Course Title: Applied Structural Geology in Hydrocarbon Exploration
• Discipline: Geology
• Instructor Professor Kevin Charles Hill
• Duration: 4 Days with an optional 5th Day
• Dates: To be determined

About the Course

Overview

This course will introduce the main structural geometries seen on seismic data and in outcrop in the oil industry. The emphasis is on developing a workflow to allow exploration and production geologists and geophysicists to assess structural style and produce valid structural interpretations as well as consider alternative interpretations. The course will introduce the structural styles associated with extension, compression, inversion, strike-slip, and salt diapirism. Shale diapirism and fractures are an optional extra. Examples will be shown from both seismic data and outcrop. Frequent short exercises, interpreting seismic data and outcrop images, will reinforce the theory presented.

The course will concentrate on practical methods to define the relationships between faults, folds, sedimentary packages, and regional elevation and how they can be used predictively to validate an interpretation and prospect. Emphasis is placed on the ‘Structural Family’ present in an area, which depends strongly on the basement architecture and tectonic history. Seismic and field examples are drawn from the Timor Sea, Bass Strait, Borneo, Pakistan, the Gulf of Suez, the Apennines, the Taranaki Basin, New Guinea, Indonesia, Watchet, the Otway Basin, Cape Liptrap, the Pyrenees, the Canadian Rockies and others.

Who Will Benefit

This course is designed primarily for exploration and development geologists, geophysicists, reservoir engineers, seismic interpreters, and technical assistants who wish to learn how to interpret complex geological structures using seismic and outcrop data. There is particular emphasis on understanding structural geometries and their relation to sediment-growth sequences. Attendees should include:
• exploration and development geologists,
• geophysicists,
• reservoir engineers,
• seismic interpreters and
• technical assistants

Prerequisites

A Geoscience/Engineering degree and knowledge of seismic data are both important.
 
Course Content

Introduction
Introduction to structural geology and the principles of geometrical analysis of structures. This includes a review of the nature of faults and folds, the importance of structural families, and the workflow used in structural analysis

Extension
• Planar, domino, listric faults and rollover anticlines.
• The Chevron construction and growth packages (Exercise)
• Seismic restoration
• 3D fault geometries and restoration

Inversion
• Definition and examples
• Seismic interpretation (Exercise)
• Detailed geometries and evolution

Compression
• Ramps, flats, detachments and detachment folds
• Fault bend folds – ramp anticlines (Exercise) and Fault propagation folds (Exercise)
• 3D geometries
• Restored sections from New Guinea and the Po Valley

Strike-Slip
• Definition and examples
• 2D and 3D geometry
• Interpretation (Exercise) and oilfield examples

Salt Diapirism
• Definition, properties and location of salt.
• Salt, walls, domes, diapirs and turtle structures
• Development of diapirs
• Salt sills and collapse structures
• Shale diapirs, pipes & collapse graben on seismic

Course Certificates

Course certificates will be issued upon successful completion of the course.