Imperial College London
Alternate

Emeritus ProfessorHowardJohnson

Faculty of Engineering, Department of Earth Science & Engineering

Emeritus Professor of Reservoir Geology
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 6450h.d.johnson

 
 
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Location

 

3.48Royal School of MinesSouth Kensington Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Hamilton-Wright:2019:10.1144/petgeo2018-119,
author = {Hamilton-Wright, J and Dee, S and von, Nicolai C and Johnson, H},
doi = {10.1144/petgeo2018-119},
journal = {Petroleum Geoscience},
pages = {258--271},
title = {Investigating controls on salt movement in extensional settingsusing finite-element modelling},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/petgeo2018-119},
volume = {25},
year = {2019}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Salt structures present numerous challenges for targeting reservoirs. Salt movement within the subsurface can follow complex pathways, producing deformation patterns in surrounding strata which are often difficult to decipher. Consequently, the relative role of key salt-flow drivers and geological sensitivities on salt-structure evolution are often poorly understood. To address this, we have developed 2D geomechanical models using the finite-element method to simulate salt diapir and pillow development in two extensional tectonic settings. We conducted model sensitivity analyses to examine the influence of geological parameters on field-scale salt structures and their corresponding deformation pattern. Modelled diapirs developing in thin-skinned extensional settings closely resemble published analogue experiments; however, active and passive stages of diapir growth are seldom or never reached, respectively, thus challenging existing ideas that diapir evolution is dominated by passive growth. In all modelled cases, highly strained domains bound the diapir flanks where extensive small-scale faulting and fracturing can be expected. Asymmetrical diapirs are prone to flank collapse and are observed in models with fast extension or sedimentation rates, thin roof sections or salt layers, or initially short or triangular-shaped diapirs. In modelled thick-skinned extensional settings, salt pillows and suprasalt overburden faults can be laterally offset (decoupled) from a reactivating basement fault. This decoupling increases with increased salt-layer thickness, overburden thickness, sedimentation rate and fault angle, and decreased fault slip rates. Contrary to existing consensus, overburden grounding onto the basement fault scarp does not appear to halt development of salt structures above the footwall basement block.
AU  - Hamilton-Wright,J
AU  - Dee,S
AU  - von,Nicolai C
AU  - Johnson,H
DO  - 10.1144/petgeo2018-119
EP  - 271
PY  - 2019///
SN  - 1354-0793
SP  - 258
TI  - Investigating controls on salt movement in extensional settingsusing finite-element modelling
T2  - Petroleum Geoscience
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/petgeo2018-119
UR  - https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/pg/article-lookup?doi=10.1144/petgeo2018-119
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/73231
VL  - 25
ER  -
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