Lyell Collection
Geological Society, London, Special Publications
Lyell Centre  |   Lyell Collection  |   Subscriptions   |   Geological Society  |   Email alerts  |   Online bookshop  |   Help

Keywords:
Author:
Advanced search>>
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Dee, S. J.
Right arrow Articles by Ellis, P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation
Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 2007; v. 270; p. 139-155;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.2007.270.01.10
© 2007 Geological Society of London

Numerical and analogue modelling studies

Elastic dislocation modelling for prediction of small-scale fault and fracture network characteristics

S. J. Dee1, G. Yielding1, B. Freeman1, D. Healy2, N. J. Kusznir2, N. Grant3 & P. Ellis4

1 Badley Geoscience Ltd, North Beck House, North Beck Lane, Hundleby, Spilsby, Lincolnshire PE23 5NB, UK (e-mail: stephen{at}badleys.co.uk)
2 Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GP, UK
3 ConocoPhillips (UK) Ltd, Rubislaw House, North Anderson Drive, Aberdeen AB15 6FZ, UK
4 BG Norge Limited, Løkkeveien 103b, 4007 Stavanger, Norway

Predicting the effects of small-scale faults and fractures on reservoir behaviour requires a definition of their spatial distribution, orientation and mode. Elastic dislocation (ED) theory can predict the distribution of displacement, strain and stress in the rock volume surrounding major faults, from mapping of fault geometry and slip distribution in 3D seismic-reflection datasets. The intensity of small-scale faulting can be related to the predicted local strain, or the degree to which the shear stresses exceeded the rock failure envelope. We illustrate the methodology with three case studies: (i) a relatively-simple thrust anticline from Venezuela, where hydrocarbons are trapped in Pliocene sandstones within the faulted hanging wall anticline; (ii) the Gull-faks Field and of the North Sea; and (iii) the Miskar Field, offshore Tunisia, where large seismically mapped normal faults are forward-modelled to predict small-scale fault characteristics for comparison with detailed interpretation and seismic attribute analysis. Key requirements for the development of a robust predictive model of the small-scale fault and fracture network are a geometrically consistent framework model, judicious choice of mechanical properties, and a reasonable estimate of regional background strain.