Attribute-assisted characterization of basement faulting and the associated sedimentary sequence deformation in north-central Oklahoma

Abstract

Patterns of recent seismogenic fault reactivation in the granitic basement of north-central Oklahoma necessitate an understanding of the structural characteristics of the inherited basement-rooted faults. Here, we focus on the Nemaha Uplift & Fault Zone (NFZ) and the surrounding areas, within which we analyze the top-basement and intrabasement structures in eight poststack time-migrated 3D seismic reflection data sets. Overall, our results reveal 115 fault traces at the top of the Precambrian basement with sub-vertical dips, and dominant trends of west-northwest–east-southeast, northeast–southwest, and north–south. We observe that proximal to the NFZ, faults dominantly strike north–south, are fewer (<10), and have the lowest areal density and intensity, while displaying the largest maximum vertical separation. However, farther away (>30 km) from the NFZ, faults exhibit predominantly northeast–southwest trends, fault areal density and intensity increases, and maximum vertical separation decreases steadily. Of the analyzed faults, approximately 49% are confined to the basement (intrabasement), ~28% terminate within the Arbuckle Group, and approximately 23% transect units above the Arbuckle Group. These observations suggest that (1) proximal to the NFZ, deformation is dominantly accommodated along a few but longer fault segments, most of the mapped faults cut into the sedimentary rocks, and most of the through-going faults propagate farther up-section above the Arbuckle Group; and (2) with distance away from the NFZ, deformation is diffuse and distributed across relatively shorter fault segments, and most basement faults do not extend into the sedimentary cover. The existence of through-going faults suggests the potential for spatially pervasive fluid movement along faults. Further, observations reveal pervasive, subhorizontal intrabasement reflectors (igneous sills) that terminate at the basement-sediment interface. Results have direct implications for wastewater injection and seismicity in north-central Oklahoma and southern Kansas. Additionally, they provide insight into the characteristics of basement-rooted structures around the NFZ region and suggest a means by which to characterize basement structures where seismic data are available.