Field Scientific Trip for Students of the Faculty of Petroleum and Natural Resources to Enhance Applied Skills
Field Scientific Trip for Students of the Faculty of Petroleum and Natural Resources to Enhance Applied Skills
Thursday, 21 Rabi’ al-Awwal 1448 AH, corresponding to September 3, 2026 AD
The Faculty of Petroleum and Natural Resources at Sana’a University, in cooperation with the General Administration of Student Activities and the University Student Forum, organized a field scientific trip for students of the faculty from various levels and departments, including petroleum and natural gas engineering, earth sciences, environmental sciences, and mineral resources, with the aim of enhancing applied skills and linking theoretical knowledge to field applications.
The route of the trip included Sana’a – Amran – Kohlan – Ain Ali in Wadi Sharas – Sana’a, under the academic supervision of Prof. Dr. Khaled Khanbari, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Akhali, Dr. Khaled Al-Salwi, Eng. Ibrahim Howash, and Mr. Khaled Al-Yana’i.
The trip focused on studying the stratigraphic sequence and geological formations in various regions, and conducting practical applications on rock outcrops, enabling students to employ the knowledge they received in classrooms in field monitoring, measurement, and analysis tasks.
At the North Al-Sitteen station, students examined a volcanic dike in the sandstone belonging to the Tawila Group, and received practical training on using the geological hammer, magnifying glass, and geological compass, in addition to conducting strike and dip measurements, and learning about Tertiary and Quaternary volcanics and the factors associated with their distribution within rock formations in Yemen.
The tour also addressed, at the Al-Azraqin landfill and the Amran Cement Factory, the potential environmental impacts of activities associated with them, and their implications for the surrounding population and environment, within the framework of linking geological and environmental studies.
The trip included studying the limestone rocks of the Amran Group, and learning about their geological and economic importance, their characteristics in terms of porosity and fracturing, and their associated importance in petroleum studies and the presence of hydrocarbon fluids.
In the Kohlan Formation (Kohlan Sandstone), students learned about the sandstone rocks rich in iron oxides and their environmental and depositional significance, while the Akbra Shale station addressed its importance as one of the formations associated with source rocks in the petroleum system and the formation and generation of oil.
The geological stations concluded in Wadi Sharas – Ain Ali in Hajjah Governorate, where students examined the basement rocks, which usually comprise igneous and metamorphic rocks, and learned about their characteristics, alongside studying the depositional environments and the economic importance of the formations that were examined, contributing to the formation of an integrated visualization of the geological column of the region.
The trip also included field training on identifying dikes and vertical joints in rocks, as indicators of zones of structural weakness of importance in geological and engineering studies, in addition to training on using the Global Positioning System (GPS) device to record coordinates and link them to field data.
During the trip, students collected representative rock samples of the various formations, documenting them systematically in preparation for laboratory examination and analysis, and linking the results of field observations and measurements with laboratory results.
At the conclusion of the trip, the students expressed their thanks and appreciation to the leadership of Sana’a University, the General Administration of Student Activities, and the Faculty of Petroleum and Natural Resources for their attention to scientific and field activities and their support for field trip programs, affirming that such trips represent an important educational experience in developing their practical skills and enhancing their knowledge in the fields of oil and gas, earth sciences, environment, and mineral resources.
