CHARACTERIZING TRANSFER ZONES WITH SEISMIC AND EXPERIMENTAL MODELS

Karam, Pierre

CHARACTERIZING TRANSFER ZONES WITH SEISMIC AND EXPERIMENTAL MODELS

dc.contributor.advisor	Carpenter, Brett
dc.contributor.author	Karam, Pierre
dc.contributor.committeeMember	Marfurt, Kurt
dc.contributor.committeeMember	Bedle, Heather
dc.contributor.committeeMember	Reza, Zulfiquar
dc.date.accessioned	2020-07-30T17:31:27Z
dc.date.available	2020-07-30T17:31:27Z
dc.date.issued	2020-07-30
dc.date.manuscript	2020-07-28
dc.description.abstract	This dissertation focuses on characterizing and understanding transfer zone growth and geometry. Seismic data including seismic attributes are used to better image transfer zones and understand their structural properties. Coherence shows a strong correlation with displacement for major faults and with the relay ramps. My analysis shows that increases in fault displacement to be logarithmic with the increase in fault length and relay ramp length, such that significant displacement does not result into significant length growth, beyond the initial faulting stage. This is due to the development of relay ramps that not only transfer displacement from one fault to another, but accounts for the increase in displacement through breaching. Similarly, curvature can be used to image folding and bed rotation associated with faulting, with shallower horizons draping across some of the faults exhibiting finite displacement at deeper horizons. Finally, other attributes such as dip and azimuth can help image splay development and breaching within the transfer zones. I also use seismic data to assess fault sealing potential. To do so, I used seismic inversion methods to invert for rock properties including gamma ray, and porosity, which then can be translated into rock descriptions. Facies juxtaposition within the 3D model allow me to assess areas of sealing and leaking potential. My analysis shows that transfer zones can serve as major migration pathways, where the geometry of the ramp prevents a total fault seal associated with displacement. I also used the SGR method to assess the sealing capacity of those faults. Results are similar to the juxtaposition method, but show a much broader sealing capacity, and in some intervals, a total seal across the major faults and within transfer zones. As transfer zones become breached and heavily faulted, they provide potential migration pathways if fractured, or migration barriers associated with the displacement that the breaching fault undergoes. Experimental models are analogue models that can be used to better understand the mechanism by which transfer zones develop. In this research, the analogue modeling focused on studying the relationship between pre-existing fault geometry, bed lithology, and transfer zone development. Pre-existing faults, including overlapping faults, can cause the development of a larger “damage” zone characterized by the development of synthetic and antithetic faults. Lithology greatly impacts the growth mechanism and the distribution of faulting around transfer zones. Analysis of the analogue models suggest that harder rocks (modeled by cement) tend to have less folding and rotation of faults, and more significant faulting, while softer rocks (modeled by clay) tend to develop gradually with time and exhibit significant folding and fracturing. These analogue models correlate well to multiple outcrop field studies. Hence this work will focus on seismically characterizing transfer zones, developing new methods to assess their sealing potential, and studying lithological and pre-existing faulting importance on their geometries.	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/11244/325330
dc.language	en_US	en_US
dc.subject	Structural Geology	en_US
dc.subject	Seismic Attributes	en_US
dc.subject	Seismic Inversion	en_US
dc.subject	Physical Models	en_US
dc.thesis.degree	Ph.D.	en_US
dc.title	CHARACTERIZING TRANSFER ZONES WITH SEISMIC AND EXPERIMENTAL MODELS	en_US
ou.group	Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy::School of Geosciences	en_US
shareok.orcid	0000-0003-0630-6134	en_US