Present-day stress orientation in the Molasse Basin

Reinecker, John; Tingay, Mark; Müller, Birgit; Heidbach, Oliver

doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2009.07.021

Cited by 86 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(55 reference statements)

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“…The S H orientation rotates by 20-30 • counter-clockwise from approximately north-south in the Lake Constance area to NNW-SSE in the Basel area. This is in agreement with the regional trend of rather uniform S H orientation perpendicular to the Alpine chain and isobaths of the Moho (Ziegler and Dèzes, 2006) as found by Reinecker et al (2010) and Heidbach and Reinecker (2013). Furthermore, Fig.…”

Section: Tectonic Setting and Stress Field Of Northern Switzerlandsupporting

confidence: 92%

Stress field sensitivity analysis in a sedimentary sequence of the Alpine foreland, northern Switzerland

et al. 2015

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Abstract. The stress field at depth is a relevant parameter for the design of subsurface constructions and reservoir management. Yet the distortion of the regional stress field due to local-scale features such as sedimentary and tectonic structures or topography is often poorly constrained. We conduct a stress sensitivity analysis using 3-D numerical geomechanical modelling with an elasto-plastic material law to explore the impact of such site-specific features on the stress field in a sedimentary sequence of the Swiss Alpine foreland. The model's dimensions are 14 × 14 × 3 km 3 and it contains 10 units with different mechanical properties, intersected by two regional fault zones. An initial stress state is established involving a semi-empirical relationship between the ratio of horizontal to vertical stress and the overconsolidation ratio of argillaceous sediments. The model results indicate that local topography can affect the stress field significantly to depths greater than the relief contrasts at the surface, especially in conjunction with horizontal tectonic loading. The complexity and frictional properties of faults are also relevant. The greatest variability of the stress field arises across the different sedimentary units. Stress magnitudes and stress anisotropy are much larger in stiffer formations such as massive limestones than in softer argillaceous formations. The stiffer formations essentially carry the load of the far-field forces and are therefore more sensitive to changes of the boundary conditions. This general characteristic of stress distribution in the stiff and soft formations is broadly maintained also with progressive loading towards the plastic limit. The stress field in argillaceous sediments within a stack of formations with strongly contrasting mechanical properties like in the Alpine foreland appears to be relatively insensitive to changes in the tectonic boundary conditions and is largely controlled by the maximum stiffness contrast with respect to the load-bearing formations.

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Section: Tectonic Setting and Stress Field Of Northern Switzerlandsupporting

confidence: 92%

Stress field sensitivity analysis in a sedimentary sequence of the Alpine foreland, northern Switzerland

et al. 2015

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“…In contrast to this Illies and Greiner (1978); Lemcke (1988), and Reinecker et al (2010) propose a compressional (S H max > S h min > S v ) or strike-slip stress regime in the Molasse Basin. Seithel et al (2015) also propose a strike-slip stress regime at a depth of 4 km for the Sauerlach project according to their analysis based on the frictional equilibrium theory.…”

Section: Stress Regimementioning

confidence: 92%

“…Thus, the orientation of this so-called reduced-stress tensor is described by the S H max orientation, which is systematically compiled by the World Stress Map (WSM) project Sperner et al, 2003;Zoback, 1992). Figure 1 shows a stress map with a typical density of S H max orientation data records with 172 reliable data records for the 82 000 km 2 large part of the Alpine Foreland Molasse Reinecker et al, 2010;Heidbach and Reinecker, 2013). This results in an average data density of 0.21 data records per 100 km 2 , which is the typical claim size for exploration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multi-stage 3-D stress field modelling approach exemplified in the Bavarian Molasse Basin

Ziegler

Heidbach

Reinecker³

et al. 2016

Solid Earth

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Abstract. The knowledge of the contemporary in situ stress state is a key issue for safe and sustainable subsurface engineering. However, information on the orientation and magnitudes of the stress state is limited and often not available for the areas of interest. Therefore 3-D geomechanicalnumerical modelling is used to estimate the in situ stress state and the distance of faults from failure for application in subsurface engineering. The main challenge in this approach is to bridge the gap in scale between the widely scattered data used for calibration of the model and the high resolution in the target area required for the application. We present a multi-stage 3-D geomechanical-numerical approach which provides a state-of-the-art model of the stress field for a reservoir-scale area from widely scattered data records. Therefore, we first use a large-scale regional model which is calibrated by available stress data and provides the full 3-D stress tensor at discrete points in the entire model volume. The modelled stress state is used subsequently for the calibration of a smaller-scale model located within the large-scale model in an area without any observed stress data records. We exemplify this approach with two-stages for the area around Munich in the German Molasse Basin. As an example of application, we estimate the scalar values for slip tendency and fracture potential from the model results as measures for the criticality of fault reactivation in the reservoir-scale model. The modelling results show that variations due to uncertainties in the input data are mainly introduced by the uncertain material properties and missing S H max magnitude estimates needed for a more reliable model calibration. This leads to the conclusion that at this stage the model's reliability depends only on the amount and quality of available stress information rather than on the modelling technique itself or on local details of the model geometry. Any improvements in modelling and increases in model reliability can only be achieved using more high-quality data for calibration.

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“…Simplifying this, the boundary conditions in the model are related to the major and minor horizontal stresses, which results in an anisotropic compressive stress field. The direction of stresses in this area is taken from Reinecker et al (2010). Based on results taken from Gehle (2002), they are assumed to be 120 MPa in the north-south direction and 60 MPa in the east-west direction.…”

Section: Simulation Of the Standard Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The stress field in the Molasse Basin is discussed in Reinecker et al (2010). It is assumed to be oriented in a N-S direction.…”

Section: Influence Of the Stress Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rearrangement of stresses in fault zones &ndash; detecting major issues of coupled hydraulic–mechanical processes with relevance to geothermal applications

Ziefle

2014

Geoth. Energ. Sci.

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Abstract. The South German Molasse Basin provides favourable conditions for geothermal plants. Nevertheless, micro-seismic events occur in the vicinity of the geothermal Unterhaching Gt2 well and seem to be caused by the geothermal plant.The injection and production are located in an existing fault system. The majority of seismic events takes place at a horizontal distance of 500 m or less of the borehole. However, none of the seismic events are located in the injection reservoir but in fact at a significantly greater depth. A deeper process understanding of the interacting thermal-hydraulic-mechanical effects in the vicinity of the well is desired.This article presents a significantly simplified 2-D model, investigating interactions of the stress field in the vicinity of the geothermal well and movements in the fault system. This might be of special interest, as the operation of the geothermal plant might lead to changes in the material and fracture properties on the one hand and in the equilibrium state on the other. A detailed description of the model, as well as various parameter studies, is presented. It can be seen that boundary conditions such as direction of the stress field in relation to the fault system, geometry of the fault system and parameters of the fractures have a significant influence on stresses in the proximity of the geothermal well. A variation in the spatial stress field in some parts of the fault system is to be expected. For the chosen assumptions the dimension of this variation is about 25 % of the assumed stresses. Future work on this model might focus on the characteristics of the fault system, as well as on the influence of the coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical effects.

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Present-day stress orientation in the Molasse Basin

Cited by 86 publications

References 42 publications

Stress field sensitivity analysis in a sedimentary sequence of the Alpine foreland, northern Switzerland

Stress field sensitivity analysis in a sedimentary sequence of the Alpine foreland, northern Switzerland

A multi-stage 3-D stress field modelling approach exemplified in the Bavarian Molasse Basin

Rearrangement of stresses in fault zones &ndash; detecting major issues of coupled hydraulic–mechanical processes with relevance to geothermal applications

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Present-day stress orientation in the Molasse Basin

Cited by 86 publications

References 42 publications

Stress field sensitivity analysis in a sedimentary sequence of the Alpine foreland, northern Switzerland

Stress field sensitivity analysis in a sedimentary sequence of the Alpine foreland, northern Switzerland

A multi-stage 3-D stress field modelling approach exemplified in the Bavarian Molasse Basin

Rearrangement of stresses in fault zones &amp;ndash; detecting major issues of coupled hydraulic–mechanical processes with relevance to geothermal applications

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Rearrangement of stresses in fault zones – detecting major issues of coupled hydraulic–mechanical processes with relevance to geothermal applications