a major faunal extinction (the SPICE).  Other recent research has looked at how archaeologists can be supported through use of traditional petrographic techniques.

Current research focuses on the carbonates and evaporites of the Southern Permian Basin (UK) and the role of late stage fluids and faulting in the role of Pb/Zn mineralisation in the Moray Firth.

Teaching

Teaching Responsibilities

Over the years, I had a significant role in teaching at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.  I taught Carbonate Sedimentology, Diagenesis and Reservoir Quality to M.Sc. students from 1993-2024.  Through the years this included M.Sc. courses such as IPG, OGEM and the more recent Sustainable Energy Geoscience course.

Undergraduate B.Sc. courses included Petroleum Geology (which I co-ordinated from 2006-2022), Carbonate Sedimentolgoy at Level 2 (until 2022) and Level 3 (until 2024).  I continue to offer supervision for undergraduate Geoscience Research Projects.

Publications

Page 1 of 1 Results 1 to 40 of 40

  • Hydrolytic weakening controls Jurassic to early Cretaceous mylonitisation in the basement of the Pyrenees

    González-Esvertit, E., Casas, J. M., Canals, ?., Bons, P. D., Konrad, K., Llorens, M., Serrano-López, G., Prieto-Torrell, C., Neilson, J., Domínguez-Carretero, D., Beranoaguirre, A., Gerdes, A., Gomez-Rivas, E.
    Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 203, 105584
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Stylolite Networks: Geometrical Controls Exerted by Sedimentary Facies and Their Effects on Carbonate Rock Permeability and Diagenesis

    Gomez-Rivas, E., Martín-Martín, J. D., Humphrey, E., Bons, P. D., Neilson, J., Griera, A., Travé, A., Koehn, D.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [ONLINE]

  • Fluid evolution and halogen fractionation in orogenic belts: A comparative fluid inclusion appraisal in the Eastern Pyrenees

    González-Esvertit, E., Fusswinkel, T., Canals, ?., Casas, J. M., Neilson, J., Wagner, T., Gomez-Rivas, E.
    Chemical Geology, vol. 674, 122578
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Granitoid metasomatism and giant quartz vein formation by mineral replacement:: insights from the Canigó Massif, Eastern Pyrenees

    González-Esvertit, E., Canals, ?., Prieto-Torrell, C., Bons, P. D., Llorens, M., Casas, J. M., Aguilar, C., Neilson, J., Elburg, M. A., Gomez-Rivas, E.
    Journal of Petrology, vol. 66, no. 2, egaf007
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Genesis of honeycomb buildups in the Permian Zechstein Group, Southern North Sea

    Houghton, T., Neilson, J., Underhill, J., Brackenridge, R.
    Marine and Petroleum Geology
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • STRATIGRAPHY AND DIAGENESIS OF THE THAMAMA-B RESERVOIR ZONE AND ITS SURROUNDING DENSE ZONES IN ABU DHABI OILFIELDS AND EQUIVALENT OMAN OUTCROPS

    Ehrenberg, S. N., Neilson, J. E., Gomez-Rivas, E., Oxtoby, N. H., Jayachandran, I., Adlan, Q., Vahrenkamp, V. C.
    Journal of Petroleum Geology, vol. 47, no. 4, pp. 395-430
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Jenyon’s Channel: Implications for Mid North Sea High Zechstein exploration

    Houghton, T., Brackenridge, R., Neilson, J., Underhill, J.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [ONLINE]

  • The search for "Jenyon's channel": The Missing link between the Permian basins in the North Sea

    Houghton, T., Brackenridge, R., Neilson, J., Underhill, J.
    Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 160, 106619
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • The Steptoean Positive Carbon Isotope Excursion (SPICE), inorganic aragonite precipitation and seawater chemistry: Insights from the Middle - Late Cambrian Port au Port Group, Newfoundland

    Neilson, J., Barili, R., Brasier, A., De Ros, L. F., Ledingham, S. R.
    Depositional Record, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 502-523
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Depositional and structural controls on a fault-related dolostone formation (Maestrat Basin, E Spain)

    Humphrey, E., Gomez-Rivas, E., Martin-Martin, J. D., Neilson, J., Salas, R., Guimera, J.
    Basin Research, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 961-990
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Stylolites and stylolite networks as primary controls on the geometry and distribution of carbonate diagenetic alterations

    Gomez-Rivas, E., Martín-Martín, J. D., Bons, P. D., Koehn, D., Griera, A., Travé, A., Llorens, M., Humphrey, E., Neilson, J.
    Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 136, 105444
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Novel use of cathodoluminescence to identify differences in source rocks for Late Paleoindian quartzite tools

    Legg, R., Neilson, J., Demel, S.
    Archaeometry, vol. 62, no. 5, pp. 875-887
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • The effect of rock type on natural water flooding and residual oil saturation below free water level and oil water contact: A case study from the Middle East

    Heydari Farsani, E., Neilson, J. E., Alsop, G. I., Hamidi, H.
    Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, vol. 193, 107392
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Quantitative analysis of stylolite networks in different platform carbonate facies

    Humphrey, E., Gomez Rivas, E., Neilson, J., Martín-Martín, J. D., Healy, D., Yao, S., Bons, P. D.
    Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 114, 104203
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Tectonic controls on residual oil saturation below the present-day fluid contact level in reservoirs of the Persian Gulf

    Heydari Farsani, E., Neilson, J. E., Alsop, G. I., Hamidi, H.
    Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, vol. 190, 104133
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Stylolite-controlled diagenesis of a mudstone carbonate reservoir: A case study from the Zechstein_2_Carbonate (Central European Basin, NW Germany)

    Humphrey, E., Gomez Rivas, E., Koehn, D., Bons, P. D., Neilson, J., Martin-Martin, J., Schoenherr, J.
    Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 109, pp. 88-107
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]
    • [ONLINE]
    • [ONLINE]
    • [ONLINE]

  • Characterization of Stylolite Networks in Platform Carbonates

    Humphrey, E., Gomez-Rivas, E., Martín-Martín, J. D., Neilson, J., Shuqing, Y., Bons, P. D.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [ONLINE]

  • Carbon isotopes, stratigraphy and environmental change: the Middle-Upper Cambrian Positive Excursion (SPICE) in Port-au-Port Group, Western Newfoundland, Canada

    Barili, R., Neilson, J. E., Brasier, A. T., Goldberg, K., Bardola, T. P., De Ros, L. F., Leng, M.
    Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 55, no. 11, pp. 1209-1222
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Computation of fluid flow and pore-space properties estimation on micro-CT images of rock samples

    Starnoni, M., Pokrajac, D., Neilson, J. E.
    Computers & Geosciences, vol. 106, pp. 118-129
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Climatic and halokinetic controls on alluvial–lacustrine sedimentation during compressional deformation, Andean forearc, northern Chile

    Evenstar, L. A., Hartley, A. J., Archer, S. G., Neilson, J. E.
    Basin Research, vol. 27, pp. 634-657
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Primary aragonite and high-Mg calcite in the late Cambrian (Furongian): Potential evidence from marine carbonates in Oman

    Neilson, J. E., Brasier, A. T., North, C. P.
    Terra Nova, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 306-315
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Permeability evolution across carbonate hosted normal fault zones

    Haines, T. J., Michie, E. A. H., Neilson, J. E., Healy, D.
    Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 72, pp. 62-82
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Age and Geologic Setting of Quartz Vein-Hosted Gold Mineralization at Curraghinalt, Northern Ireland: Implications for Genesis and Classification

    Rice, C. M., Mark, D. F., Selby, D., Neilson, J. E., Davidheiser-Kroll, B.
    Economic Geology, vol. 111, no. 1, pp. 127-150
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • The Impact of Carbonate Texture on the Quantification of Total Porosity by Image Analysis

    Haines, T. J., Neilson, J. E., Healy, D., Michie, E. A. H., Aplin, A. C.
    Computers & Geosciences, vol. 85, no. Part A, pp. 112-125
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [OPEN ACCESS]

  • Influence of carbonate facies on fault zone architecture

    Michie, E. A. H., Haines, T. J., Healy, D., Neilson, J. E., Timms, N. E., Wibberley, C. A. J.
    Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 65, pp. 82-99
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • An investigation of porosity–velocity relationships in faulted carbonates using outcrop analogues

    Healy, D., Neilson, J. E., Haines, T. J., Michie, E. A. H., Timms, N. E., Wilson, M. E. J.
    Special Publication - Geological Society of London, vol. 406, pp. 261-280
    Contributions to Specialist Publications: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • Summary of the AAPG-SPE-SEG Hedberg Research Conference on "Fundamental Controls on flow in Carbonates"

    Agar, S., Geiger, S., Leonide, P., Lamarche, J., Bertotti, G., Gosselin, O., Hampson, G., Jackson, M., Jones, G., Kenter, J., Matthai, S., Neilson, J., Pyrak-Nolte, L., Whitaker, F.
    AAPG Bulletin, vol. 97, no. 4, pp. 533-552
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • Diagenetic and tectonic evolution of pore networks in carbonate normal fault zones and their effects on permeability

    Haines, T. J., Michie, E. A., Neilson, J., Healy, D., Alsop, G. I., Timms, N., Aplin, A.
    Contributions to Conferences: Papers
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [ONLINE]

  • Fracture patterns in carbonate fault zones and their influence on petrophysical properties

    Michie, E. A., Haines, T. J., Healy, D., Neilson, J., Alsop, G. I., Timms, N. E.
    Contributions to Conferences: Papers
    • [ONLINE] DOI:
    • [ONLINE]

  • Advances in carbonate exploration and reservoir analysis

    Garland, J., Neilson, J., Laubach, S., Whidden, K.
    Special Publication - Geological Society of London, vol. 370, pp. 1-15
    Contributions to Specialist Publications: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • Outcrop-Scale Variations in Petrophysical Properties of Faulted Carbonates: Exploring the Relative Influence of Lithology, Fault Displacement and Juxtaposition*

    Healy, D., Michie, E., Haines, T. J., Neilson, J., Alsop, I., Timms, N., Wilson, M.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings

  • Origins of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons

    Neilson, J., Laubach, S.
    The Technical and Legal Guide to Global Hydrocarbons: Volume 1. 1 edition. Aberlour Press, pp. 113, 22 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters
    • [ONLINE]

  • Underground Gas Storage

    Stacey, A., Linskaill, C., Neilson, J., Gluyas, J.
    The Technical and Legal Guide to Global Hydrocarbons, pp. 347, 78 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters
    • [ONLINE]

  • The relationship between petroleum, exotic cements and reservoir quality in carbonates: A review

    Neilson, J., Oxtoby, N. H.
    Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 25, no. 8, pp. 778-790
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • Drilling Operations

    Redgrave, S., Neilson, J.
    The Technical and Legal Guide to the UK Oil and Gas Industry. Wils, J., Neilson, E. (eds.). Aberlour Press, pp. 106-120, 15 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Exploration and Petroleum Geology

    Neilson, J. E., Schwab, A. M.
    The Technical and Legal Guide to the UK Oil and Gas Industry. Wils, J., Neilson, E. (eds.). Aberlour Press, pp. 45-66, 22 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Reservoir Evaluation

    Freeman, C., Neilson, J.
    The Technical and Legal Guide to the UK Oil and Gas Industry. Wils, J., Neilson, E. (eds.). Aberlour Press, pp. 137-150, 14 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • The relationship between petroleum emplacement and carbonate reservoir quality: examples from Abu Dhabi and the Amu Darya Basin

    Neilson, J. E., Oxtoby, N., Simmons, M., Simpson, I., Fortunatova, N.
    Marine and Petroleum Geology, vol. 15, pp. 57-72
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • Effect of petroleum emplacement on reservoir qulity in the Thamama reservoirs of Abu Dhabi

    Neilson, J. E., Oxtoby, N., Simmons, M.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

  • Experimental investigation of controls on cementation in carbonates

    Neilson, J. E.
    Journal of the Geological Society , vol. 147, no. 6, pp. 949-958
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
    • [ONLINE] DOI:

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