Inversion tectonics in Central Africa Rift System: Evidence from the Heglig Field

Hassan, Waleed Mohamed El; Farwa, Abdalla Gumaa; Awad, Mohamed Z.

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2016.12.007

Cited by 12 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Therefore, this oil probably migrated from a deeper region. Deformation related to the tectonic inversion is recognized as one of the main controls of structural migration of oil in petroleum systems (El Hassan et al., 2017; Jackson et al., 2013; Turner & Williams, 2004). In the Potiguar Basin (Figure 1a), a drag of post‐rift layers along NE‐striking faults controlled the migration of oil in the post‐rift stage (Bezerra et al., 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This renewed activity becomes more problematic in intracontinental settings, where the lithosphere is old, cold and thick (therefore strong), and where the last stage of sedimentary basins is expected to be tectonic thermal subsidence characterized by tectonic quiescence (e.g., Matos, 1992; McKenzie, 1978; Royden & Keen, 1980). Notwithstanding, many studies have suggested multistage tectonic inversion of sedimentary basins after the extensional stage, mainly between the Late Cretaceous and the present, such as in eastern North America (Schlische, Withjack, & Olsen, 2003; Sinclair, 1995; Withjack, Baum, & Schlische, 2010), Europe (Jackson, Chua, Bell, & Magee, 2013; Jackson & Larsen, 2008; Rodríguez‐Salgado, Childs, Shannon, & Walsh, 2019; Tuitt, Underhill, Ritchie, Johnson, & Hitchen, 2010; Ziegler, Cloetingh, & van Wess, 1995), Australia (Hill et al, 1995; Whitney, Hengesh, & Gillam, 2016), New Zeland (Reilly, Nicol, & Walsh, 2016), Africa (El Hassan, Farwa, & Awad, 2017; Hudec & Jackson, 2002; Sarhan & Collier, 2018), and South America (Bezerra et al., 2020; Cobbold, Meisling, & Mount, 2001; Marques, Nogueira, Bezerra, & de Castro, 2014; Nogueira, Marques, Bezerra, de Castro, & Fuck, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tectonic inversion assessed by integration of geological and geophysical data: The intracontinental Rio do Peixe Basin, NE Brazil

et al. 2020

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Common basin models assume that the post‐rift tectonic evolution of most basins is usually associated with tectonic quiescence. However, tectonic inversion during the post‐rift phase has been proposed for several sedimentary basins worldwide, but how and why it happens is still a matter of debate, especially in intracontinental settings where the lithosphere is old and thick. Here, we use geological and geophysical data from the Rio do Peixe Basin in NE Brazil to show evidence that intracontinental sedimentary basins can be tectonically inverted by far‐field compressive stresses acting on pre‐existing weakness zones of lithospheric‐scale where stresses can concentrate and inversion can occur. Geomorphological and field data combined with seismic reflection, gravimetric and borehole data show that: (a) inversion occurred along two main Precambrian lithospheric‐scale shear zones, the Patos (E‐W trending) and Portalegre (NE‐SW trending), which had already been reactivated as basin‐bounding faults during the earlier rift stage; (b) post‐rift reactivation affected (mostly) the original master normal faults with the largest rift displacements, and locally produced new reverse faults; (c) during contraction, deformation was partitioned between fault reactivation and buckling of the incompetent sediment pushed against the hard basement; (d) all these signs of inversion have been observed in the field and can be demonstrated on seismic reflection profiles; and (e) combined gravimetric and seismic data show that the main structures of the basin were followed by an inversion. These data are consistent with the operation of WSW‐ENE horizontal maximum compressive stress as a result of combined pushes of the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge (towards the W) and the Andes (towards the E), responsible for the post‐rift oblique inversion of normal faults inherited from the rift phase and formed with vertical maximum compressive stress.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tectonic inversion assessed by integration of geological and geophysical data: The intracontinental Rio do Peixe Basin, NE Brazil

et al. 2020

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“…Guiraud et al, 1992;Guiraud, 1993). A recent paper (El Hassan, et al 2017) presents detailed documentation of Late Cretaceous inversion in in the WCARS from exploration seismic data. Janssen et al (1995) compared published correlation charts of stratigraphic events with tectonic subsidence rates of fourteen basins on African margins and in intracontinental rifts with the break-up history of Gondwana and found a strong correlation between changes in plate motions and reactivation of extensional basins in the African plate.…”

Section: Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic basin inversion and palaeostress fields in the North Atlantic-western Alpine-Tethys realm: Implications for intraplate tectonics

Stephenson

Schiffer

Peace

et al. 2020

Earth-Science Reviews

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Intraplate basin/structural inversion (indicating tectonic shortening) is a good marker of ("far-field") tectonic stress regime changes that are linked to plate geometries and interactions, a premise that is qualitatively well-established in the literature. There is also quantitative evidence that Late Cretaceous-Palaeocene inversion of sedimentary basins in north-central Europe was explicitly driven by an intraplate, relaxational response to forces developed during rapid reconfigurations of the Alpine-Tethys (Europe-Africa) convergent plate boundary. Although with a degree of temporal ambiguity, three main periods of intraplate tectonics (marked primarily by structural inversion in initially extensional sedimentary basins) are indicated in the North Atlantic-western Alpine-Tethys realm. These are in the Late Cretaceous-Palaeocene, the Eocene-Oligocene and the Miocene. Examples recording these periods are primarily interpreted seismic reflection profiles (of varying quality and resolution) from the published literature. Additional examples where seismic data are not present, but timing constraints are robust from other observations, have also been considered. The schematic distribution and orientation of the literature-compiled intraplate inversion structures are compared to the model palaeostress fields derived from Late Cretaceous-Palaeocene, Eocene-Oligocene and Miocene tectonic reconstructions of the North Atlantic-western Alpine-Tethys realm. The modelled palaeostress fields include geopotential effects from palaeobathymetry and palaeotopography of the Earth's surface as well as laterally variable lithosphere and crustal palaeothicknesses but do not include any component of the stress field produced by processes occurring at contiguous convergent plate margins. The former satisfactorily provides the background stress field of most of the Earth's plate interiors and it is inferred that the latter is paramount in producing "stress trauma" in the interior of plates resulting in permanent intraplate deformation such as basin inversion.

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“…In the late Cretaceous, the African plate and Eurasian plate accelerated their collision (Fairhead, 2020). This rapid collision caused the Santonian compression event (84 Ma) (El Hassan et al, 2017), forming a nearly north-south compressive stress within the African plate. This compression resulted in inversion structures in many basins of the Central African Rift System (Warren, 2009).…”

Section: The Second Strike Slip Faulting Stagementioning

confidence: 99%

Role of two-stage strike slip faulting in the tectonic evolution of the Doseo depression in the central Africa rift system

et al. 2023

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Doseo depression of Central African Rift System is an important onshore frontier area for oil and gas exploration in Africa, with rift development characterized by the dual control of fault-depression development and strike slip faulting. According to the latest drilling and seismic data in recent years, through the fine seismic interpretation, the calculation of paleo-fault throw and fault growth index and the method of balanced profile cross-section restorations, the fault characteristics and tectonic setting of Doseo depression are analyzed in detail, especially the fault activity, tectonic evolution and genetic mechanism of two large-scale strike slip movements in Doseo depression. The results show that the Doseo depression experienced five main tectonic phases, including two stages of strike slip tectonic movements with different mechanisms. The first stage is characterized by strike slip tectonic movements under tilting extension, which controls the overall structure of the depression. The second stage is characterized by strike slip tectonic movements under transform compression, which play an important role in the formation of some inversion structures and SW-NE trending anticlines and faulted anticlines. The superposition of an early faulted-depression and two later stages of strike slip tectonics led to current pattern of Doseo depression.

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Inversion tectonics in Central Africa Rift System: Evidence from the Heglig Field

Cited by 12 publications

References 16 publications

Tectonic inversion assessed by integration of geological and geophysical data: The intracontinental Rio do Peixe Basin, NE Brazil

Tectonic inversion assessed by integration of geological and geophysical data: The intracontinental Rio do Peixe Basin, NE Brazil

Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic basin inversion and palaeostress fields in the North Atlantic-western Alpine-Tethys realm: Implications for intraplate tectonics

Role of two-stage strike slip faulting in the tectonic evolution of the Doseo depression in the central Africa rift system

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