Salt related deformation – YouWol Geoscience

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Salt related deformation (faulting)

Case study: Santos Basin, offshore Brazil

References

Maerten L., Maerten, F. and Cornard, P., 2017, Stress Distribution Around Complex Salt Structures - A New Approach Using Fast 3D Boundary Element Method. EAGE extended abstract, Paris.

Maerten L., Maerten, F., Coleman, A. J. and Jackson, C. A.-L., Modeling stress and fracture distribution around complex salt structures: A new approach and a case study from the Santos Basin of Brazil. In preparation for Geological Society of London Special Publication.

Context

Client: None
Location: Santos Basin, offshore Brazil
Main goal: Model faults around salt diapirs
Geology: Passive margin, salt diapirs and faulting
Tectonic: Gravitational, extension

Methodology

Data analysis and interpretation
3D salt model reconstruction
Multi-parametric inversion (ARCH)
3D stress filed from 3D model (ARCH)
Modeled fault characteristics constrained by stress field (ARCH)

Other applications using similar methodology

This workflow for modeling salt related deformation can also be applied to:

Present-day stress modeling around cavities or active faults
Man-made caverns

Main outcomes

Interpreted faults

Interpreted fault traces (black) from seismic variance map of a shallow horizon.

3D salt model

Reconstruction of the 3D salt bodies of the area from 3D seismic reflection survey.

The salt surfaces are meshed with triangular elements to better honor the interpreted geometry and to suit the geomechanical simulations with Arch.

Observed versus modeled fault trends

Comparison between observed (interpreted) and modeled (Arch) fault trend.

The modeled fault trend is derived from the heterogeneous 3D stress field computed around the salt diapirs (Arch) under the imposed far field tectonic stresses.

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Observed versus modeled fault density

Comparison between observed (interpreted) and modeled (Arch) fault density.

The observed fault density is derived from the interpretation of both the fault traces and the throw distributions.

The modeled fault density are derived from the heterogeneous 3D stress field computed (Arch) around the salt diapirs under the imposed far field tectonic stresses.

The stress attribute used as a proxy for modeled fault density is the maximum Coulomb shear stress (So).

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