Origin and timing of layer-bound radial faulting around North Sea salt stocks: New insights into the evolving stress state around rising diapirs

Carruthers, Daniel; Cartwright, Joe; Jackson, Martin P. A.; Schutjens, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2013.08.001

Cited by 48 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The relationship between hydrothermal vents and radial faults has never been investigated from seismic data to the best of our knowledge. In parallel, the exact mechanism for such vent-related radial faulting remains unclear and undocumented, as opposed to radial faults found at the crest of salt structures e.g., (Carruthers et al, 2013;Mattos et al, 2016;Stewart, 2006;Withjack and Scheiner, 1982). These are all crucial for an inclusive understanding of the evolution of hydrothermal vent complexes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-dimensional (3-D) seismic imaging of conduits and radial faults associated with hydrothermal vent complexes (Vøring Basin, Offshore Norway)

et al. 2018

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-dimensional (3-D) seismic imaging of conduits and radial faults associated with hydrothermal vent complexes (Vøring Basin, Offshore Norway)

et al. 2018

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“…The physical models of Ge et al (1995) showed that reactive diapirs are capable of restricting 530 lateral growth of supra-salt faults and causing a local change in fault strike near the salt-531 sediment interface (Y-shaped splay), where the latter likely reflects near-diapir stress 532 perturbations (see Carruthers et al, 2013). We observe similar salt-fault relationships in the 533 Egersund Basin, with Kimmeridgian faults changing strike by about 90° immediately adjacent 534 to the Omega and Delta diapirs (Fig.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Supra-salt normal fault growth during the rise and fall of a diapir: Perspectives from 3D seismic reflection data, Norwegian North Sea

Tvedt

Rotevatn

Jackson

2016

Journal of Structural Geology

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“…There is little evidence for a mechanical explanation for this distribution of upper tips because the whole of the Tertiary succession is composed of claystone. It is thus more likely that the upper tier surface defines a palaeo-seabed at which upper tips arrested and ceased vertical propagation (CARTWRIGHT, 2011;BERNDT et al, 2012;CARRUTHERS et al, 2013). We consider this to be likely also for the Lower Congo PF tier and propose that faulting ceased at the end of Pliocene before the phase of fluid flow that formed overlying linear shallow depressions and chimneys.…”

Section: Timing Of Fluid Flow Relative To Faultingmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…The upper tips of PFs typically occur at a specific seismic horizon or horizons within a thin interval of only few 10's metres thick and this is persistent over vast areas (> 100 km 2 ) (cf. examples from the Tertiary North Sea (LONERGAN et al, 1998;CART-WRIGHT et al, 2003;CARRUTHERS et al, 2013). There is little evidence for a mechanical explanation for this distribution of upper tips because the whole of the Tertiary succession is composed of claystone.…”

Section: Timing Of Fluid Flow Relative To Faultingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into the permeability of polygonal faults from their intersection geometries with Linear Chimneys: a case study from the Lower Congo Basin

Ho¹,

Carruthers²,

Imbert³

2016

Carnets Geol.

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Layer-bound arrays of polygonal compaction faults have long been considered as important migration routes for hydrocarbon fluids leaking to the surface across thick shale sequences. A classic example is the deep offshore of the Lower Congo Basin where numerous fluid-venting structures are present above a Pliocene polygonal fault system. In this paper we present a detailed seismic analysis of a newly recognised system of Quaternary-aged Linear Chimneys and their intersection geometries with pre-existing Pliocene-aged polygonal faults (PF). Most (73%) of the 209 chimneys analysed intersect the lower portions of polygonal faults and almost half of these are rooted in strata below the PF interval. This indicates that fluid (in this case gas) migrated vertically, cross-cutting polygonal faults as it ascended through the tier. This is a strong indicator that PFs did not provide viable migration pathways otherwise chimneys would terminate at the upper tip of the fault, which would be the most likely migration exit point. Only twice in the whole system of Linear Venting Systems did this occur. A sub-set of chimneys stems from or above PF planes but these are restricted to either the lower footwall or from the apex area of hanging wall. At best they are evidence of fluids migrating up the lower part of polygonal faults and exiting deep within the tier, then migrating through most of the tier in their own vertical leakage vents. These results provide strong indicators that at least within this part of the Lower Congo Basin polygonal faults were the least effective/favoured migration pathway and that it was more energy-efficient for migrating gas to hydrofracture its fine-grained overburden than to re-open polygonal faults.Key Words: Linear chimneys; hydrocarbon; polygonal faults (PFs); permeability; methane-related carbonates; Lower Congo Basin; Angola. Résumé : La perméabilité des failles polygonales déduite de la géométrie de leurs intersections avec des cheminées linéaires : une étude de cas dans le bassin du Bas-Congo.-Les réseaux de "failles polygonales" (failles de compaction restreintes à un intervalle stratigraphique) ont été longtemps considérés comme d'importants chemins pour la migration vers la surface des hydrocarbures à travers d'épaisses séries argileuses. Un exemple classique est fourni par l'offshore profond du bassin du Bas-Congo où de nombreuses structures d'échappement de fluides sont présentes au-dessus d'un système de failles polygonales affectant l'intervalle pliocène. Ce papier présente l'analyse sismique détaillée d'un système récemment reconnu de cheminées linéaires d'âge quaternaire, ainsi que de la géométrie de leurs intersections avec des failles polygonales pliocènes (donc préexistantes). La plupart (73 %) des 209 cheminées analysées recoupent le mur des failles polygonales, et près de la moitié d'entre elles s'enracinent dans l'intervalle sous-jacent à l'intervalle faillé. Cette disposition indique que le fluide (gaz en l'occurrence) a migré verticalement, recoupant les failles pol...

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Origin and timing of layer-bound radial faulting around North Sea salt stocks: New insights into the evolving stress state around rising diapirs

Cited by 48 publications

References 33 publications

Three-dimensional (3-D) seismic imaging of conduits and radial faults associated with hydrothermal vent complexes (Vøring Basin, Offshore Norway)

Three-dimensional (3-D) seismic imaging of conduits and radial faults associated with hydrothermal vent complexes (Vøring Basin, Offshore Norway)

Supra-salt normal fault growth during the rise and fall of a diapir: Perspectives from 3D seismic reflection data, Norwegian North Sea

Insights into the permeability of polygonal faults from their intersection geometries with Linear Chimneys: a case study from the Lower Congo Basin

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