Numerical modelling of strain localisation and fluid flow during extensional fault reactivation: Implications for hydrocarbon preservation

Journal of Structural Geology

Volumn 31, Issue 3, 2009, Pages 315-327

  Zhang, Y ^a   Gartrell, A ^a   Underschultz, J R ^a   Dewhurst, D N ^a  

^a CSIRO   (Australia)

Author keywords

Extension; Fault reactivation; Fluid flow; Hydrocarbon preservation; Timor Sea

Indexed keywords

CONTROL FLUIDS; EXTENSION; EXTENSIONAL FAULTS; FAULT LENGTHS; FAULT REACTIVATION; FAULT STRIKES; FLUID FLOW; FLUID FLOW MODELS; FLUID TRANSPORTS; INITIAL FAULTS; MECHANICAL DEFORMATIONS; MODEL RESULTS; NUMERICAL MODELLING; PRIMARY CONTROLS; RESERVOIR ROCKS; SANDSTONE RESERVOIRS; SEAL GEOMETRIES; SHALE SEALS; STRAIN DISTRIBUTIONS; STRAIN LOCALISATION; STRAIN PARTITIONING; TIMOR SEA;

FLOW OF FLUIDS; FLUIDS; HYDROCARBONS; SHEAR STRAIN; THREE DIMENSIONAL;

TRANSPORT PROPERTIES;

DEFORMATION MECHANISM; EXTENSIONAL TECTONICS; FAULT PROPAGATION; FLOW MODELING; FLUID FLOW; HYDROCARBON RESERVOIR; NUMERICAL MODEL; RESERVOIR ROCK; STRAIN ANALYSIS; STRAIN PARTITIONING; THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELING;

INDIAN OCEAN; TIMOR SEA;

EID: 62149088574     PISSN: 01918141     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsg.2008.11.006     Document Type: Article

References (38)

1. Buchmann T.J., and Connolly P.T. Contemporary kinematics of the Upper Rhine Graben: a 3D finite element approach. Global and Planetary Change 58 (2007) 287-309
2. Buchmann, T.J., Peters, G., Connolly, P.T., 2008. Recent faulting in the Upper Rhine Graben (Germany): a 3D finite element approach to predict fault reactivation. Proceedings of 42nd US Rock Mechanics Symposium and 2nd US-Canada Rock Mechanics Symposium (June 29-July 2, 2008), paper no.: ARMA08-244, 5 pp.
3. Connolly P., and Cosgrove J. Prediction of static and dynamic fluid pathways within and around dilational jogs. In: McCaffrey K.J.W., Lonergan L., and Wilkinson J.J. (Eds). Fractures, Fluid Flow and Mineralization. Geological Society, London, Special Publications vol. 155 (1999) 105-121
4. Connolly P., and Cosgrove J. Prediction of fracture-induced permeability and fluid flow in the crust using experimental stress data. AAPG Bulletin 83 (1999) 757-777
5. Cowie P.A. A healing-reloading feedback control on the growth rate of seismogenic faults. Journal of Structural Geology 20 (1998) 1075-1087
6. Cox S.F. Faulting processes at high fluid pressures: an example of fault valve behavior from the Wattle Gully Fault, Victoria, Australia. Journal of Geophysical Research 100 (1995) 12841-12859
7. Cundall, P.A., Board, M., 1988, A microcomputer program for modelling large-strain plasticity problems. In: Swoboda, G. (Eds.), Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Numerical methods in Geomechanics: Numerical Methods in Geomechanics. vol. 6, pp. 2101-2108.
8. Fu, X.W., Chen, S.J., Wang, X.L., Zeng, J., 2006. Geology of the Hububi gas reservoir in the southern margin of the Junggar basin, Northwest China. 2006 AAPG Interantional Conference and Exhibition abstract volume/CD, 5-8 November 2006, Perth, Australia, 7 pp.
9. Gartrell A., Bailey W.R., and Brincat M. Strain localization and trap geometry as key controls on hydrocarbon preservation in the Laminaria high area. APPEA Journal (Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association) 45 (2005) 477-492
10. Gartrell A., Bailey W.R., and Brincat M. A new model for assessing trap integrity and oil preservation risks associated with post-rift fault reactivation in the Timor Sea. AAPG Bulletin 90 (2006) 1921-1944
11. Gartrell A., Zhang Y., Lisk M., and Dewhurst D.N. Fault intersections as critical hydrocarbon leakage zones: integrated field study and numerical modeling of an example from the Timor Sea, Australia. Marine and Petroleum Geology 21 (2004) 1165-1179
12. Garven G., Bull S.W., and Large R.R. Hydrothermal fluid flow models of stratiform ore genesis in the McArthur Basin, Northern Territory, Australia. Geofluids 1 (2001) 289-311
13. Hobbs B.E., Mühlhaus H.-B., and Ord A. Instability, softening and localisation of deformation. In: Knipe R.J., and Rutter E.H. (Eds). Deformation Mechanisms, Rheology and Tectonics. Geological Society, London, Special Publication vol. 54 (1990) 143-165
14. Holland M., Urai J.L., van der Zee W., Stanjek H., and Konstanty J. Fault gouge evolution in highly overconsolidated claystones. Journal of Structural Geology 28 (2006) 323-332
15. Itasca. FLAC3D: Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in 3 Dimensions, User Manual, Version 3.1 (2005), Itasca Consulting Group, Inc., Minneapolis
16. Jaeger J.C., and Cook N.G.W. Fundamentals of Rock Mechanics. third ed. (1979), Chapman and Hall, London
17. Mandl G. Mechanics of Tectonic Faulting (1988), Elsevier, Amsterdam
18. McClay K., and Bonora M. Analog models of restraining stepovers in strike-slip fault systems. AAPG Bulletin 85 (2001) 233-260
19. McLellan J.G., Oliver N.H.S., and Schaubs P.M. Fluid flow in extensional environments; numerical modeling with an application to Hamersley iron ores. Journal of Structural Geology 26 (2004) 1157-1171
20. Meyer V., Nicol A., Childs C., Walsh J.J., and Watterson J. Progressive localisation of strain during the evolution of a normal fault population. Journal of Structural Geology 24 (2002) 1215-1231
21. O'Brien G.W., Lisk M., Duddy I.R., Hamilton J., and Cowley R. Plate convergence, foreland development and fault reactivation: primary controls on brine migration, thermal histories and trap breach in the Timor Sea. Marine and Petroleum Geology 16 (1999) 533-560
22. Ord A. Deformation of rock: a pressure-sensitive, dilatant material. Pure and Applied Geophysics 137 (1991) 337-366
23. Otto C., Underschultz J., Hennig A., and Roy V. Hydrodynamic analysis of flow systems and fault seal integrity in the Northwest Shelf of Australia. Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association Journal 41 1 (2001) 347-365
24. Schaubs P.M., Rawling T.J., Dugdale L.J., and Wilson C.J.L. Factors controlling the location of gold mineralisation around basalt domes in the Stawell corridor: insight from coupled 3-D deformation-fluid-flow numerical models. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 53 (2006) 841-862
25. Sibson R.H. A note on fault reactivation. Journal of Structural Geology 7 (1985) 751-754
26. Sorjonen-Ward P., Zhang Y., and Zhao C. Numerical modeling of orogenic processes and gold mineralization in the southeastern part of the Yilgarn craton, Western Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 49 (2002) 1011-1039
27. Stewart S.A. Displacement distributions on extensional faults: implications for fault stretch, linkage, and seal. AAPG Bulletin 85 (2001) 587-599
28. Strayer L.M., Hudleston P.J., and Lorig L.J. A numerical model of deformation and fluid-flow in an evolving thrust wedge. Tectonophysics 335 (2001) 121-145
29. Underschultz, J.R., Ellis, G.K., Hennig, A., Bekele, E., Otto, C., 2002. Estimating formation water salinity from wireline pressure data: Case study in the Vulcan Sub-basin. In: Keep, M., Moss, S.J., (Eds.), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia 3: Proceedings of The Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, West Australia, 2002, pp. 285-303.
30. Vermeer P.A., and de Borst R. Non-associated plasticity for soils, concrete and rock. Heron 29 (1984) 1-64
31. Walsh J.J., Childs C., Meyer V., Manzocchi T., Imber J., Nicol A., Tuckwell G., Bailey W.R., Bonson C.G., Watterson J., Nell P.A., and Strand J. Geometric controls on the evolution of normal fault systems. In: Holdsworth R.E., Strachan R.A., Magloughlin J.F., and Knipe R.J. (Eds). The Nature and Tectonic Segnificance of Fault Zone Weakening. Geological Society, London, Special Publications vol. 186 (2001) 157-170
32. Walsh J.J., Nicol A., and Childs C. An alternative model for the growth of faults. Journal of Structural Geology 24 (2002) 1669-1675
33. Yang J., Latychev K., and Edwards R.N. Numerical computation of hydrothermal fluid circulation in fractured earth structures. Geophysical Journal International 135 (1998) 627-649
34. Yang J., Large R.R., and Bull S.W. Factors controlling free thermal convection in faults in sedimentary basins: implications for the formation of zinc-lead mineral deposits. Geofluids 4 (2004) 237-247
35. Zhang S., and Cox S.F. Enhancement of fluid permeability during shear deformation of a synthetic mud. Journal of Structural Geology 22 (2000) 1385-1393
36. Zhang Y., Mancktelow N.S., Hobbs B.E., Ord A., and Mühlhaus H.-B. Numerical modelling of single-layer folding: clarification of an issue regarding the effect of computer codes and the influence of initial irregularities. Journal of Structural Geology 22 (2000) 1511-1522
37. Zhang Y., Sorjonen-Ward P., Ord A., and Southgate P. Fluid flow during deformation associated with structural closure of the Isa Superbasin after 1575 Ma in the central and northern Lawn Hill Platform, Northern Australia. Economic Geology101 (2006) 1293-1312
38. Zhang Y., Schaubs P.M., Zhao C., Ord A., Hobbs B.E., and Barnicoat A.C. Fault-related dilation, permeability enhancement, fluid flow and mineral precipitation patterns: numerical models. In: Wibberley C.A.J., Kurtz W., Imber J., Holdsworth R.E., and Collettini C. (Eds). The Internal Structure of Fault Zones: Implications for Mechanical and Fluid-Flow Properties. Geological Society, London, Special Publications vol. 299 (2008) 239-255