Quick Search:    advanced search

GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Odonne, F. Articles by Rolando, J.-P. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Abnormal reverse faulting above a depleting reservoir

¹ Université Paul Sabatier, Pétrophysique et Tectonique, U.M.R. 5563 C.N.R.S., 38 rue des Trente-six-Ponts, F-31400 Toulouse, France
² Elf Exploration Production, Centre Scientifique et Technique Jean Feger, Avenue Larribau, F-64018 Pau Cedex, France

Subsurface deformation is observed during pumping of some hydrocarbon fields. Deformation features include subsidence centered on the field and subsidence-related centripetal horizontal displacements and faulting. Focal mechanisms yield reverse movements on steeply dipping faults. In our sand-silicone analogue model, the reservoir is represented by a latex balloon or by undercompacted ground sand. Deflation of the reservoir results in formation of steeply dipping reverse faults bounding a downward-opened cone. The cone moves downward to follow the reservoir contraction. Faults along the cone are straight beneath a thick reservoir cover and tend to curve upwards with decreasing cover. Our results, similar to natural structures observed around magma chambers, allow us to reinterpret Paul Segall's numerical model of poroelastic stresses caused by changes in the distribution of pore fluids and draw a new pattern of active faults.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Q. WANG, J.-F. XU, P. JIAN, Z.-W. BAO, Z.-H. ZHAO, C.-F. LI, X.-L. XIONG, and J.-L. MA Petrogenesis of Adakitic Porphyries in an Extensional Tectonic Setting, Dexing, South China: Implications for the Genesis of Porphyry Copper Mineralization J. Petrology, January 1, 2006; 47(1): 119 - 144. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Kennedy, J. Stix, J. W. Vallance, Y. Lavallee, and M.-A. Longpre Controls on caldera structure: Results from analogue sandbox modeling Geological Society of America Bulletin, May 1, 2004; 116(5-6): 515 - 524. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]