Repository logo
  • Log In
    Log in via Symplectic to deposit your publication(s).
Repository logo
  • Communities & Collections
  • Research Outputs
  • Statistics
  • Log In
    Log in via Symplectic to deposit your publication(s).
  1. Home
  2. Faculty of Engineering
  3. Faculty of Engineering
  4. The kinematics of normal faults in the Ceduna Sub-Basin, offshore Southern Australia; implications for hydrocarbon trapping in a frontier basin
 
  • Details
The kinematics of normal faults in the Ceduna Sub-Basin, offshore Southern Australia; implications for hydrocarbon trapping in a frontier basin
File(s)
249T-BLTN16_1.pdf (5.9 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Ryan, L
Magee, C
Jackson, CA-L
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The geometry and growth of normal faults is fundamental to the evolution and petroleum prospectivity of sedimentary basins, controlling trap development, source, reservoir and seal rock distribution, and fluid flow. The poorly studied, petroliferous Ceduna Sub-basin located offshore southern Australia contains an ESE-striking, gravity driven fault array, which soles out onto a SW-

dipping detachment horizon. Within the sub-basin, structural closures bound by these gravity driven faults represent the main exploration targets. Determining when these faults and associated traps formed relative to petroleum generation and migration and, more specifically, if the faults reactivated, is thus critical to understanding the prospectivity of the Ceduna Sub-basin. In this study, we use a high-quality, time-migrated 2D seismic reflection survey covering the central Ceduna Sub-basin to constrain the geometry and kinematics of the fault array. Fault throw patterns reveal that most nucleated in the Cenomanian. Although some faults display evidence for continuous growth by upper tip propagation throughout the Cenomanian to Maastrichtian, others grew via either dip linkage of isolated segments or fault reactivation. It is apparent that some faults were inactive during the Turonian-Santonian before reactivating and propagating upwards or dip-linking with overlying, newly formed faults. Continuously growing faults primarily occur in the center of the study area, whereas reactivated faults occur proximal to the sediment source and dip-linked faults developed oceanwards. We suggest that this spatial variation fault growth style was primarily controlled by compositional and mechanical heterogeneities in the Tiger and lower Hammerhead supersequences. In addition to providing insights into the petroleum prospectivity of the Ceduna Sub-basin, this study shows how 2D seismic reflection data can be used to probe the kinematics of normal faults.
Date Issued
2017-03-01
Date Acceptance
2016-08-05
Citation
AAPG Bulletin, 2017, 101 (3), pp.321-341
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/42628
DOI
https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1306/08051615234
ISSN
0149-1423
Publisher
American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Start Page
321
End Page
341
Journal / Book Title
AAPG Bulletin
Volume
101
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2016 American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
Sponsor
Statoil ASA
Grant Number
PO# 4502563053
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Geology
BIGHT BASIN
FIELD EXAMPLES
SEISMIC DATA
DIP LINKAGE
GROWTH
REACTIVATION
TRANSITION
GEOMETRY
INSIGHTS
HISTORY
Energy
0403 Geology
0914 Resources Engineering And Extractive Metallurgy
Publication Status
Published
About
Spiral Depositing with Spiral Publishing with Spiral Symplectic
Contact us
Open access team Report an issue
Other Services
Scholarly Communications Library Services
logo

Imperial College London

South Kensington Campus

London SW7 2AZ, UK

tel: +44 (0)20 7589 5111

Accessibility Modern slavery statement Cookie Policy

Built with DSpace-CRIS software - Extension maintained and optimized by 4Science

  • Cookie settings
  • Privacy policy
  • End User Agreement
  • Send Feedback