Course Elective 2 - Structural Geology and Tectonics:
Fold and Thrust Belts as Oil and Gas Exploration Targets

Staff involved:

Dr. Patrice Rey (The University of Sydney).

Background:

Fold and thrusts belts mainly form in foreland basins adjacent to major orogens.  Shortening is accommodated by a combination of reverse faults, thrusts and folds.   Oil and gas exploration focussing largely on fold and thrusts belts as hydrocarbons - derived from buried organic matter - migrate upward into traps formed by anticlinal closures.  Understanding of the structural and thermal evolution of fold and thrusts belts is fundamental to hydrocarbon exploration. The northern margin of Australia is a prime target for the oil and gas industry and Sydney hosts some of the biggest players in the oil and gas Industry involved in exploration in Souteast Asia.

Module Objectives:

This course aims to introduce experienced field geologists, apprentice structural geologists, and geophysicists to the modern approach of fold and thrusts belts. We will review their internal architecture, kinematic and geometric evolution.  We will assess the role of basement structures in the geometry of fold and thrusts belts and we will familiarise with cross-section balancing as a method to constraint the hidden internal structure of fold and thrust belts.

Expected outcomes:

1. To be able to construct tectonic maps,
2. To be able to separate from the total regional finite strain field the component related to local mechanical heterogeneities
3. To be able to interpret regional finite strain field in terms of large scale tectonic systems.
   

Module Program:

The program has a theoretical component (20%), and a field component (80%).

Lectures:

• Introduction to modern structural geology and tectonics.
• Finite and Incremental Strain: Relevance for Regional-Scale Structures.
• Finite Strain Fields Superimposition vs Incremental Strain Fields Interference.
• Geodynamics of Mountain Belts and Large-Scale Structures in Orogens.
• Finite Strain Field of Large-Scale Tectonics Systems.
• Field mapping exercise: Characterisation of Regional Finite Strain Field in an High Grade metamorphic terrains.

Format, duration and timing:

Lectures will be delivered in at date to be announced.

Assumed Knowledge:

Third year structural geology and tectonics, intermediate sedimentology.

Text and/or reference materials:

Micro-tectonics, C.W. Passchier and R.A.J. Trouw, Elsevier, (1996).

Earth Structure, an introduction to structural geology and tectonics, B. Van der Pluijm and S. Marshak, McGraw-Hill (1997).

Assessment:

3000 worlds essay, field maps, cross sections and block diagrams.

Cost:

Free.

Module contact person and coordinator:

• Dr. P.F. Rey
• Earthbyte Research Group, School of Geosciences
• The University of Sydney
• NSW 2006, Australia
• Phone: 61 2 9351 2067
• Fax: 61 2 9351 0184
• E-mail: prey@geosci.usyd.edu.au