Structural exploration workflow

This section suggests a flow of tasks to help explorationists define a drill location, moving from the regional scale to the drill site. The discussion is from the perspective of a full-cycle exploration play, where we have a play concept and are looking for a drill location to test it.

The workflow

Figure 20-3 See text for explanation.

We begin by envisioning a structural play concept based on the thrust belt play of the U.S. Rocky Mountain area. The following workflow discussion tracks this play concept from inception to drill location through a “normal” structural exploration process, as shown in the figure.

Effects of scale

Figure 20-4 See text for explanation.

The technical tasks we identify are often related to the scale of our observation, from regional to microscopic. The following figure summarizes where the different techniques and tools described in section B can be applied. This sequence of tasks, in varying degrees, applies to any structural play.

See also

• Tectonic setting
• Structural domains
• Prospective structural fairways
• Lead and prospect delineation
• Location selection
• Thrust belt example

External links

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