Seismic and structural characterization of fluid escape pipes using 3D and partial stack seismic from the Loyal Field (Scotland, UK): A multiphase and repeated intrusive mechanism

Maestrelli, Daniele; Iacopini, David; Jihad, Ali; Bond, Clare E.; Bonini, Marco

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2017.08.016

Cited by 33 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…A similar variability of fluid influx into traps is widely documented in hydrocarbon reservoirs (e.g. Deville and Guerlais, 2009;Oppo et al, 2013) and in fluid escape systems (Judd and Hovland, 2007;Maestrelli et al, 2017;Oppo et al, 2013).…”

Section: Evolution Of Fluid Escape Recorded By Pipe Trailssupporting

confidence: 64%

“…Fluid escape systems can be regionally active on a multi-million-year time scale (Capozzi et al, 2017;Maestrelli et al, 2017). However, reconstructing the timing and evolution of repeated fluid expulsion events can be challenging because their expression in seismic reflection data may overlap in time and space, and thus they may not be represented by discrete features.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Leaky salt: pipe trails record the history of cross-evaporite fluid escape in the northern Levant Basin, Eastern Mediterranean

Oppo¹,

Evans²,

Jackson³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Hydrocarbon escape systems can be regionally active on multi-million-year timescales. However, reconstructing the timing and evolution of repeated escape events can be challenging because their expression may overlap in time and space. In the northern Levant Basin, eastern Mediterranean, distinct fluid escape episodes from common leakage points formed discrete, cross-evaporite fluid escape pipes, which are preserved in the stratigraphic record due to the coeval Messinian salt tectonics.The pipes consistently originate at the crest of prominent sub-salt anticlines, where thinning and hydrofracturing of overlying salt permitted focused fluid flow. Sequential pipes are arranged in several kilometers-long trails that were progressively deformed due to basinward gravity-gliding of salt and its overburden. The correlation of the oldest pipes within 12 trails suggests that margin-wide fluid escape started in the Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene, coincident with a major phase of uplift of the Levant margin. We interpret that the consequent transfer of overpressure from the deeper basin areas triggered seal failure and cross-evaporite fluid flow. We infer that other triggers, mainly associated with the Messinian Salinity Crisis and compressive tectonics, played a secondary role in the northern Levant Basin. Further phases of fluid escape are unique to each anticline and, despite a common initial cause, long-term fluid escape proceeded independently according to structure-specific characteristics, such as the local dynamics of fluid migration and anticline geometry.Whereas cross-evaporite fluid escape in the southern Levant Basin is mainly attributed to the Messinian Salinity Crisis and compaction disequilibrium, we argue that these mechanisms do not apply to the northern Levant Basin; here, fluid escape was mainly driven by the tectonic evolution of the margin. Within this context, our study shows that the causes of cross-evaporite fluid escape can vary over time, act in synergy, and have different impacts in different areas of large salt basins.

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Section: Evolution Of Fluid Escape Recorded By Pipe Trailssupporting

confidence: 64%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaky salt: pipe trails record the history of cross-evaporite fluid escape in the northern Levant Basin, Eastern Mediterranean

Oppo¹,

Evans²,

Jackson³

et al. 2021

Preprint

Self Cite

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“…with free gas) (Jain and Juanes, 2009;Nelson, 2009;Mourgues et al, 2011). Both these element would favour fracturing against the other two mechanisms as the most likely genetic mechanism for the observed fluid-escape pipes, as further argued by many other studies on similar features (Hustoft et al, 2010;Moss and Cartwright, 2010;Maestrelli et al, 2017).…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…Examples of deeply buried, large pipe provinces are more rarely observed (e.g. Maestrelli et al, 2017). In Norway offshore, buried fluid flow features associated with hydrothermal-related Paleogene gas expulsion have been reported (e.g., Iyer et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Paleocene pipe swarm in the Great South – Canterbury Basin (New Zealand)

Bertoni

Gan

Paganoni

et al. 2019

Marine and Petroleum Geology

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We have identified a deeply buried fluid escape pipe province in Cretaceous-late Paleocene sediments of the Great South-Canterbury Basin (NZ). The seismic observations and interpretations point to an unusually vast fossil system of pipes. These features are exceptional in number (>2000 edifices) and appear to have formed from a common root zone. The areal extent of the analysed pipe system (2500 km 2) is among the largest systems of fluid expulsion features ever observed in three-dimensional seismic data. The unclustered distribution of the pipes suggests no specific link to faults or buried sedimentary features and, at their maximum vertical development, the pipes are equally distributed above depocentres or structural highs. The majority of pipes terminate at two discrete levels in the late Paleocene. Based on the geometrical relationship of the pipe edifices to the overburden, and the basinal setting of the hosting units, we interpret these horizons as representing the seabed at the time of pipe formation. This interpretation allows us to date the timing of pipe formation as prominently late Paleocene. We envisage that the pipes originated during discrete episodes of fluid venting in this time interval, disrupting the typical progressive basinal compaction-driven pore fluid expulsion. The pipes are associated with biogenic gas expulsion. We discuss their triggers, mechanical processes, and global significance for understanding fluid flow processes in sedimentary basins.

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“…9). In order for hydrofracturing to occur, the pressure must exceed the combined least principle stress and tensile strength of the sediment (Karstens and Berndt, 2015;Maestrelli et al, 2017).…”

Section: Hydrofracturingmentioning

confidence: 99%