Fundamentals of Structural Geology

This class has been designed to familiarize class participants with the fundamentals of Structural Geology, as used and required in and for  the Oil & Gas Industry.

Structural Geology is defined as “The discipline within the science of Geology that relates to rock unit geometry and the deformational histories that produced those geometries.”

This class is structured with regard to scale considerations of the various elements of structural geology – small to large. The initial portions of this course will investigate rock deformation factors at the microscopic scale. Next meso-scale structures will be discussed and then, finally, large scale (tectonic) elements will be examined.

The class contains a significant practical element, with exercises and tests designed to improve the understanding of how to apply Structural Geology in Petroleum-related applications. The course also contains video and case histories.

• Agenda
• Topics
• Audience
• Prerequisites

• Agenda

  Day 1

  Agenda and QHSE

  Pre-Course Test as required

  Fundamental Structural Concepts

  Introduction 

  Forces and Stress 

  Strain and Deformation (Elastic, Plastic and Brittle)

  Ductile Deformation Processes - Folding

  Lineations and Foliations

  Exercise - understanding 3-point mapping

  Day 2

  Brittle and Other Structures

  Brittle Deformation Processes

  Fractures and Joints

  Faulting (including video)

  Unconformities, Domes, Pinchouts, Intrusions

  Exercise - 3D Structures

  Salt Tectonics and Diapirism

  Day 3

  Expression of Structure

  Seismic Interpretation of Structure

  Exercise - Seismic Interpretation of Structure

  Structural Interpretation of Borehole Images

  Exercise - Borehole Interpretation

  Surface Representation of Structure

  Exercise - Strikeline Mapping

  Exercise - Mapping Project

   

  Day 4

  Expression of Structure (continued)

  Exercise - Mapping Project (continued)

  Structural Cross-Sections

  Exercise - Constructing a Cross-Section

  3D Modeling - Structure and Fractures

  Exercise - Structural Correlation with Logs

  Global Tectonics

  Structure of the Earth and Plate Tectonics (including Videos)

  The Wilson Cycle (including video)

   

  Day 5

  Regional Tectonics

  Extensional Tectonics

  Compressional Tectonics

  Strike-Slip Tectonics

  Paleo-Tectonics (with optional case Study)

  Post-Course Test as required

   

• Topics

  Fundamental concepts - stress, strain, & deformation

  Ductile deformation (folding)

  Brittle deformation (faulting and fracturing)

  Other structures - domes, unconformities, pinchouts

  Salt tectonics

  Seismic Interpretation of Structure

  Structural Interpretation of Borehole Images

  Surface Representation of Structure

  3D structural modeling

  Global and regional tectonics

  Tectonic styles - Extensional, compressional, lateral

  Paleo-tectonics

  Plate tectonics and the Wilson cyccle

• Audience

  Geoscientists who wish to expand their knowledge of Structural Geology as used and required in and for  the Oil & Gas Industry.

• Prerequisites

  A basic understanding and background in Geology is preferred.

• Prerequisites