Influence of poroelastic behavior on the magnitude of minimum horizontal stress, Sh in overpressured parts of sedimentary basins

Abstract

Research Article| October 01, 1994 Influence of poroelastic behavior on the magnitude of minimum horizontal stress, Sh in overpressured parts of sedimentary basins Terry Engelder; Terry Engelder 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mark P. Fischer Mark P. Fischer 2Department of Geosciences and Earth System Science Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1994) 22 (10): 949–952. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0949:IOPBOT>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Terry Engelder, Mark P. Fischer; Influence of poroelastic behavior on the magnitude of minimum horizontal stress, Sh in overpressured parts of sedimentary basins. Geology 1994;; 22 (10): 949–952. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0949:IOPBOT>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract In many sedimentary basins of the world the minimum hori- zontal stress, Sh, is greater in overpressured zones than in normally pressured zones at equivalent depths. A common explanation is that the frictional slip on listric normal faults keeps the difference between vertical stress, Sv and Sh within certain bounds, and the difference is smaller under lower effective stress (i.e., higher pore pressure, Pp). However, in the overpressured parts of the central North Sea graben, United Kingdom, and the Sable subbasin of the Scotian Shelf, Canada, conventional friction envelopes underestimate the magnitude of Sh. These data instead indicate that Sh increases at a rate proportional to but less than the rate of increase of Pp, a condition consistent with a Pp-induced deformation of the rock called poroelastic behavior. This paper argues that, whereas friction may govern Sh in normally pressured basins, poroelastic behavior is responsible for the unusually high Sh in the overpres- sured parts of these same basins. Data on the Pp and Sh gradients from these basins suggest that ΔSh/ΔPp ∼ 0.7. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.