Fault Zone Structure Research Articles

Structure of the northwestern North Anatolian Fault Zone imaged via teleseismic scattering tomography

SUMMARYInformation on fault zone structure is essential for our understanding of earthquake mechanics, continental deformation and seismic hazard. We use the scattered seismic wavefield to study the subsurface structure of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) in the region of the 1999 İzmit and Düzce ruptures using data from an 18-month dense deployment of seismometers with a nominal station spacing of 7 km. Using the forward- and back-scattered energy that follows the direct P-wave arrival from teleseismic earthquakes, we apply a scattered wave inversion approach and are able to resolve changes in lithospheric structure on a scale of 10 km or less in an area of about 130 km by 100 km across the NAFZ. We find several crustal interfaces that are laterally incoherent beneath the surface strands of the NAFZ and evidence for contrasting crustal structures either side of the NAFZ, consistent with the presence of juxtaposed crustal blocks and ancient suture zones. Although the two strands of the NAFZ in the study region strike roughly east–west, we detect strong variations in structure both north–south, across boundaries of the major blocks, and east–west, parallel to the strike of the NAFZ. The surface expression of the two strands of the NAFZ is coincident with changes on main interfaces and interface terminations throughout the crust and into the upper mantle in the tomographic sections. We show that a dense passive network of seismometers is able to capture information from the scattered seismic wavefield and, using a tomographic approach, to resolve the fine scale structure of crust and lithospheric mantle even in geologically complex regions. Our results show that major shear zones exist beneath the NAFZ throughout the crust and into the lithospheric mantle, suggesting a strong coupling of strain at these depths.

Geoinformational criteria for distinguishing the quasi-linear chains of earthquake migration in epicentral fields of complex geometry and variable density of shocks distribution

Within the framework of the basic model of migrating seismicity, the main geoinformation criteria for identifying quasi-linear chains of earthquakes in epicentral fields of complex geometry and variable density of shock distribution have been determined by numerical methods. The developed model is used to study the migrations of earthquake foci and identify zones of hidden seismically active faults: it provides statistical criteria for the presence of quasi-linear chains of seismicity migration
 and zones of hidden seismic faults in arrays of various volumes of seismological data as an excess at a given level of significance
 of the average numbers of chains of earthquakes, spatially temporal distribution of shocks. The established dependences of the average number of selected chains of random events on the sample size and site shape make it possible to reveal the presence of seismicity migration and zones of hidden faults under the given criteria of “significance”, “representativeness” and ISMA. The developed methods, implemented programs and patents lay the theoretical and practical basis for GIS technology for identifying hidden faults and studying the migrations of earthquake foci in the lithosphere of the Baikal rift system. Since the main laws governing the formation of the internal structure of continental fault zones and seismicity are determined by the fundamental properties of the progressive deformation of transgressive shearing realized within them and are uniform, the developed GIS technologies can be applied in other seismically active regions.

A Comparative Study of Geometrical Upscaling Methods for Inclusion of Fault Zone Structure into Upscaled Reservoir Simulation Models

Most petroleum reservoirs contain faults, and a key methodological challenge in full-field reservoir modeling is to include the effects of 3D sub-seismic fault zone structure within the 2D fault surfaces represented in commercially available simulators. To address this shortcoming, connectivity-based geometrical upscaling (GU) is introduced to include these fault zones implicitly in the upscaled reservoir model, and in this study, a comparison is made of the accuracy and flexibility of two different GU methods. The existing template-based geometrical upscaling (TBGU) method is compared to a newly developed flow-based geometrical upscaling (FBGU) method. In both methods, the faults and their associated single-phase fault rock properties are represented in the upscaled reservoir simulation model implicitly as neighbor and non-neighbor cell-to-cell connection transmissibilities, which are determined from 3D fault zone structures, but these transmissibilities are calculated in very different ways. Both approaches require a high-resolution reservoir model (i.e., truth model), containing 3D fault zone structure explicitly within the model geometry, which is then upscaled using the two methods to take into account the influences of the fault zone structure. The accuracy of both the upscaling methods is examined by comparing the flow behavior of the truth model with that of model versions upscaled using two different ways. The results of the two versions of upscaled models revealed significant differences and indicate that the FBGU technique is a much more accurate and flexible means of including structurally complex fault zone into low-resolution upscaled reservoir simulation models.

Illuminating high-resolution crustal fault zones using multi-scale dense arrays and airgun source

High-resolution imaging of fault zone structure and its temporal changes can not only advance our understanding of earthquake physics, but is also critical for better seismic hazard preparation and mitigation. In the past a few years, we deployed multi-scale dense arrays across the Chenghai fault system in Binchuan, Yunnan, China. The first array consisted of 381 intermediate-period three-component seismometers with an average station spacing of ∼2 ​km. The array has been deployed in the field for ∼3 months in 2017 and recorded numerous local and teleseismic earthquakes. Travel time analyses based on teleseismic earthquakes and an airgun source in the region indicated clear signature of low-velocity fault zones in the southern branch of the Chenghai fault system. In 2018 we deployed two other linear arrays using the same instruments with much smaller inter-station spacing, e.g. 30–50 ​m, across the southern branch the Chenghai fault. The profile lengths were 8 and 5 ​km, respectively. Record sections of the airgun source on the two linear arrays clearly marked a low-velocity zone (LVZ) within the southern array but no such signature in the northern array, suggesting along-strike variation of the LVZ. Although the instruments within our dense arrays had an intermediate frequency band, we demonstrated that they were capable of characterizing crustal structure with techniques commonly applied to broadband signals such as receiver functions. To our best knowledge, this was the first time to have multi-scale across-fault dense arrays with three-component seismometers in such apertures. These results lay out the pavement to comprehensively investigate fault zone structures as well as to derive subsurface structural changes using dense arrays and the airgun source.

Shale fault zone structure and stress dependent anisotropic permeability and seismic velocity properties (Opalinus Clay, Switzerland)

Given shale's potential to serve as both a caprock for geological carbon sequestration and as the host for nuclear waste disposal, this study focuses on the structural characterization around a 1.5–3 m thick fault within the Opalinus Clay host rock and petrophysical characterization of both the host rock and fault core. Seven boreholes were drilled at the Mont Terri Rock laboratory in late 2018 to constrain the orientation of the so-called ‘Main Fault’ and several fracture families within the fault core using core and image logs. Contrary to typical fault models, matrix permeability and seismic velocity measurements show similarities in the host rock and within the Main Fault. In the clay-rich samples, measurements performed in laboratory at varying confining pressures indicate p-wave velocities range from 2.60 to 2.95 km/s perpendicular to foliation and 3.38–3.58 km/s parallel to foliation at near in-situ confining pressures, which increase with similar anisotropy at higher confining pressures (200 MPa). Since the permeability of the host rock and fault zone is very low (10−19–10−21 m2) flow is expected to prevail along fractures, where critical stress fault analysis suggests that potential hydraulically conductive fractures are actually conjugate to the Main Fault trend.

Ambient Noise Surface Wave Reverse Time Migration for Fault Imaging

AbstractAmbient noise tomography (ANT) has become a routine method to image shear‐wave velocity variations at different scales. However, ANT can only resolve smooth velocity variations and cannot give high‐resolution images of the subsurface discontinuities. Here we propose a novel Transmitted Surface Wave Reverse Time Migration (TSW‐RTM) method to directly image fault planes using the empirical surface wave Green's functions retrieved from ambient noise. Our proposed method can directly utilize the reconstructed surface wave waveforms from seismic noise cross‐correlations to image the sharp fault discontinuities with the seismic imaging principle. Compared to the conventional ambient noise tomograms, the migrated images from our proposed method delineate fault planes with much higher resolution and certainty for interpretations. The synthetic tests with different fault zone models demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of our novel fault imaging method. The proposed TSW‐RTM method is also applied to image two different segments of the Tanlu fault zone (TFZ) in eastern China, using the surface waves retrieved from the ambient noise data recorded by dense seismic linear arrays deployed across the TFZ. Our ambient noise imaging results are consistent with previous studies in the same areas regarding the fault plane positions and dips. Both synthetic tests and real data applications demonstrate that our method is very useful for fault characterizations in areas where active and passive seismic data are not available. Our proposed TSW‐RTM method opens up new ways to utilize the seismic ambient noise for imaging subsurface fault zone structures.

Application of Comprehensive Geophysical Analysis in Hidden Fault Exploration

Heap leaching in gold mines is an important mineral-processing method. However, it involves higher requirements of the integrity and stability of the site strata because it can cause great harm to the environment. In particular, hidden faults and fault-zone structures in the site strata are important factors causing pollutant leakage and damage to the environment. Hence, engineering drilling is generally used to identify hidden faults and fault zones to intuitively reveal the underground information in a limited depth range; the disadvantage is the high cost and low efficiency of this method. In this study, comprehensive geophysical exploration methods were adopted to analyze the geophysical characteristics of the hidden faults and fault zones to obtain considerable underground information efficiently to evaluate the exploration site. Methods such as the electrical resistivity tomography, shallow seismic reflection method, magnetic method, and vertical electric sounding method have been used for the heap-leaching site exploration of Alxa Zhula Gold Mine to identify the location, occurrence, and morphological characteristics. Based on borehole and geological data, the possibility of disaster for the defective geological structure in the heap-leaching field of a gold mine was evaluated, and a geological structure model was established in this study. Thus, the results represent an important example of environmental geophysical exploration.

Principal Slip Zone determination in the Wenchuan earthquake Fault Scientific Drilling project-hole 1: considering the Bayesian discriminant function

Accurate determination of the Principal Slip Zone (PSZ) of earthquake fault zones is a key task of earthquake Fault Scientific Drilling for future earthquake control. The fault zone structure of Wenchuan earthquake is complex, and there are many strong earthquakes recorded on the fault zone, which make determining the PSZ in the Wenchuan earthquake Fault Scientific Drilling project-hole 1 (WFSD-1) difficult. At present, core analysis of whole coring is the decisive method for determining PSZ depth, and the fresh fault gouge at 589.2 m is the PSZ in WFSD-1. Abundant and comprehensive logging data can only be used as evidence to judge the PSZ. Based on the discrimination function and hyperplane equation in Bayesian discriminant classification, we derive a new algorithm for computing the PSZ possibility using a Bayesian Discrimination function (PSZP-BDF) based on the simplified model, and set up a mode to determine the PSZ directly using machine learning of well logging. For the verification of WFSD-1, the fault gouges are successfully identified and the PSZ depth is accurately located. The algorithm objectively learns the sample data, which is naturally adaptive to the region. The calculation procedure is simple and does not require expensive coring data or heavy core tests in the well. The calculation speed is fast, using multiple physical data types. The PSZP-BDF algorithm is suitable for processing and interpreting earthquake fault scientific drilling data.

Relationship between wellbore instability and rock mechanics when drilling in the fault area of Shunbei Formation

The Tarim Basin is one of the most important oil formations in China, and it is prospected to exceed 110 billion barrels. Recently, some fault areas were drilled to achieve high potential oil reservoirs in the Tarim Basin. However, during drilling, wellbore stability is difficult to ensure in the fault areas. Wellbore collapse and lost circulation may unexpectedly occur. Therefore, analysis of wellbore stability according to the formation characteristics of the fault zone is necessary. On the basis of the formation mechanism of the fault zone, the stratigraphic characteristics corresponding to the internal structure of different fault zones were analyzed in this work. As a result of the formation characteristics, the corresponding logging identification methods of the induced fracture zone and sliding crushing zone formed, and the differences in wellbore instability in different internal structures were compared. The formation characteristics and mechanical properties of the sliding crushing zone were characterized by XRD, SEM, linear expansion rate test, rolling recovery test, and other physical experiments. Logging calculations were also conducted to assess the phenomenon of collapse that often occurs in the sliding crushing zone, and the collapse mechanism was analyzed accordingly. In view of the leakage phenomenon in the induced fracture zone, the complex mechanism of the leakage was analyzed, and the traditional minimum principal stress model was modified to obtain the leakage pressure calculation model suitable for the fault zone. Finally, taking the F1 fault zone in Shunbei area as an example, the internal structure of the fault zone was divided by using the summarized logging identification method. The wellbore instability of the different internal structures was compared, and the newly established loss pressure model was applied in the SHBX1 well, thereby proving that the model has a good application effect. The study in this paper provided some mechanisms of wellbore instability based on formation property and rock mechanics in the fault area. In addition, a loss pressure model based on the special formation characteristics was proposed to guide drilling in the fault zone.

Analysis of Fault Zone Resonance Modes Recorded by a Dense Seismic Array Across the San Jacinto Fault Zone at Blackburn Saddle

AbstractWe present observations and modeling of spatial eigen‐functions of resonating waves within fault zone waveguide, using data recorded on a dense seismic array across the San Jacinto Fault Zone (SJFZ) in southern California. The array consists of 5‐Hz geophones that cross the SJFZ with ~10–30 m spacing at the Blackburn Saddle near the Hemet Stepover. Wavefield snapshots after the S wave arrival are consistent for more than 50 near‐fault events, suggesting that this pattern is controlled by the fault zone structure rather than source properties. Data from example event with high signal to noise ratio show three main frequency peaks at ~1.3, ~2.0, and ~2.8 Hz in the amplitude spectra of resonance waves averaged over stations near the fault. The data are modeled with analytical expressions for eigen‐functions of resonance waves in a low‐velocity layer (fault zone) between two quarter‐spaces. Using a grid search‐based method, we investigate the possible width of the waveguide, location within the array, and shear wave velocities of the media that fit well the resonance signal at ~1.3 Hz. The results indicate a ~300 m wide damaged fault zone layer with ~65% S wave velocity reduction compared to the host rock. The SW edge of the low‐velocity zone is near the mapped fault surface trace, indicating that the damage zone is asymmetrically located at the regionally faster NE crustal block. The imaging resolution of the fault zone structure can be improved by modeling fault zone resonance modes and trapped waves together.

Core surprise: What's inside a plate boundary?

Despite the fact that 90% of global seismicity occurs at plate boundary faults, our understanding of their internal structure is lacking. It’s not easy to see inside a plate boundary fault – typically composed of a high-strain fault core surrounded by a fractured damage zone – and when we can, it often requires expensive drilling projects that yield limited information on the internal structure of the whole fault. Understanding the internal structure of large faults is crucial, because their chemical and mechanical properties control how and where earthquakes rupture, nucleate and propagate. This in turn limits the size of the earthquake or the amount of radiated seismic energy, and consequently the severity of surface damage. The 1999 magnitude 7.7 earthquake along the Chelungpu plate boundary fault, for example – the second deadliest earthquake in Taiwan’s recorded history – saw significant variations in slip and ground motion at different locations along the fault which resulted in large local variations in casualties and damage. Subsequent field investigations related these variations to changes in the fault’s structure (i.e., clay width, geometry), which in turn controlled how the fault moved.

Fine Structure of the Chenghai Fault Zone, Yunnan, China, Constrained From Teleseismic Travel Time and Ambient Noise Tomography

AbstractTo derive high‐resolution fault zone (FZ) structure of the Chenghai fault in Yunnan, southwestern China, we deployed a linear dense array crossing the fault from January to February 2018. The array consisted of 158 short‐period (5 s) three‐component instruments and spanned an aperture of ~8 km with average station spacing of 40–50 m. During the 1‐month deployment, 20 teleseismic earthquakes with moment magnitudes larger than 5.5 and 41 local earthquakes were recorded. We first analyzed the travel times of P and S waves from teleseismic earthquakes to determine the boundaries of the FZ. After correcting the station‐event geometry effects, teleseismic travel time differences between the reference station, and all other stations clearly marked a zone of 3.4 km in width with distinct travel time anomaly, suggesting a low‐velocity zone (LVZ) surrounding the Chenghai fault. We then conducted ambient noise tomography and found that the S wave velocity of the LVZ was reduced by 60% and 40% compared to the northwest and southeast of the LVZ, respectively. Our ambient noise results suggested the LVZ extending to ~1.5 km in depth, consistent with the travel time anomalies of teleseismic earthquakes. Integrating ambient noise tomography with teleseismic travel times in a dense array with such an aperture is an effective approach for resolving FZ structure and depth extent.

The Multiscale Structure of the Longmen Shan Central Fault Zone from Local and Teleseismic Data Recorded by Short-Period Dense Arrays

ABSTRACTThe Longmen Shan fault zone (FZ), which consists of the back-range, the central, and the front-range faults, acts as the boundary between the Sichuan basin and eastern Tibet. In this study, local and teleseismic waveforms recorded by a 2D small aperture seismic array (176 temporary short-period seismometers) deployed by China University of Geosciences (Beijing) from 22 October to 20 November 2017 and a dense linear seismic array of 16 stations deployed by Geophysical Exploration Center, China Earthquake Administration during July 2008 are used to study the FZ structure by analyzing FZ-trapped waves (FZTWs), the radial-to-vertical amplitude ratio, and travel-time delays. Based on power density spectra analysis, FZTWs from local events with larger amplitudes and longer wavetrains are clearly observed at stations 6002–6003, 6013–6025, and W025–W032. The dispersion measured from trapped waves is quite weak. The near-surface shear velocity structure estimated from the radial-to-vertical amplitude ratios of local initial P waves shows a low-velocity zone around the surface rupture trace. The slight time delay of direct P waves examined from local and teleseismic events indicates a relatively shallow slow structure beneath the arrays. Through the comprehensive analysis of the central FZ, our results suggest a shallow low-velocity zone with a width of ∼150–160 m along the surface rupture trace. Moreover, our P-wave receiver functions reveal that the Moho depth beneath the Longmen Shan FZ is approximately 45 km, and receiver functions at stations located within the surface rupture zone show more complicated waveforms than those off the surface rupture.

Hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs in a fault system and the factors controlling reservoir formation-A case study of Lower Paleozoic carbonate reservoirs in the Gucheng area, Tarim Basin

The widespread hydrothermal activity in the Lower Paleozoic carbonate reservoirs of the Tarim Basin has received much attention. The discovery of hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs indicates that hydrothermal alteration may have a positive effect on reservoir development. However, the factors controlling hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs and their pore development characteristics are difficult to recognize and interpret. Based on the lithology, petrology, pore fabrics and geochemical characteristics of the Lower Paleozoic carbonate reservoirs in the Gucheng area, this research discloses that the origin of the carbonate reservoirs is related to alteration by hydrothermal brine. Further, hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs are strongly heterogeneous in different fault zone structures. This research divides the fault structures into fault cores (type 1) and damage zones (types 2 and 3). Type 1 is characterized by many breccias cemented by saddle dolomite, locally developed vugs or fractures in the cores, low density (1.7–2.8 g/cm3) and resistance (22.4–1075 Ω) in the log response, and shows abundant black-spotted vugs and sinusoidal fractures in formation microscanner images (FMI). Due to poor connectivity and high heterogeneity (permeability: 3.24 to 0.01 mD, average 0.59 mD; porosity: 5.1 to 0.7%, average 1.8%), type 1 hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs show both positive and negative hydrothermal fluid contributions. In the damage zones, especially in the areas near fault cores, type 2 is rich in fracture-pore systems in both the cores and FMI and is characterized by serrated fluctuations in acoustic waves and densities (2.4–2.8 g/cm3). Type2 performs well in terms of physical properties (permeability: 8.06 to 0.011 mD, average 0.837 mD; porosity: 6.6 to 0.65%, average 2.5%), indicating potentially favorable areas for the development of hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs. At the distal end of a damage zone or in poorly developed areas, type 3 features filling by hydrothermal products or higher densification (permeability: 0.77 to 0.0003 mD, average 0.125 mD; porosity: 1.6 to 0.2%, average 0.2%). The well logging response of type3, which has a density of around 2.8 g/cm3 and flat acoustic wave curves, is similar to that of the host rock. The differences in the development of hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs among diverse fault zones suggest that the damage zone (type 2) may be a potential area for hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs in the fault system. This study illustrates a model in which the hydrothermal fluid dissolves host rock in the proximal area and precipitates it at the distal end of the damage zone. The hydrothermal dolomite reservoir characteristics of different fault zones are also further interpreted and described. Therefore, different locations within a fault zone need to be considered and distinguished in studies of the factors controlling hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs in fault systems. This view may provide new ideas regarding whether hydrothermal activity in the Tarim Basin plays a positive role in the formation of reservoirs and offers new suggestions for the exploration of hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs in fault systems.

Fault zone structures and strain localization in clinoptilolite-tuff (Nižný Hrabovec, Slovak Republic)

Clinoptilolite is a natural micro-porous zeolite composed of silica and alumina tetrahedra that commonly forms as a devitrification product of glass in volcanic tuffs. Besides applications in the agriculture, building and manufacturing industries, clinoptilolite has been widely studied in veterinary and human medicine because of its positive effects on health. Based on field observations and microstructural investigations, we show, for the first time, strain localization features along faults in natural zeolite tuffs in a clinoptilolite-tuff open-pit mine at Nižný Hrabovec (Slovak Republic). The faults are localized along pre-existing joints with plumose structures that acted as a pathway for the infiltration of mainly Mn- and K-rich fluids. Displacement along the faults created structures that are indicative of both velocity hardening (accommodated by dissolution precipitation creep on SC/SCC′ foliation) and velocity weakening (accommodated by multi-generations of ultracataclasites along principal slip surfaces) behaviors. Rock-fluid interaction was characterized by a high-mobility of K-rich fluids, with K-feldspar decorating the SC/SCC′ foliation, infiltrating fractures in the damage zone of the faults and precipitating as idiomorphic crystals in open cavities and along the fault surface. Microstructures such as polished slickensides, injection of fluidized cataclasites, clast-cortex grains in cataclasites and truncated grains along principal slip surfaces probably suggest that at least some of the faults formed during seismic slip.

Normal fault networks and their spatial relationships in Plio-Quaternary sedimentary series: A case study in the Zanjan Depression, NW Iran

Well-exposed normal fault networks in the Plio-Quaternary sedimentary series of the Zanjan Depression, Iran, were studied in order to analyse the spatial relationships and evolution of fault and damage zone structures in low-burial (~200 m) conditions. Despite the poorly-consolidated, geologically young nature of sediment, fault networks show several characteristics more typical of faulting in lithified strata. Key controls on the evolution of fault networks are found to be fault interactions, segment linkage, and the mechanical stratigraphy resulting in dip refraction, fault segmentation, the development of fault bends and steps, vertical fault overlap zone breaching, and bed-parallel slip. The data show a decrease of fracture frequency away from the fault cores. The obtained data show that damage zones width increases with fault displacement in a non-linear manner. Furthermore, damage zones appear more deformed and wider in the hanging-wall than in the footwall. A plot of damage zone width versus total fault throw reveals a positive but non-linear correlation, and the best-fit function corresponds better to a power-law relationship. The relationship between displacement and length shows a sub-vertical growth path with large displacement gradients typical of faulting in partially-lithified strata, due to shale ductility accommodating fault tip-related strains. A model for the evolution of the normal fault system is proposed based on spatial distribution of deformation, particularly fault segmentation, segment linkage, and damage zone development, as influenced by initial fault spacing, mechanical stratigraphy and the low burial conditions.

Use of a trench adjacent to a shallow foundation as a mitigation measure for hazards associated with reverse faulting

Evidence from recent earthquakes reminds us that fault-induced permanent ground displacement has a devastating effect on structures in addition to damage caused by wave propagation. Studies have shown that new mitigation measures should be employed to decrease the hazards associated with surface faulting on structures in active fault zones. In this study, the performance of a vertical trench in mitigating the hazards associated with reverse faulting on shallow foundations was investigated using centrifuge model tests. The trench was filled with highly compressible and low shear strength material. The parameters of structural distress, fault-induced rotation and displacement of a shallow foundation were considered when investigating the performance of the trench. The trench was able to significantly decrease the rotation of the foundation and the level of damage to the foundation and superstructure induced by reverse fault rupture. The depth required for the trench in order to divert fault rupture away from the foundation was determined using a simplified analytical model.

Investigating the role of faults in fluid migration and gas hydrate formation along the southern Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand

The Hikurangi Margin off the east coast of the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) is a tectonically active subduction zone and the location of New Zealand’s largest gas hydrate province. Faults are internally complex volumetric zones that may play a significant role in the migration of fluids beneath the seafloor. The combined processes of deformation and fluid migration result in the formation of concentrated hydrate accumulations along accretionary ridges. It is not fully understood to what extent faults control fluid migration along the Hikurangi Margin, and whether deep-seated thrust faults provide a pathway for thermogenic gas to migrate up from sources at depth. Using 2D models based on seismic data from the region we investigated the role of thrust faults in facilitating fluid migration and contributing to the formation of concentrated gas hydrates. By altering permeability properties of the fault zones in these transient state models we can determine whether faults are required to act as fluid flow pathways. In this study we focus on two study sites offshore southern Wairarapa, using realistic yet simplified fault geometries derived from 2D seismic lines. The results of these models allow us to start to disentangle the complex relationship between fault zone structure, permeability, geometry, fluid migration and gas hydrate formation. Based on the model outputs we propose that faults act as primary pathways facilitating fluid migration and are critical in the formation of concentrated gas hydrate deposits.

Coexisting seismic behavior of transform faults revealed by high-resolution bathymetry

AbstractTransform faults have anomalously low rates of seismicity, but it’s not clear whether this reflects persistent earthquake-generating fault patches surrounded by creep, or the presence of creep and earthquakes at different times along the same patch. We use new, autonomous underwater vehicle high-resolution seafloor mapping to image the morphology of and offsets along transform fault segments in the Gulf of California, offshore Mexico. Fault zone structure imaged in this study shows evidence for the initiation and cessation of activity along individual fault splays over geologic time. A series of six identically offset depositional fans evidence 21–23 m of slip along the main transform fault, which could not have been produced by a single earthquake given the length of the transform. Rather, the lack of smaller-magnitude offsets indicates synchronous deposition and an absence of multiple slope failure–inducing earthquakes, which is consistent with the idea that creep and/or small-magnitude events occur asynchronously with large earthquakes in the slip history of a given transform fault segment.

Layering and structural inheritance controls on fault zone structure in three dimensions: a case study from the northern Molasse Basin, Switzerland

Mechanical heterogeneity of a sedimentary sequence exerts a primary control on the geometry of fault zones and the proportion of offset accommodated by folding. The Wildensbuch Fault Zone in the Swiss Molasse Basin, with a maximum throw of 40 m, intersects a Mesozoic section containing a thick (120 m) clay-dominated unit (Opalinus Clay) over- and underlain by more competent limestone units. Interpretation of a 3D seismic reflection survey indicates that the fault zone formed by upward propagation of an east–west-trending basement structure, through the Mesozoic section, in response to NE–SW Miocene extension. This configuration formed an array of left-stepping normal fault segments above and below the Opalinus Clay. In cross-section a broad monoclinal fold is observed in the Opalinus Clay. Folding, however, is not ubiquitous and occurs in the Opalinus Clay where fault segments above and below are oblique to one another; where they are parallel the fault passes through the Opalinus Clay with little folding. These observations demonstrate that, even in strongly heterogeneous sequences, here a four-fold difference in both Young's modulus and cohesion between layers, the occurrence of folding may depend on the local relationship between fault geometry and applied stress field rather than rheological properties alone.