AAPG International Conference & Exhibition
October 24-27, 2004 • Cancun Convention Center • Cancun, Mexico

All courses will be held at the Camino Real Cancun Hotel
and include course notes and refreshments.

PRE-CONFERENCE
Course #1 (AMGP)
Structural Styles and Interpretation Techniques in Fold-Thrust Belts

Who Should Attend

Exploration and Production Geologists and Geophysicists. The course is designed for geoscientists who work in complex structural provinces and need to apply structural models and methods such as 2-D and 3-D balancing to improve interpretations for prospect evaluation and field development.

Course Content

Fold-Thrust Belts contain complex trap-forming structures, which are usually not well imaged on seismic data. The objective of the course is to discuss the 2-D and 3-D geometry and evolution of these structures and techniques for constructing balanced sóructural interpretations through them. Trap-forming structural models for fold-thrust belts will be presented. Problem sets will provide hands-on experience in developing and testing multiple structural solutions for subsurface case studies.

The course consists of the following topics:

• Structural geometry and 2-D and 3-D evolution of common fold-thrust structures, including fold-accommodation faults, detachment and faulted detachment folds, fault-propagation folds, fault-bend folds, duplexes, fold-thrust systems and growth-structures.
• Examples of trap-forming structures from the Alberta foothills, the Utah-Wyoming belt, the Campeche Bay area in Mexico, the sub-Andean fold belts, and the Dinaride, Carpathian, and Zagros fold belts will be discussed.
• Role of mechanical stratigraphy in controlling structural styles in fold belts. Examples of the correct and incorrect use of mechanical stratigraphy to choose between multiple structural solutions will be discussed.
• Methods for constructing balanced cross sections, maps, and 3-D interpretations including the use of line-length, area, and volumetric balancing. Demonstrations of the use of computer software for cross-section construction and restoration (LITHOTECT) Úill conducted. Common pitfalls in the construction of structural maps and cross sections will be discussed. Methods for integrating maps and cross sections to develop a consistent 3-D interpretation will be presented.