Sinkholes and Related Geologic Features in Kansas

High-resolution seismic reflections have been used effectively to investigate sinkholes formed from the dissolution of a bedded salt unit found throughout most of Central Kansas. Surface subsidence can have devastating effects on transportation structures. Roads, rails, bridges, and pipelines can even be dramatically affected by minor ground instability. Areas susceptible to surface subsidence can put public safety at risk. Subsurface expressions significantly larger than surface depressions are consistently observed on seismic images recorded over sinkholes in Kansas. Until subsidence reaches the ground surface, failure appears to be controlled by compressional forces evidenced by faults with reverse orientation. Once a surface depression forms or dissolution of the salt slows or stops, subsidence structures are consistent with a tensional stress environment with prevalent normal faults. Detecting areas of rapid subsidence potential, prior to surface failure, is the ultimate goal of any geotechnical survey where the ground surface is susceptible to settling. Seismic reflection images have helped correlate active subsidence to dormant paleofeatures, project horizontal growth of active sinkholes based on subsurface structures, and appraise the risk of catastrophic failure.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Seismic reflection characteristics of naturally-induced subsidence affecting transportation

2009

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“…Sinkholes have been definitely correlated to failed containment of disposal wells injecting oil field brine wastewater using stem pressure tests and/or seismic reflection investigations at a variety of sites throughout central Kansas (Steeples et al, 1986;Knapp et al, 1989;Miller et al, 1995;Miller et al, 1997). Sinkholes which have formed by natural dissolution and subsidence processes are most commonly documented at the depositional edges on the west and north and erosional boundary on the east of the Hutchinson Salt (Frye and Schoff, 1942;Frye, 1950;Merriam and Mann, 1957;Anderson et al, 1995a). The vast majority of published works studying the source of localized leaching of salt in Kansas directly contradict suggestions that recent land subsidence in Kansas is mostly natural in origin (Anderson et al, 1995a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…With the worldwide abundance of limestone, karstrelated sinkholes are by far the most commonly encountered and studied. Both simple and complex sinkholes have formed catastrophically and/or gradually, as the result of dissolution of limestone or rock salt, and by natural and man-induced dissolution processes in many parts of Kansas (Merriam and Mann, 1957).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High‐Resolution Seismic Reflection Investigation of a Subsidence Feature on U.S. Highway 50 Near Hutchinson, Kansas

Richard¹

2002

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2002

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High-resolution seismic reflections were used to map the upper 150 m of the ground surface around and below an actively subsiding sinkhole currently affecting the stability of U.S. 50 highway in Reno County, Kansas. Primary objectives of this study were to delineate the subsurface expression of this growing salt dissolution induced sinkhole and appraise its threat to highway stability and the characteristically heavy commercial traffic load. The high signal-to-noise ratio and resolution of these seismic reflection data allowed detection, delineation, and evaluation of rock failure and associated episodes of material collapse into voids left after periodic and localized leaching of the 125 m deep, 40 m thick Permian Hutchinson Salt member. Mechanisms and gross chronology of structural failures as interpretable from stacked seismic sections suggest initial subsidence and associated bed offset occurred as accumulated stress was rapidly released and was constrained to a tensional dome defined by reverse fault planes. As the downward movement (settling, relaxation) of sediments slowed with little or no incremental build up of stress, gradual subsidence continued in the subsurface, advancing as an everexpanding bowl, geometrically defined by normal fault planes.Several episodes of subsidence are evident in most dissolution related features (current and paleo) imaged on these two 1 km long seismic profiles. The rate of destabilization and failure as well as the load bearing potential of the rock layers above zones of dissolution strongly influenced both the original subsidence geometries and dimensions as well as the subsequent reactivation of subsidence along the profiles. Current surface subsidence at the intersection of U.S. 50 and Victory Road is probably related to the reactivation of natural salt dissolution processes that produced the seismically imaged, 300 m wide subsidence feature interpreted to have been active during Tertiary and/or Quarternary. Alternately, recent failure of Permian rock layers above the salt bridging (roof rock) void or rubble areas that remained after the majority of the Tertiary to Quaternary subsidence had slowed or stopped could explain the most recent sinkhole development.If salt dissolution has begun again at this site-anthropogenic or natural-it is not possible with these data alone to definitively identify a fluid source or pathway. However, with the superimposition of this modern sinkhole and the mid-Tertiary to early Quaternary subsidence feature, and considering the nearest disposal well with a history of fluid containment problems is more than 2 km away, the sinkhole is likely natural in origin. Unfortunately, considering the long history of oil field disposal well-induced dissolution in this area and the proximity of this particular site to the natural dissolution front, neither catalyst can be completely ruled out.This study evaluated the effectiveness of using high-resolution vibroseis on the shoulder of U.S. 50 when traffic was slowed but not stopped. Previous data collecte...

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“…By using seismic reflection investigations sinkholes can be assertively associated with failed disposal wells (Steeples et al, 1986;Knapp et al, 1989;Miller et al, 1995;Miller et al, 1997). Natural salt dissolution sinkholes are most common at the north and west depositional edge of this regionally expansive bedded evaporate sequence and the eastern erosional boundary (Frye and Schoff, 1942;Frye, 1950;Merriam and Mann, 1957;Anderson et al, 1995a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time‐Lapse High Resolution Seismic Imaging of a Catastrophic Salt Dissolution Sinkhole in Central Kansas

Lambrecht¹,

Miller²,

Durrant³

2005

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2005

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Time-lapse 2-D high-resolution seismic reflection surveys successfully imaged and mapped changes in structural features associated with a sinkhole that formed catastrophically after dissolution of the Permian-age Hutchinson Salt in central Kansas (Figure 1). Symmetric steep sided cone structure defined by reverse faults formed instantaneously continuing over time to gradually enlarge and elongate along normal fault planes. Two orthogonal high-resolution seismic lines were acquired, in 1998 and 2004, to map the upper thousand feet and resolve structural features controlling development subsidence rate preferential dissolution mechanism for fluid movement and to predict future growth. High frequency vibrator and high-resolution seismic methods were used to acquire data from a 204 channel fixed spread. Stations used in 1998 were as close as possible reoccupied on the 2004 survey. Common mid-point stacked sections depict a very disturbed subsurface that has undergone multiple discrete phases of loading, failure, and subsidence. Stress built up in roof rock overlying the salt void until its strength is surpassed when failure, and subsidence occurs (Figure 2 (a), (b), and (c)). Strain associated with layers bridging voids outside the tensional dome appears to be controlled by normal faults. Oilfield disposal practices provided original fluids and pathway that initiated the dissolution process. Currently shallower groundwater fuels the dissolution process with little or no contribution from oilfield brines. Growth appears to be controlled by geologic trends with failure occurring much more plastically during the later years, which initially growth was characterized by rapid brittle deformation.

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Sinkholes and Related Geologic Features in Kansas

Cited by 16 publications

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Seismic reflection characteristics of naturally-induced subsidence affecting transportation

Seismic reflection characteristics of naturally-induced subsidence affecting transportation

High‐Resolution Seismic Reflection Investigation of a Subsidence Feature on U.S. Highway 50 Near Hutchinson, Kansas

Time‐Lapse High Resolution Seismic Imaging of a Catastrophic Salt Dissolution Sinkhole in Central Kansas

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