Course Description:

The explosion of 3-D seismic has given us an opportunity to map structures in a more detailed manner than ever before. However, making the most realistic geologic interpretation of these structures is only as good as our ability to recognize the fundamental characteristics of the assemblage in which they occur. Only by recognition of the many facets, variations, differences, and similarities of each assemblage with its associated styles and substyles, can confident interpretations be made. This course provides an overview of all hydrocarbon-bearing structural assemblages from the trap to the plate-tectonic scale. The processes that produce the structures and control their variability are explained in terms of basic rock-mechanical principles and physical-model examples.

Course Goal:

To improve understanding and awareness of structural geology in petroleum exploration and development

 Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, the participant will be able to:

1. Apply mechanical-stratigraphic concepts to understand and predict trap geometry
2. Use restoration and balance to validate an interpretation and interpret the structural evolution
3. Recognize the structural style or styles of a region from map and cross-sectional expression
4. Distinguish characteristics of each structural style on reflection seismic sections
5. Interpret the mechanics of deformation for each structural style
6. Predict the effects of deformation on reservoir porosity, permeability, and continuity

Course Outlines:

1. Mechanical principles governing folding and faulting
2. Mechanical stratigraphy
3. Predicting structure from stratigraphy
4. Deformation mechanisms
5. Folding vs. Faulting
6. Palinspastic restoration of cross sections
7. Structural validation criteria
8. Sequential restoration and growth history
9. Structural assemblages: families and styles
10. Fault-related folds
11. Regional arches and domes
12. Compaction, dissolution and impact structures
13. Wrench faults: simple, convergent, and divergent
14. Thin-skinned fold-thrust belts
15. Basement-involved contraction
16. Inversion
17. Thin-skinned extension
18. Basement-involved extension
19. Salt sheets
20. Diapirs
21. Exploration problems for each style
22. Plate-tectonic habitats of structural assemblages
23. Effects of structures in reservoirs: joints, stylolites, faults
24. Deformation that enhances or reduces permeability
25. Predicting the effect of fault zones on fluid flow
26. Tectonic synthesis and exploration project

Who Can Benefit?

Exploration and development geologists, geophysicists, engineers, and geoscience managers