Night School – Structural Geology (Virtual Course)

The aim of this course is to provide an overview of the development and analysis of geological structures in different tectonic settings using satellite imagery and 3D visualisation of structures in Google Earth. The course will include practical exercises designed to help participants appreciate different structural styles as well as support ideas introduced in the lectures.

Part 1
Facilitator: Martin Insley
Date: 21st July 2020
6:00pm – 8:00pm
• Introduction to structural styles and structural traps; classification of fault systems; fault rocks and fault seal.
• Interpretation of extensional faults systems with case studies and examples from Gulf of Aden rift margin, Yemen; Albertine graben and Gregory rift of the East Africa Rift System; Canyonlands, USA.

Part 2
Facilitator: Martin Insley
Date: 28th July 2020
6:00pm – 8:00pm
• Interpretation of structures in compressional fold and thrust belts with examples from Kalpin Uplift, Kuqa fold belt, Tarim basin China; Sinjar Uplift, Zagros fold belt northern Iraq; Sulaiman fold belt, Pakistan.

Part 3
Facilitator: Martin Insley
Date: 4th August 2020
6:00pm – 8:00pm
• Interpretation of structures in strike-slip regimes with examples from Murzuk region southern Libya; Owl Creek pop-up USA.
• Areas of complex deformation – inversion structures and polyphase deformation; linked fault-fold systems; implications of progressive deformation; control of pre-existing structures on development of later structures; thin- versus thick-skinned structures.

Part 4
Facilitator: Martin Insley
Date: 11th August 2020
6:00pm – 8:00pm
• Introduction to salt tectonics and salt related structures with examples from La Popa basin, Mexico; Zagros fold belt and Great Kavir, Iran.
• Course Summary and Q&A.

Who should attend
Aspiring, future leaders in the oil and gas industry who want to acquire skills beyond the academic and technical and obtain insights into the commercially orientated analysis. Acquire the global perspectives essential to professional success.

This course will go ahead regardless of the number of attendees.

Martin Insley is a consultant structural geologist and Director of Instratum Ltd and Visiting Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London. Until March 2020 he was Principal Geologist within the New Ventures Technical Services team of Tullow Oil based in the London providing technical expertise across the organisation in structural geology, remote sensing and GIS. Prior to joining Tullow Oil, Martin worked as a geological consultant and previously worked in the Oil, Gas and Minerals Group of Airbus (previously Infoterra). He has over 25 years’ experience in exploration projects in a wide range of geographical areas including Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia and SE Asia, Canada and South America. Martin has presented training courses in the structural interpretation of remotely sensed data and GIS to industry geoscientists since 1992, and currently contributes to the MSc Petroleum Geoscience course at Royal Holloway University of London. Martin gained a BSc in Geology from Goldsmiths College, London in 1982, followed by an MSc in Structural Geology and Rock Mechanics from Imperial College, London in 1985 and a PhD from Royal Holloway University of London in 1990. He also has post-doctorate research experience in analogue modelling of salt diapirism and has published papers on structural geology, geological remote sensing and the application of remote sensing data for predicting seismic quality.