Industrial Structural Geology
Structural geology is an integral and influential discipline applied across a spectrum of geosciences. Concepts and techniques derived and developed from structural geology studies are routine components in numerous areas of geoscientific investigation, ranging from the petrological thin section to the analysis of data derived by remotely sensed satellite observation. The scale of the discipline is of particular relevance when applied to the activities of the natural resource industries (especially the hydrocarbon, mining and hydrogeology sectors), where subsurface definition, quantification and extraction (or storage) of industrial or economic resources is essential. Common examples of the industrial applications of structural geology include the interpretation of borehole-derived and seismic data to define the architectural geometries of hydrocarbon and mineral deposits, enabling the quantification of these resources and evaluate potential economic (and safe) techniques for their extraction.
With contributions from workers within academic institutions, consultancies and industry, this Special Publication provides a comprehensive synthesis of the current trends and predicted future direction of structural geology as applied to natural resource / industrial contexts. Introduced with an overview paper from the editors, the volume presents 16 papers organised into three fully-indexed thematic sections: industrial structural principles, industry techniques and workflows and structural integration and case studies from industry. Diverse topics covered include trap definition, fault seal, fold-and-thrust belts, fractured reservoirs, fluid flow and geomechanics.
In summary, the volume demonstrates the current and continuing significance of the techniques of structural geology to the resource industries (particularly within hydrocarbon exploration and production), and the applicability of these techniques at all scales and ‘lifetime’ stages of a resource. The volume additionally provides substantive insights into how structural geological ‘theory’ translates appropriately into industrial ‘practice’.
Providing an excellent overview of the ‘state of the art’ pure and applied developments within this important and evolving field, the expected audience is anticipated from both academic and industrial sector geoscientists. The contributions are well-written and edited, complemented with appropriate figures, photographs and data-tables, features that one has come to expect from the GSL Special Publication series. The editors and contributors are to be congratulated. A recommended read.
Reviewed by Mark Griffin
INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY: PRINCIPLES, TECHNIQUES AND INTEGRATION by RICHARDS F L, RICHARDSON N J, RIPPINGTON S J, WILSON R. W AND BOND C E (editors). Geological Society of London Special Publication No. 421. 2015. Geological Society of London. ISBN 978-1-86239-733-9. Hbk. 267pp. ISSN 0305-8719. List Price: £100.00, www.geolsoc.org.uk.