The objectives of this course are the study of the main invertebrate fossils groups, their applications in stratigraphy, palaeoecology and their importance in the petroleum exploration especially in the United Arab Emirates. It concentrates on the study of major fossil groups (micro-and macrofossils) and selected fossils from the local outcrops including Foraminifera, Calcareous Nanofossils, Ostracodes, Conodonts, Palynomorphs, Porifera, Cnidaria, Bryozoa, Brachiopoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata, Trilobites, Graptolites and trace fossils. Study their characteristic morphology, microstructure, chemistry, mineralogy, geological time scale, their origins and systematic affinities, fossilization process, nomenclature, evolution, extinction and important role in the history of life on Earth.
The course teaches the basic concepts of hydrogeology using examples from the UAE. Topics include: the hydrologic cycle, origin and age of groundwater, properties and kinds of aquifers, groundwater exploration, drilling, design, development and completion of water wells, principles of groundwater flow and pumping tests, physical and chemical properties of groundwater, recent developments in groundwater studies, and water resources in the UAE.
This course aims to develop a clear understanding of the principles of geophysics. It includes: reflection and refraction seismic waves, seismic data processing and interpretations, gravity measurement and applications of Newton's Law, gravity survey field procedures and interpretation. Magnetic parameters, field procedures and interpretations. Electrical properties of rocks, Ohm's Law, field resistivity measurements and geoelectrical interpretations.
The course describes the essential features of the Geological setting and structural framework of the Arabian Peninsula. It includes: the sedimentary sequences Palaeozoic-Cenozoic and the effect of tectonic movements and water depth variation on sedimentary facies. Introduction to the Geology of the UAE, structural and tectonic setting, evolution of Rub Al Khali and Ras Al-Khaima basins. Evolution of the islands in UAE. Stratigraphic sequence facies and palaeogeography of the UAE. Oil exploration history, hydrocarbon characteristics, and oil fields.
The course aims at giving the students the basic principles of inorganic geochemistry and water hydrochemistry. The course contents cover chemical differentiation of the earth, metals and non-metals, geochemistry of sedimentary rocks, clay minerals, carbonate deposits, isotope geochemistry, geochemical equilibrium, environmental pollution and its sources, water chemistry, acidity- alkalinity, saltwater intrusion, rock-water interaction, hydrochemical evolution.
The course is intended to teach and improve the understanding of the minerals exploration issue. The basic elements of geological, geophysical and geochemical tools and data required for mineral explorations are described. The general techniques and procedures used in mineral prospecting are discussed. The types of mineral resources and/or industrial minerals occurring in the UAE and/or Gulf regions will be outlined with real examples enhance where possible. Field excursion to a practical site may also be included as an additional course tools.
Through this course, faculty members are given the chance to teach new or timely subjects that are not covered in other courses.
This course aims to provide the students with fundamental knowledge about the Earth’s origin, composition, structures and history. Information about the different geological processes and plate tectonics are also introduced.
The course is designed to all university students in order to provide them with general education knowledge about our planet; its past, present and future changes. The course will include three main sections; the first focusing on Earth evolution in time and space, the second covers the Earth materials and Earth shaping processes and the third deals with natural hazards and the future of earth sciences. The course will be based on lectures, computer assisted exercises, multimedia presentations and seminars.
This subject presents the fundamental principles of geology and their context in the evolution of the Earth. It introduces the main concepts in the foundational disciplines of mineralogy, sedimentary petrology, stratigraphy, paleontology, structural geology and tectonics, with some reference to igneous and metamorphic petrology, geomorphology, resource geology and engineering geology.
This course aims to develop a clear understanding and basic concepts of crystallography and mineralogy. Crystal system, symmetry, lattice, defect, twining, mineral groups, and mineral optical properties are well discussed. Petrographic microscope parts and uses, thin-section, opaques, isotropic and anisotropic minerals and related characteristics are included. Uniaxial and biaxial minerals are also defined with their different appearance. The course is associated with a laboratory part that forms the main practical application of the course items.
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The objectives of this course are the study of the main invertebrate groups and their applications in stratigraphy and palaeoecology. It includes two modules. The first deals with general palaeontology: fossilization, ecology and palaeoecology, mode of life, palaeogeography, classification and nomenclature, evolution and extinction. The second module deals with the study of the taxonomic groups: Foraminifera, Porifera, Cnidaria, Bryozoa, Brachiopoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata, Trilobites, Graptolites and trace fossils.
This Paleontology course is divided into two parts: the first deals with Micropaleontology and concentrates on selected forams, ostracods, nannofossils and etc…. The second part instructs students in the essentials of Invertebrate Macropaleontology, with emphasis on sponges, corals, bryozoa, brachiopods, molluscs, echinoids and arthropods. Students are trained to identify and describe key fossils to genus level using microscope and hand lens and to determine their relative age. Additional skills include fossil sketching and literature search. Some applications of Paleontology to hydrocarbon exploration are presented. Invertebrate Paleontology is the study of ancient invertebrates, typically defined as any organisms without backbones and divided into Micropaleontology (is the study of microscopic fossils) and Macropaleontology (fossils which can be studied with naked eye and using hand lens).
This course aims at teaching an introduction and review of fundamental concepts in structural Geology. Measurement of attitudes of planes and lines. Use of the compass. Non-tectonic/Primary sedimentary structures and unconformities. Concepts of stress and strain. Mechanical behavior of rocks. Secondary structures: faults, folds and joints. Cleavage, foliations and lineations. Analysis of Geological structures.
This course presents a broad review of igneous rocks, emphasising their tectonic associations, interrelationships and petrogenesis as well as an introduction to the principles that govern mineralogical mineral assemblages and reactions in metamorphic rocks. After successful completion of this course you will have an integrated understanding of the range, composition and petrogenesis of the major igneous and metamorphic rock groups and will be able to identify them in thin section and deduce their tectonic association and mode of origin. You will review metamorphic facies, facies series and their distribution, as well as the thermal and tectonic controls on metamorphism. You will become familiar with the key skills used to aid the interpretation of metamorphic rocks: AKF, AFM diagrams and Thompson projections (for pelites) and petrogenetic grids and you will learn how to interpret these.
This course aims to develop a clear understanding and basic knowledge of the properties and theories of light, the polarizing light microscope, mineral optics in ordinary light and in polarized light. Optical properties of minerals in crossed polars observations. Convergent light and interference figures. Uniaxial and biaxial minerals. Rock-forming minerals.
This course aims to develop a thorough knowledge of the characteristics and origins of igneous rocks, igneous processes, chemical patterns in igneous rocks, igneous rock associations: description, occurrence and origin. Lamprophyre dykes. Processes in metamorphic rocks. Description and origin of contact, regional and dynamic metamorphic rocks. Review of the origin of igneous and metamorphic rock associations. Ophiolites of the UAE.
The course includes the description of the processes of formation of sediments. It covers the techniques used in the analysis and description of sediments, the transformation of sediments into sedimentary rocks and the details of diagenetic processes. Description of all varieties of sedimentary rocks and their fabrics, with examples from the UAE region. The economic potential of sedimentary rocks will be highlighted.
The course aims to develop the skills of students with a firm understanding of the basic principles and concepts of sedimentation and sedimentary rocks in relation to depositional and post-depositional processes and products. It includes studying both modern and ancient sedimentary environments on continents and in marine systems. The course provides introduction to the environments, processes and classification of sediments and sedimentary rocks. The topics cover information about weathering, erosion, sedimentation and formation of rocks. Field and laboratory techniques used in the analyses of sediments and sedimentary rocks are presented. Description of all varieties of sedimentary rocks and their economic uses are discussed with examples from the UAE region.
This course is aimed to acquaint students with the fundamental concepts of engineering geoscience and applications in engineering constructions and infrastructure planning such as tunnels, dams, bridges etc. In addition, the course will provide methods and techniques commonly used in collecting and testing geological units and classify the data for engineering applications.
Economic geology: Study the genesis and geology of ore deposits including base- and precious-metals, gems and other materials of commercial value, such as salt, gypsum, and building stone. This course concerned with the distribution of mineral deposits, factors controlling the formation of these deposits, the economic considerations involved in their recovery, and an assessment of the reserves available.. It applies the principles and methods of various other fields of the geologic sciences, most notably geophysics, structural geology, and stratigraphy. Its chief objective is to guide the exploration for mineral resources and help determine which deposits are economically worthwhile to mine. . Discuss how society uses each material, the environmental implications of doing so, and the remediation steps necessary to minimize the associated environmental impact.
This course is designed to give a comprehensive knowledge of geophysics focusing mainly on the theory of potential field methods and their applications. The course covers the gravity and magnetic methods as well as the electric and electromagnetic methods. The course subject will focus on the application of these methods in subsurface structure studies, groundwater prospecting, mineral prospecting, engineering and environmental studies.
Stratigraphy is the study of all rock strata, and their organization into mappable units based on their properties. Students will be instructed in elementary lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy, and introduced to other stratigraphic method (chronostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, seismic stratigraphy, etc.). Practical aspects of this course include stratigraphic section measurement, correlation, lithofacies and biofacies analysis. Applications of stratigraphy to hydrocarbon exploration are discussed.
This course introduces the students to the theory and applications of Exploration Seismology. The course is concentrated on the reflection and refraction techniques. The course focuses on the field survey and data acquisition, data processing and interpretation in terms of structural and stratigraphic features. The course introduces the students to processing of seismic data on computer with emphasis on exploring and characterizing petroleum reservoirs using seismic reflection methods.
This course covers the theory of plate tectonics and examines the geology of earthquakes, the global pattern of seismicity and seismicity associated with the tectonic settings. It focuses on the regional seismicity and the seismicity of UAE both historical and recent. Special attention will be given on the interpretation of seismic waves, fault mechanism, identification of events from observatory records, and assessing seismic hazards in the region.
This course introduces the basic principles of remote sensing and fundamentals of GIS. This includes introduction to electromagnetic radiation and targets; reflectance of terrain features; target signature; color composition; digital image processing and interpretation; photo geological examples from the United Arab Emirates.
This course presents an exposition of the impact of chemistry and its laws on the spatial distribution of elements in the various spheres of the Earth. It introduces theories on the origin of the elements which compose the Earth, and the Solar System. The geochemistry of isotopes and radionucleides. Geochemistry of the three types of rocks on the Earth’s crust. Thermodynamics of elements. Geochemical exploration. Geochemical balance, and finally environmental geochemistry as a modern discipline.
This course covers the importance of the petrophysical properties of reservoir rocks, such as porosity, permeability, resistivity, and water saturation. It provides the basic background to well logging and reservoir characterization. The course aims at the achievement of profound understanding of the major petrophysical properties of reservoirs, and provides the theoretical knowledge required for log analysis and reservoir characterization. The course leads to bridges the gap between geologic and engineering understanding of reservoir rocks, and give a better understanding of the relation between rocks and fluids.
This course is an introduction to the groundwater and the problems associated with it. The course is aimed to provide the students the basic aspects of hydrogeology such as hydrological cycle and properties of aquifer. In this course, principles of groundwater flow and soil moisture and groundwater recharge will be covered. The course covers also water chemistry and water quality and introduces the different field methods used in hydrogeology exploration and groundwater modeling. This course will help prepare students for either a career in hydrogeology or in other areas of environmental science and engineering where a strong background in hydrogeology is needed.
The course aims at introducing principles of cosmology and the formation of galaxies and planets in space and time as well as components of space in our solar system and planetary composition. Methods used to probe space and atmosphere of terrestrial planet will be presented. Special focus will be given to the composition and landscape features of terrestrial planets (Mars, Mercury and Venus) and comparison with those found on Earth.
This course deals with the principles of environmental geoscience as an integral part of the students’ curriculum. It includes renewable and non-renewable resources, minerals, fossil fuels and water, conservation measures. Natural hazards including volcanic activity, earthquakes, floods, regional subsidence and landslides. Mitigative measures. Pollution of air, surface and subsurface water, and soil. Waste disposal in a Geologic context. Man’s modification of the physical environment. Environmental management.
The course aims at introducing the principles of radioactivity and radioactive isotopes, including modes of occurrence in nature and sources for industrial production. Exploration methods for radioactive isotopes and processes of formation will also be introduced. In addition, methods used in the survey and selection of repository sites for the storage of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste will be presented.
This course uses geocomputation and geovisualization for analyzing geoinformation. It combines geospatial analysis and modeling, development of geospatial databases and geosciences oriented information systems design. Topics will cover following fields: environmental geodatabases; water geodatabases; soil geodatabases; minerals geodatabases; hydrocarbons geodatabases; etc. Furthermore, analysis of geodatabases using spatial analysis tools and functions will be covered. It is expected that at the end of the course students will be able to build discipline-oriented geodatabases and implement geospatial projects to solve spatial problems about Earth and its resources, using available geospatial data. Case studies from the United Arab Emirates will be selected.
This course introduces the principles and concept of hydrocarbons formation in sedimentary rocks. The course provides comprehensive integration hydrocarbons from the sources to generation, migration and trapping. The course will introduce methods and techniques used to evaluate hydrocarbons potential of sedimentary basins. Introduction of applications related to hydrocarbons exploration, accumulation and exploitation will also be presented. The course aims at teaching the theories and hypothesis related to the formation of hydrocarbons. At the same time the mechanisms of hydrocarbon generation, migration and trapping are learned. Students will learn also about the different methods used in hydrocarbon exploration. Students will learn about the role of geological condition in the hydrocarbon exploration. At the end of the course non-conventional petroleum resources will be presented.
This course is designed to enhance the student research and innovation capability in geosciences. This course may also involve field and laboratory activities as well as literature survey. Report and presentation are required.
The course Geology of the UAE will focus on the geological features and history of the Arabian Plate, upon which UAE is situated. It is an overview of the geological evolution of the exposed and deep (subsurface) geology (stratigraphy, structure, economic importance, etc.) of the UAE. A highlight of the course is treatment of the UAE- Oman Semail Ophiolite, which is one of the largest and best exposed ophiolites in the world. The course includes field visits to key geological sites and requires an individual student-written report on aspects of the geology of the UAE.
The course aims to develop practical skills in field Geology and field surveying. It includes training in the use of a range of field instruments, field trips to selected areas, practical methods of Stratigraphy and facies analysis, ophiolite Stratigraphy, metamorphic rocks and metamorphism, structural Geology and regional tectonics, sabkha environments and salt domes.
The training programme is coordinated by both the Department, academic supervisor and the faculty training committee. The programme is continuously monitored and reviewed by a field supervisor staff member at one of the various geological organizations in the United Arab Emirates. (This course is conducted over half a semester (8 weeks) during the third year of study. Offered condensed courses should be taken during the other half of the semester).
Aerial and space photography. Electromagnetic spectrum. Techniques, electronic processing and enhancement. Sequential photography. Landsat satellites and others. Pattern recognition and classification. Applications in resource and pollution studies: geological, soil, hydrological, agricultural, forests, rangeland, coastal zones, urban and rural landuse. Identification, monitoring and warning against pollution and natural hazards.
Application of principles and techniques of geochemistry to mineral and oil exploration. Mobility, dispersion, pathfinders and anomalies. Soil, water, rock, and plant surveys. Analytical techniques and field methods. Critical heavy metals influencing health of man, animals and plants. Medical implications. Identification and monitoring of air, water and soil pollution. Geochemical maps.
Non-renewable resources: oil, gas and coal, nuclear energy. Renewable resources: geothermal energy, solar, wind and tidal wave energy. Integration of resources. Centralized networks, economics, and future needs. Reserves and conservation measures. Middle East resources and problems.
Geotechnical studies. Surface structures in the fields of civil engineering and agriculture. Coastal zones. Site selection, foundation problems. Landslides. Design and construction of underground structures. Extraction of water, petroleum and natural gas. Military applications. Failure of structures. Engineering codes.
Origin of fossil fuels, Chemical structures and conventions. Formation , composition and maturation of Kerogen. Composition of bitumen, petroleum and natural gas. Factors affecting composition of bitumen and petroleum. Primary and secondary migration of oil. Analytical techniques of source rocks (extraction, fractionation and biomarker analysis). Source rock evaluation (quantity, quality and maturity of organic matter. Predicting thermal maturity.
Gross oil composition. Molecular properties of crude oil. Source input and depositional environment of crude oil. Maturity of crude oil. Effects of migration on the biological markers of oils. Correlation of oils and source rocks. Analytical techniques of crude oil. Reservoir transformations of crude oil (cracking, de-asphalting, water washing and biodegradation). Major reservoir problems such as communication within a reservoir and formation of tar-mats.
Analysis of geologic controls on composition and architecture of oil and gas reservoirs, with emphasis on reservoir heterogeneity resulting from depositional and diagenetic processes. Geological and petrophysical determinants of fluid flows and behavior. The depositional processes, depositional environments, and basin settings of different clastic and carbonate hydrocarbon reservoirs and their hydrocarbon potentiality will be discussed in this course.
The course aims to understanding the background theory of the electromagnetic exploration techniques. It includes the mechanisms of conduction and polarization in earth materials. It covers all the major exploration techniques resistivity, induced polarization, VLF-EM, time domain EM, frequency domain EM slingram and magnetotellurics, with special emphasis on survey design, data analysis and interpretation.
The modeling of sedimentary basin takes many different forms including geological modeling, structural modeling, Geochemical modeling, and reservoir simulation. In this course students will be exposed to these different types of basin models, the required input data for each of these model types, and the methodology for modeling as well as the application of the result of each model. The student will learn how to incorporate data from basin analysis, reservoir characterization, petrophysical data, structure data, and reservoir geochemistry into a reservoir simulation.
This course aims at systematic assessment of the evolution of hydrocarbon basin through space and time and usefulness in exploration practices. The course will provide the students with fundamentals controlling basin development through burial and tectonic history.
This course aims to provide introduction of geological, geophysical and geochemical methods used in the evaluation of petroleum bearing sedimentary rocks. The course will also include evaluation of geological risk and optimization in exploration prospects.
Through this course, faculty members are given the chance to teach new or timely subjects that are not covered in other courses.
The aim of the course is to acquaint the students with the different geophysical field techniques and technical problem recognition. The course covers explanation and functioning of the geophysical instruments including magnetometer, gravimeter, geoelectric instruments both electromagnetic and electric, and seismic. The course also covers the data acquisition and first step processing.
The course aims to provide an understanding of the dynamics of the solid Earth from theoretical and observational seismology and seismotectonics in relation to earthquake hazard and mitigation. It provides an in-depth study of earthquake seismology and earthquake hazard. The course includes procedures for Interpreting earthquake seismograms and determination of earthquake focal mechanisms. Special attention is given to the seismicity of the UAE by considering the local seismology network data.
This course aims at introducing different features and characteristics, such as porosity modification by diagenesis and reservoir heterogeneity, of carbonate rocks commonly encountered in petroleum producing units. Special emphasis will be given to the carbonates rocks of the UAE.
This course aims to introduce principles of diagenesis in sedimentary rocks and the effects of diagnetic processes on sequence stratigraphy of petroleum reservoirs with respect to basin architecture, relative sea level change and history. The course will also introduce the students to the art of sequence stratigraphic correlation on local, regional and global scale.
This course aims to provide introduction of geological, geophysical and geochemical methods used in the evaluation of petroleum bearing sedimentary rocks. The course will also include evaluation of geological risk and optimization in exploration prospects.
This course introduces students to the fundamental of computing and to their practical applications in geosciences. Students will conduct computer-based analysis of data, which is mainly based on data collected using techniques of geophysical exploration.
The course provides a selection of classic examples of tectonic divergent (Atlantic passive margin and mid-ocean ridge spreading axis), transform (strike-slip and transpressive plate boundary), and convergent (Andean and Mariana-type subduction, arc-arc, arc-continent, and continent-continent collisions) plate boundaries for detailed treatment. The origins and evolution of key tectonic elements such as ocean basins, transform faults, oceanic trenches, volcanic island arcs, back-arc basins, continental rifts, continental shelves, orogenic mountain ranges etc. are explored.
The course aims to enable students to use computer-based innovative techniques for the analysis and modeling of geospatial data. GPS, GIS, Digital Image Processing, and Geo-database building will be explained and used for problem solving and modeling. The course consists of three interrelated parts: a theoretical part which focuses on the concepts, a practical part which aims at developing hands-on skills in using software tools, and an application oriented part in which participants learn how to design and carry out sequential data processing steps for solving typical application problems in Geoscience. It is expected that at the end of the course students will be able to build models integrating various types of Geospatial data related to land forms, environment, water, hydrocarbon exploration, etc.
This course examines the important modern issues of environmental and social dimensions that lie within the geological sphere of study. The main topics covered in this course deal with energy sources and waste products, water for populations and industry, mineral and industrial material resource prospects and challenges, land use, land management, seismic assessment, coastal and sabkha issues, environmental engineering, climate and desertification issues.
This course begins with a review of the classification of igneous rocks, followed by a study of the field occurrences, mineralogy, textures, compositions and origins for the major extrusive and intrusive rock associations. As the semester proceeds, experimental evidence is evaluated which can shed light on the origin and crystallization of magmas. During the second half of the term, metamorphic rocks, processes, and structures are considered from a field, laboratory, and experimental perspective. Igneous and metamorphic rocks and processes are considered at all scales, from global plates, mountain ranges, large outcrops, and hand-samples, through microscopic and submicroscopic observations.
This course aims at giving the students the knowledge and clues about how much oil remains undiscovered in the sedimentary basins of the world? Where is it? and how do we find it? using crustal and global basin classification. This course identifies the key elements essential to a specific basin / play analysis that lead to oil and gas play definition. It includes a number of case studies about the petroleum basins in the world particularly the Arabian Gulf region.
The aim of this course is to identify the key elements of seismic reflection patterns, amplitudes and frequencies essential to a specific basin stratigraphic and facies analysis that lead to oil and gas play definition. It gives clues about the methods of analyzing environments of deposition, type of rocks, Sedimentary sequences, fluid content and contacts, palaeo-sea level change and the Geologic history.
The main objectives of this course is to introduce many of the basic concepts used by geochemists in obtaining information on the origin and history of crude oil, bitumen, petroleum and natural gas, to evaluate the source rocks of oil, to develop the concept of biomarkers and to interpret GC and GC/MS chromatograms.
Through this course, faculty members are given the chance to teach new or timely subjects that are not covered in other courses.
The course teaches the basic concepts of hydrogeology using examples from the UAE. Topics include: the hydrologic cycle, origin and age of groundwater, properties and kinds of aquifers, groundwater exploration, drilling, design, development and completion of water wells, principles of groundwater flow and pumping tests, physical and chemical properties of groundwater, recent developments in groundwater studies, and water resources in the UAE.
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