COURSE OVERVIEW:

Fault interpretation is a critical component of structural geology and seismic exploration, directly impacting the understanding of trap geometry, reservoir compartmentalization, and hydrocarbon migration. This course is designed to equip geoscientists with the skills required to accurately identify, map, and analyze faults using high-resolution 3D seismic volumes. Participants will move beyond simple line-drawing to learn the mechanical principles of faulting and how these principles guide the interpretive process. The coverage includes the recognition of different fault styles normal, reverse, and strike-slip and their expression in various seismic displays.

The scope of the course focuses heavily on modern digital workflows, utilizing seismic attributes to enhance fault visibility. Participants will learn how to leverage coherence, curvature, and variance cubes to detect subtle discontinuities that are often missed on standard amplitude sections. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of 3D visualization, teaching students how to use time-slices, horizon-slices, and chair-cuts to understand the spatial evolution of fault systems. This multidimensional approach ensures that the resulting structural framework is geologically plausible and internally consistent.

Furthermore, the course addresses the practical implications of faulting on the petroleum system. This includes techniques for fault surface modeling, juxtaposition analysis, and fault seal assessment (such as Shale Gouge Ratio calculation). By understanding how faults behave as either barriers or conduits for fluid flow, interpreters can better predict reservoir performance and identify potential leak points. Through hands-on exercises and case studies, the course provides a comprehensive toolkit for building robust structural models that form the basis for well planning and resource estimation.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

• Define the mechanical principles of faulting and rock deformation.
• Recognize different fault styles in 3D seismic volumes.
• Utilize seismic attributes like variance and coherence for fault detection.
• Apply 3D visualization techniques to map complex fault networks.
• Construct geologically valid fault surfaces and frameworks.
• Differentiate between tectonic faults and geophysical artifacts.
• Analyze fault linkage and relay ramp geometries.
• Perform fault juxtaposition analysis using Allan maps.
• Calculate Shale Gouge Ratio (SGR) for seal integrity assessment.
• Evaluate the impact of faulting on reservoir compartmentalization.
• Identify strike-slip faulting and its associated structural features.
• Use curvature attributes to identify sub-seismic faulting and fractures.
• Validate structural interpretations through kinematic restoration principles.
• Integrate fault interpretation into the final 3D static reservoir model.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Geophysicists, Structural Geologists, and Interpretation Geoscientists focused on structural mapping and reservoir characterization.

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximise the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and at the end of the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants completing a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.