Structural Geology is a basic-level course for petroleum majors (Resources Exploration Engineering, Exploration Technology and Engineering) in our school. Since the year of 1958 when our school was founded, this course has been offered as an important basic course listed in the teaching plan of Petroleum Geological Exploration, one of the earliest majors in our school. By 1998, as the national academic catalogue was adjusted, the original major of Petroleum Geological Exploration was renamed as Resources Exploration Engineering, and Geophysical Exploration and Logging were combined into the major of Exploration Technology and Engineering. But, Structural Geology has been still being a compulsory course to provide professional training, ranking among the three most important basic courses for oil and gas exploration majors.
Structural Geology focuses on teaching the primary structure of rock strata, methods to express attitude of rock strata, contact relation of strata, structure-related rock mechanical properties and rock deformation principles, basic types and concepts of basic elements of geological structures, basic concepts of Tectonics and basin structures, geometrical, kinematic and dynamic characteristics of various large, medium and small secondary structures, and the research methods of various structures. This course integrates theory and practices such as indoor experiments and field practices. It aims to train students to understand general geological maps, compile maps, identify and explain structure and know how to describe in writing, and be able to use structural geology knowledge to provide oil and gas exploration services.
Through the study of Structural Geology, students are expected to master relevant concepts, theories, skills and structural analysis methods at a basic level, thus laying a foundation for interpretation of structures based on exploration data of mineral resources (especially oil and gas resources). The goals of this course are as follows: it requires repetitive practices indoor and in the field so as to understand concepts, principles, and observation and research methods at a basic level, and helps students prepared for further study and work; at the end of this course, students are expected to know how to interpret and compile basic structural geological maps and put basic knowledge into practices, to speculate underground concealed structures, reasonably explain structural genesis, and establish correct structural geological models for oil and gas exploration and development; students are also required to be able to analyze the genesis of basins and the characteristics of their tectonic development and evolution.
