Structural heterogeneity and permeability in faulted eolian sandstone: Implications for subsurface modeling of faults

Shipton, 1 James P. Evans Zoe K.

doi:10.1306/61eedbc0-173e-11d7-8645000102c1865d

Cited by 32 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Unlike the faulting-related permeability structures described by Shipton et al (2002) and Farrell et al (2014), the results from this study show an increase in the bulk petrophysical properties of the host rock as the Castle Cove Fault plane is approached. This highlights the significant variability that faults can have on the permeability structure of fault zones in porous sandstones.…”

Section: Comparison Of the Permeability Structure Described In Thiscontrasting

confidence: 87%

“…Many investigations into the permeability structure of fault zones with simple tectonic histories have been undertaken on low porosity host rocks such as granites, mylonites, schists, and low porosity sandstones (Balsamo, Storti, Salvini, Silva, & Lima, 2010;Cavailhes et al, 2013;Evans, Forster, & Goddard, 1997;Mitchell & Faulkner, 2012;Wibberley & Shimamoto, 2003) and porous sandstones (Antonellini & Aydin, 1994;Farrell et al, 2014;Shipton et al, 2002). However, studies on the influence of complex faults with multi-slip histories on the permeability structure of porous rocks are limited.…”

Section: Comparison Of the Permeability Structure Described In Thismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies of fault-bearing porous sandstones have identified a number of fault-related deformation processes influencing permeability structure. Shipton et al (2002) analysed the permeability structure of Jurassic-aged porous sandstones (Navajo Sandstone) that are intersected by a normal fault (Big Hole Fault) in Utah, western United States. The Big Hole Fault has a strike length of 4.1 km and fault throw is between 3 to 29 m (Shipton & Cowie, 2001).…”

Section: Comparison Of the Permeability Structure Described In Thismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Big Hole Fault has a strike length of 4.1 km and fault throw is between 3 to 29 m (Shipton & Cowie, 2001). Shipton et al (2002) demonstrated that centimetre-to metre-scale deformation (e.g. the formation of deformation bands), associated with faulting resulted in a decline in porosity (20% to <10%) and permeability (more than 2,000 mD to <0.1 mD) as the fault is approached.…”

Section: Comparison Of the Permeability Structure Described In Thismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…faults with a single-slip history; e.g. Antonellini & Aydin, 1994;Bauer, Meier, & Philipp, 2015;Farrell, Healy, & Taylor, 2014;Shipton, Evans, Robeson, Forster, & Snelgrove, 2002); however, few studies have investigated the influence of complex faults (i.e. faults with a multiple-slip history) on the micrometre-scale permeability structure of porous clastic rocks in sedimentary basins.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial distribution of micrometre‐scale porosity and permeability across the damage zone of a reverse‐reactivated normal fault in a tight sandstone: Insights from the Otway Basin, SE Australia

et al. 2019

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Knowledge of the permeability structure of fault‐bearing reservoir rocks is fundamental for developing robust hydrocarbon exploration and fluid monitoring strategies. Studies often describe the permeability structure of low porosity host rocks that have experienced simple tectonic histories, while investigations of the influence of faults with multiple‐slip histories on the permeability structure of porous clastic rocks are limited. We present results from an integrated petrophysical, microstructural, and mineralogical investigation of the Eumeralla Formation (a tight volcanogenic sandstone) within the hanging wall of the Castle Cove Fault which strikes 30 km NE–SW in the Otway Basin, southeast Australia. This late Jurassic to Cenozoic‐age basin has experienced multiple phases of extension and compression. Core plugs and thin sections oriented relative to the fault plane were sampled from the hanging wall at distances of up to 225 m from the Castle Cove Fault plane. As the fault plane is approached, connected porosities increase by ca. 10% (17% at 225 m to 24% at 0.5 m) and permeabilities increase by two orders of magnitude (from 0.04 mD at 225 m to 1.26 mD at 0.5 m). Backscattered Scanning Electron Microscope analysis shows that microstructural changes due to faulting have enhanced the micrometre‐scale permeability structure of the Eumeralla Formation. These microstructural changes have been attributed to the formation of microfractures and destruction of original pore‐lining chlorite morphology as a result of fault deformation. Complex deformation, that is, formation of macrofractures, variably oriented microfractures, and a hanging wall anticline, associated with normal faulting and subsequent reverse faulting, has significantly influenced the off‐fault fluid flow properties of the protolith. However, despite enhancement of the host rock permeability structure, the Eumeralla Formation at Castle Cove is still considered a tight sandstone. Our study shows that high‐resolution integrated analyses of the host rock are critical for describing the micrometre‐scale permeability structure of reservoir rocks with high porosities, low permeabilities, and abundant clays that have experienced complex deformation.

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Section: Comparison Of the Permeability Structure Described In Thiscontrasting

confidence: 87%

Section: Comparison Of the Permeability Structure Described In Thismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Comparison Of the Permeability Structure Described In Thismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Comparison Of the Permeability Structure Described In Thismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial distribution of micrometre‐scale porosity and permeability across the damage zone of a reverse‐reactivated normal fault in a tight sandstone: Insights from the Otway Basin, SE Australia

et al. 2019

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A coupled finite difference‐spectral boundary integral method with applications to fluid diffusion in fault structures

Wang,

Heimisson

2024

Num Anal Meth Geomechanics

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Fluid migration in geological materials, a subject of great interest in various geophysical applications, has been interpreted through multiple numerical methods. Taking advantage of both a volume‐based method and a boundary integral method, we innovate a hybrid spectral‐boundary‐integral and finite‐difference method (SBI‐FDM) to describe the fluid injection and propagation in the fault structure. The coupling of the two methods is established from the consistent exchange of the pressure gradient from the volume‐based method and the boundary flux applied in the SBI boundary. The hybrid method benefits from its capability to truncate the domain and capture the fluid‐induced pore pressure in geological systems without modeling the whole bulk. After establishing the numerical framework, we verify the SBI‐FDM under both homogeneous and heterogeneous mediums using an analytical solution and the FDM results, respectively. After model verification, a sensitivity test showcases the stability of the numerical scheme. A speedup comparison of the SBI‐FDM against the FDM is presented. We observe that the proposed method can achieve better computational efficiency with up to one thousand times speedup in our test. Utilizing the proposed hybrid method, we also perform parametric studies to reveal the significance of mobility contrast between the damage zone and host rock, as well as the role of fault width during fault injection.

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Characteristics of bleaching around major structures in a reservoir-cap rock system, SE Utah, USA

Choi

Kim

et al. 2020

Arab J Geosci

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Structural heterogeneity and permeability in faulted eolian sandstone: Implications for subsurface modeling of faults

Cited by 32 publications

References 41 publications

Spatial distribution of micrometre‐scale porosity and permeability across the damage zone of a reverse‐reactivated normal fault in a tight sandstone: Insights from the Otway Basin, SE Australia

Spatial distribution of micrometre‐scale porosity and permeability across the damage zone of a reverse‐reactivated normal fault in a tight sandstone: Insights from the Otway Basin, SE Australia

A coupled finite difference‐spectral boundary integral method with applications to fluid diffusion in fault structures

Characteristics of bleaching around major structures in a reservoir-cap rock system, SE Utah, USA

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