UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY OF PETROLEUM DEPARTMENT

FuNDaMENTAL OF GEOLOGY
&
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY

Dr.Raad M. Wafur Al sadon

Introduction
Geology is the study of the earth. That we live on the earth is reason
enough to study it the more that we know about our planet, especially
its environment and resources, the better we can understand, use, and
appreciate it.
Geology has contributed a great deal to civilization, both intellectually
and economically. Among the great concepts gained from geological
studies are an understanding of the great age of the earth, and the
development of an absolute time scale. Geology differs from most other
sciences in that it is concerned with absolute time. Time appears in the
equations of physics and chemistry, but these sciences are generally
concerned with rates of change, and the time is relative-not absolute.
Geologic time extends back almost five billion years to when the earth
formed
The economic contributions of geology to civilization show that, in many
ways, geology is also a very practical science. Geologic knowledge is
used to locate and to exploit our mineral resources. Except for water
and soil, all mineral resources, such as petroleum, coal, and metals, are
nonrenewable. Once mined they are gone, and new deposits must be
found. Geologists discovered the deposits of metal and energyproducing minerals on which our civilization is based. We take these
things for granted now; but when the west was opening up and the
industrial revolution was occurring, these mineral deposits were being
discovered at a rapid rate and geologists were most influential scientists
of the day.
Today mineral resources still occupy many geologists, but geologists are
also concerned with other economic problems, such as urbanization. The
development of large cities has resulted in the construction of large
structures, such as tall buildings and dams. Geology helps in designing
foundations for these structures. Examples of both large and small
structures that have failed through neglect of simple geologic principles
are common. Dams fail because they are built near active faults or on
porous foundations. During their first rainy season, new highways are
washed out or blocked by landslides.Homes built on hillsides are
destroyed by landslides and mudflows.Geologists have also recognized
the need for earthquake-resistant structures in some areas and have
helped in their design.
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The geologist uses the method of multiple working hypotheses to test

his theories and to attempt to arrive at the best-reasoned theory. This
thought process requires as many hypotheses as possible and the ability
to devise ways to test each one. Not always is it possible to arrive at a
unique solutionbut this is the goal. In the sense that the geologist
uses observation, attention to details, and reasoning,and his methods
are similar to these of fictional detectives.
We begin our study by considering the crust the outer few milesof
the earth. We study, first, the minerals and rocks of the crust, because
they tell us much about the composition of the crust and the processes
that take place within the crust as well as on its surface. Then, we
consider erosionthe dominant surface process. Next, we consider the
interactions of the processes in the crust and in the deeper parts of the
earth, and learn how the present surface features of the earth formed.
This leads us to a model of the entire earth. Finally, we outline the
methods of dating and deciphering the earth's history.

The Science of Geology

The word geology is derived from the greek "gea" the earth and logos"
the science, thus it is "earth science". Geology is the science study of the
solid earth, that examines the earth, its from and composition and the
changes which it has undergone and is going. Geology deals with many
practical questions about our physical environment, what forces
produce different geological structures, understanding many processes
that operate beneath and upon itssurface. Thus geology might be called
a derived science (or applied science) asits objective is the explanation of
the phenomena, structures in the globe in terms of the general laws
recognized by the chemists, physicists, biologists and mathematicians.
So it is closely related to pure sciences (chemistry, physics, biology and
mathematics).

Branches of Earth Sciences

For the great developments that occurred in geology so it is subdivided
into many branches:
1- Petrology: The investigation of the rocks forming the earth.
2- Mineralogy and Crystallography: It is the mineral constituents of
rocks.
3- Structural Geology: How rocks are distributed.4- Geochemistry: It is a
study of the chemistry of rocks and the distribution of major and trace
elements in rocks and minerals. This can lead to an understanding of
how a particular rock has originated, this will lead, in the broadest sense,
to a knowledge of the chemistry of the upper layers of the earth.
5- Geological Mapping: The distribution of rocks at the earth's surface is
found by making a geological survey (that is, by geological mapping) and
is recorded on geological maps. This information about rocks is
superimposed on a topographic base map.
6- Geophysics: Knowledge of the nature and physical conditions of the
deeper levels of the planet can be gained only by the special methods of
geophysics, the twin science of geology; theterm "Earth Science"
embraces both. From the theory and methods of geophysics, a set of
techniques (applied geophysics) has been evolved for exploring the
distribution of rocks of shallower levels where the interests of geologists
and geophysicists are most intertwined.
7- Stratigraphy: The interpretation of rock layers as earth history and the
knowledge of the earth at present time raises questions about the
processes that have formed it in the past: that is, about its history.
8- Sedimentology: A studyof the processes leading to the formation of
sedimentary rocks.
9- Paleontology: It is the study of fossils and closely linked to earth
history, and from both has come the understanding of the development
of life on our planet. The insight thus gained, into expanses of time
stretching back over thousands of millions of years, into the origins of
life and into the evolution of man, is geology's main contribution to
scientific philosophy and to the ideas of educated men and women.

10- Physical Geology: It is the study of different geological processes

(weathering, erosion and deposition).
11-Hydrogeology& Geohydrology: Dealing with surface and
underground water respectively including investigations, quality and
quantity, contamination.
12- Mining & Petroleum Geology: It is the investigation for economical
mineral ores, natural gases and petroleum and their structures.
13- Engineering Geology: The science that links between geology and
civil engineering.
14- Environmental Geology: It deals with environmental problems
caused by geological phenomena such as; earthquakes, volcanoes,
landslides, and surface and underground water contamination.
15- Marine Geology: It deals with marine sediments and their associated
phenomena, petroleum resources using marine geophysical methods.
16- Remote Sensing: It deals withinvestigation and identification of
natural earth resources by means of satellites and airborne surveys.
17- Volcanology: It deals with the study of volcanoes, their formation,
types and distributions.
18- Glaciology: It deal with the study of glaciers, their types and
distributions.
19- Geochronology: It is the science of estimating ages using radioactive
elements.