Evidence for temporally changing mechanical stratigraphy and effects on joint-network architecture

Shackleton, J. R.; Cooke, Michele L.; Sussman, A. J.

doi:10.1130/g20930.1

Cited by 81 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…For example in sandstones, as mechanical strength increases due to 54 diagenesis, the failure mechanism can change from cataclasis (forming deformation bands) to 55 fracturing (forming joints) (Johansen et al, 2005; Davatzes et al, 2005). Similarly, fracture 56 attributes such as spacing and length, are the product of the host rock mechanical properties at the 57 time of formation (Cooke et al, 2006;Moir et al, 2010), which may differ from present-day 58 mechanical properties (Shackleton et al, 2005;Laubach et al, 2009). The impact of diagenetic or 59 depositional processes on host rock properties is evident in along fault variations in fault zone 60 architecture (e.g.…”

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confidence: 99%

Brittle structures focused on subtle crustal heterogeneities: implications for flow in fractured rocks

Soden

Shipton

Lunn

et al. 2014

JGS

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This version is available at https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/50617/ Strathprints is designed to allow users to access the research output of the University of Strathclyde. Unless otherwise explicitly stated on the manuscript, Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. Please check the manuscript for details of any other licences that may have been applied. You may not engage in further distribution of the material for any profitmaking activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute both the url (https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/) and the content of this paper for research or private study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge.Any correspondence concerning this service should be sent to the Strathprints administrator: strathprints@strath.ac.ukThe Strathprints institutional repository (https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk) is a digital archive of University of Strathclyde research outputs. It has been developed to disseminate open access research outputs, expose data about those outputs, and enable the management and persistent access to Strathclyde's intellectual output. Host rock mechanical heterogeneities influence the spatial distribution of deformation structures 13 and hence, predictions of fault architecture and fluid flow. A critical factor, commonly overlooked, 14 is how rock mechanical properties can vary over time, and how this will alter deformation processes 15 and resultant structures. We present field data from an area in the Borborema Province, NE Brazil, 16 that demonstrate how temporal changes in deformation conditions, and consequently processes, 17 exerts a primary control on the spatial distribution and geometric attributes of evolving deformation 18 structures. Further, each temporal deformation phase imparted different hydraulic architecture. The 19 earliest flowing structures localized upon subtle ductile heterogeneities. Following fault formation, 20 both fault core and damage zone were flow conduits. In later stages of faulting pseudotachylyte 21 welding created a low-permeability fault core and annealed high-permeability fractures within the 22 fault damage zone. Modern flow occurs along a zone of later open shear fractures, defined by the 23 mechanical strength contrast between the host rock and annealed fault. This second hydraulically-24 conductive zone extends 100s of meters from the edge of the annealed fault damage zone, creating a 25 flow zone far wider than would be predicted using traditional fault scaling relationships. Our results 26 demonstrate the importance of understanding successive deformation events for predicting the 27 temporal and spatial evolution of hydraulically active fractures. 28 29 2 30 Introduction 31Geometrical attributes of faults and fractures (length, orientation and spatial distribution) are of 32 primary importance in predicting fluid flow through fracture networks. For any particular fracture 33 system these attribu...

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confidence: 99%

Brittle structures focused on subtle crustal heterogeneities: implications for flow in fractured rocks

Soden

Shipton

Lunn

et al. 2014

JGS

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“…Recent evidence that some fractures in dolostones may grow slowly over millions of years (e.g. Gale et al 2010) The influence of mechanically stratified carbonate rock sequences on the arrangement and types of fractures is a key to accurate fracture prediction in the all-too-common case where direct fracture observations are inadequate (Shackleton et al 2005;Laubach et al 2009Laubach et al , 2010. Jacquemyn et al (2012) explore the interrelations of mechanical stratigraphy, fractures and dissolution, aiming to define the dominant factors that govern various karst types in outcrops that contain features typical of reservoirs with solution-enhanced fractures.…”

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confidence: 99%

Advances in carbonate exploration and reservoir analysis

Garland¹,

Neilson

Laubach

et al. 2012

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The development of innovative techniques and concepts, and the emergence of new plays in carbonate rocks are creating a resurgence of oil and gas discoveries worldwide. The maturity of a basin and the application of exploration concepts have a fundamental influence on exploration strategies. Exploration success often occurs in underexplored basins by applying existing established geological concepts. This approach is commonly undertaken when new basins 'open up' owing to previous political upheavals. The strategy of using new techniques in a proven mature area is particularly appropriate when dealing with unconventional resources (heavy oil, bitumen, stranded gas), while the application of new play concepts (such as lacustrine carbonates) to new areas (i.e. ultra-deep South Atlantic basins) epitomizes frontier exploration.Many low-matrix-porosity hydrocarbon reservoirs are productive because permeability is controlled by fractures and faults. Understanding basic fracture properties is critical in reducing geological risk and therefore reducing well costs and increasing well recovery. The advent of resource plays in carbonate rocks, and the long-standing recognition of naturally fractured carbonate reservoirs means that new fracture and fault analysis and prediction techniques and concepts are essential.A key area of progress has been integration of stratigraphic, structural, geomechanical and diagenetic analysis to populate reservoir models accurately. Dramatic increases in computing and digital imaging capabilities are being harnessed to improve spatial analysis and spatial statistics in reservoirs and ultimately improve 3D geocellular models.

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“…Because the mechanical stratigraphy is likely to change through time as a result of compaction, diagenesis and tectonism, the mechanical history and fracture network that characterize a particular reservoir will be reservoir specific (e.g. Shackleton et al 2005;Laubach et al 2009). For these reasons, extant mechanical stratigraphy and the accumulated fracture networks should not be uncritically conflated as being coeval when characterizing fractured reservoirs (e.g.…”

Section: Diagenetic Influencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The distribution of fractures in a reservoir is sometimes referred to as 'fracture stratigraphy' (Laubach et al 2009), 'joint-network architecture' (Shackleton et al 2005) or 'fracture network' (e.g. Lonergan et al 2007), as used here.…”

Section: Naturally Fractured Reservoirsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Complexity in the fracture network may result from temporal modifications in mechanical stratigraphy caused by diagenetic changes occurring between multi-phase fracturing events (Shackleton et al 2005;Laubach et al 2009). Observed depositional stratigraphy and bedding/layering may not always have matched extant mechanical stratigraphy.…”

Section: Diagenetic Influencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Advances in the study of naturally fractured hydrocarbon reservoirs: a broad integrated interdisciplinary applied topic

Spence

Couples

Bevan

et al. 2014

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Naturally fractured reservoirs, within which porosity, permeability pathways and/or impermeable barriers formed by the fracture network interact with those of the host rock matrix to influence fluid flow and storage, can occur in sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks. These reservoirs constitute a substantial percentage of remaining hydrocarbon resources; they create exploration targets in otherwise impermeable rocks, including under-explored crystalline basement, and they can be used as geological stores for anthropogenic carbon dioxide. Their complex fluid flow behaviour during production has traditionally proved difficult to predict, causing a large degree of uncertainty in reservoir development. The applied study of naturally fractured reservoirs seeks to constrain this uncertainty and maximize production by developing new understanding, and is necessarily a broad, integrated, interdisciplinary topic. Some of the methods, challenges and advances in characterizing the interplay of rock matrix and fracture networks relevant to fluid flow and hydrocarbon recovery are reviewed and discussed via the contributions in this volume.Global estimates of conventional hydrocarbon resources are typically subdivided based on lithological reservoir types for example, carbonate or siliciclastic (e.g. Roehl & Choquette 1985). However, many of these sedimentary rock reservoirs may contain fractures to a greater or lesser degree. The recent boom of unconventional reservoirs highlights once again the key role that natural fractures can play in helping production of fluids. It also requires an improved understanding of the geology and physics of natural fracture networks to meet public expectations regarding safety issues. Moreover, fracture networks can be present in otherwise impermeable crystalline basement rocks (e.g. Sanders et al. 2003;Murray & Montgomery 2012;Slightam 2012) and igneous intrusions (e.g. Gudmundsson & Løtveit 2012), also allowing these rocks to form potential fractured reservoirs. Historically, fractured crystalline basement rocks have been under-explored as potential hydrocarbon reservoirs. Naturally fractured reservoirs constitute a substantial percentage of remaining hydrocarbon resources. Naturally fractured reservoirsA reservoir fracture is a general term used to describe a 'naturally occurring macroscopic planar discontinuity in rock due to deformation, or physical diagenesis' (Nelson 2001). Reservoir fractures encompass both extensional ( joints) and shear (faults) structures. Fractures formed by brittle tectonic deformation are the most common focus for studies of naturally fractured reservoirs. However, reservoir fractures may also include structures that formed by desiccation (e.g. shrinkage cracks) and syneresis (e.g. chickenwire texture) in sediments, and structures that formed by thermal , as used here. Naturally fractured reservoirs are generally defined as such when the fracture network has a significant influence on fluid flow in the reservoir such that: (1) the fracture networ...

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Evidence for temporally changing mechanical stratigraphy and effects on joint-network architecture

Cited by 81 publications

References 16 publications

Brittle structures focused on subtle crustal heterogeneities: implications for flow in fractured rocks

Brittle structures focused on subtle crustal heterogeneities: implications for flow in fractured rocks

Advances in carbonate exploration and reservoir analysis

Advances in the study of naturally fractured hydrocarbon reservoirs: a broad integrated interdisciplinary applied topic

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