Fault interaction in porous sandstone and implications for reservoir management; examples from southern Utah

Fossen, Haakon; Johansen, Tord Erlend Skeie; Hesthammer, Jonny; Rotevatn, Atle

doi:10.1306/07290505041

Cited by 71 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…An argument against this would be that one would expect to see more scatter in orientations if the structures grew in a perturbed stress field (cf. Fossen et al 2005;Rotevatn et al, 2007); however, this is not always be the case and there are examples where structures growing between overlapping faults follow a more systematic pattern like the one seen in the current study (e.g. Peacock and Parfitt, 2002;Faure Walker et al, 2009).…”

Section: Growth and Temporal Evolution Of The Studied Deformation Bandscontrasting

confidence: 42%

Sequential growth of deformation bands in carbonate grainstones in the hangingwall of an active growth fault: Implications for deformation mechanisms in different tectonic regimes

Rotevatn¹,

Thorsheim²,

Bastesen³

et al. 2017

Preprint

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a b s t r a c tDeformation bands in porous sandstones have been extensively studied for four decades, whereas comparatively less is known about deformation bands in porous carbonate rocks, particularly in extensional settings. Here, we investigate porous grainstones of the Globigerina Limestone Formation in Malta, which contain several types of deformation bands in the hangingwall of the Maghlaq Fault: (i) bed-parallel pure compaction bands (PCB); (ii) pressure solution-dominated compactive shear bands (SCSB) and iii) cataclasis-dominated compactive shear bands (CCSB). Geometric and kinematic analyses show that the bands formed sequentially in the hangingwall of the evolving Maghlaq growth fault. PCBs formed first due to fault-controlled subsidence and vertical loading; a (semi-)tectonic control on PCB formation is thus documented for the first time in an extensional setting. Pressure solution (dominating SCSBs) and cataclasis (dominating CCSBs) appear to have operated separately, and not in concert. Our findings therefore suggest that, in some carbonate rocks, cataclasis within deformation bands may develop irrespective of whether pressure solution processes are involved. We suggest this may be related to stress state, and that whereas pressure solution is a significant facilitator of grain size reduction in contractional settings, grain size reduction within deformation bands in extensional settings is less dependent on pressure solution processes.

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Section: Growth and Temporal Evolution Of The Studied Deformation Bandscontrasting

confidence: 42%

Sequential growth of deformation bands in carbonate grainstones in the hangingwall of an active growth fault: Implications for deformation mechanisms in different tectonic regimes

Rotevatn¹,

Thorsheim²,

Bastesen³

et al. 2017

Preprint

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“…Given the overall structural setting of this study, with the studied outcrops located near the intersection of different Maghlaq Fault strands/segments, the most direct analogy to the studied outcrops used is that of a fault intersection setting (compare with, for example, Courthouse Rock, Utah; see Davatzes et al 2005;Fossen et al 2005;Johansen et al 2005). Nevertheless, the overall findings concerning the effects of deformation bands in reservoirs with low initial porosity are considered important regardless of the overall structural setting.…”

Section: Applicability and Limitations Of The Present Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Do deformation bands matter for flow? Insights from permeability measurements and flow simulations in porous carbonate rocks

Rotevatn

Fossmark

Bastesen

et al. 2016

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We investigate the permeability and flow effects of deformation bands in porous granular carbonate rocks in Malta and use results from flow simulations to discuss the practical implications of deformation bands in carbonate and siliciclastic reservoirs rocks in general. Image-and laboratory-based analyses of deformation bands show permeabilities that are 1 -2 orders of magnitude lower than the adjacent host rocks. Small-scale outcrop-based flow models (1 × 1 m) focus on the effect of deformation band on flow at the scale of individual bands. Two-phase flow simulations (water displacing oil) show that at the local scale a decrease in deformation band permeability led to increasing flow complexity, reduced and irregular waterfront propagation and reduction in sweep efficiency. A reduction in host rock permeability is associated with increased sensitivity to deformation bands. In low-permeable host rocks, a single magnitude-order reduction of deformation band permeability significantly delays flow, whereas in higher-permeable host rocks the effect is less pronounced. Hence, in some cases, deformation bands may represent a significant impediment to flow already when they are only 1 -2 orders of magnitude less permeable than host rock. Consequently, deformation bands may have greater practical implications than previously thought, particularly in reservoir rocks with moderate to low host rock permeability.

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“…Conjugate sets of deformation bands are common in places such as the Colorado Plateau (e.g. Berg & Skar 2005;Fossen et al 2005), the Permian basins of the southern North Sea-UK area (e.g. Fowles & Burley 1994) and North Sea Middle Jurassic reservoirs , with one set subparallel to the main slip plane and the other dipping in the opposite direction.…”

Section: The Connection Between Deformation Bands Faults and Damage mentioning

confidence: 99%

Deformation bands in sandstone: a review

Fossen

Schultz

Shipton

et al. 2007

JGS

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602

344

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Deformation bands are the most common strain localization feature found in deformed porous sandstones and sediments, including Quaternary deposits, soft gravity slides and tectonically affected sandstones in hydrocarbon reservoirs and aquifers. They occur as various types of tabular deformation zones where grain reorganization occurs by grain sliding, rotation and/or fracture during overall dilation, shearing, and/or compaction. Deformation bands with a component of shear are most common and typically accommodate shear offsets of millimetres to centimetres. They can occur as single structures or cluster zones, and are the main deformation element of fault damage zones in porous rocks. Factors such as porosity, mineralogy, grain size and shape, lithification, state of stress and burial depth control the type of deformation band formed. Of the different types, phyllosilicate bands and most notably cataclastic deformation bands show the largest reduction in permeability, and thus have the greatest potential to influence fluid flow. Disaggregation bands, where non-cataclastic, granular flow is the dominant mechanism, show little influence on fluid flow unless assisted by chemical compaction or cementation.

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Fault interaction in porous sandstone and implications for reservoir management; examples from southern Utah

Cited by 71 publications

References 27 publications

Sequential growth of deformation bands in carbonate grainstones in the hangingwall of an active growth fault: Implications for deformation mechanisms in different tectonic regimes

Sequential growth of deformation bands in carbonate grainstones in the hangingwall of an active growth fault: Implications for deformation mechanisms in different tectonic regimes

Do deformation bands matter for flow? Insights from permeability measurements and flow simulations in porous carbonate rocks

Deformation bands in sandstone: a review

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