COURSE OVERVIEW:

Salt Tectonics and Subsalt Imaging is a specialized course focusing on one of the most challenging and high-reward environments in petroleum exploration. Salt, acting as a viscous fluid over geological time, creates complex structural traps and unique migration pathways, but its high seismic velocity and irregular geometries present immense imaging challenges. This course provides a dual focus: the geological mechanics of salt movement and the advanced geophysical techniques required to "see" through and beneath salt bodies.

The coverage includes the mechanics of salt diapirism, halokinesis, and the development of salt canopies and sheets. Participants will learn how to interpret salt-related features—such as "minibasins," "flanks," and "weld" zones—and understand how salt evolution influences the deposition of surrounding sediments. The scope addresses the critical role of salt as a world-class seal and its impact on the thermal maturity of underlying source rocks due to its high thermal conductivity.

Furthermore, the course addresses the cutting-edge geophysical workflows for subsalt exploration, including Depth Migration (PSDM), Full Waveform Inversion (FWI), and Wide-Azimuth (WAZ) seismic acquisition. Attendees will learn how to build accurate salt velocity models and how to identify and mitigate imaging artifacts like "shadow zones" and "multiples." By the end of the course, participants will be able to perform integrated structural and geophysical evaluations of salt-provinces, from the Gulf of Mexico and Brazil to the Arabian Gulf and North Sea.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

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

• Define the unique physical and rheological properties of Evaporites.
• Identify the primary triggers for Salt Diapirism (Extension, Compression, Loading).
• Interpret Salt-related structural features: Diapirs, Canopies, Welds, and Flanks.
• Explain the evolution of "Minibasins" and their sediment fill patterns.
• Analyze the impact of Salt on regional Hydrocarbon Migration and Sealing.
• Evaluate the Thermal effects of Salt on source rock maturation (Heat-shielding).
• Understand the challenges of Seismic Wave Propagation through Salt.
• Utilize advanced velocity modeling techniques for Subsalt Imaging.
• Differentiate between Time Migration and Pre-Stack Depth Migration (PSDM).
• Assess the value of Full Waveform Inversion (FWI) in salt velocity updates.
• Identify typical Subsalt Imaging Artifacts and "Shadow Zones."
• Design seismic acquisition strategies optimized for salt environments (e.g., WAZ).
• Perform integrated Risk Assessment for subsalt exploration prospects.
• Communicate salt-related geological and geophysical risks to management.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Exploration Geophysicists, Structural Geologists, and Basin Modelers working in salt-influenced basins (e.g., Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Angola, Oman, North Sea).

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.