Fault reactivation and fluid flow along a previously dormant normal fault in the northern North Sea

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 2000 Fault reactivation and fluid flow along a previously dormant normal fault in the northern North Sea David Wiprut; David Wiprut 1Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2215, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mark D. Zoback Mark D. Zoback 1Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2215, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2000) 28 (7): 595–598. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<595:FRAFFA>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 10 Dec 1999 rev-recd: 06 Apr 2000 accepted: 13 Apr 2000 first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation David Wiprut, Mark D. Zoback; Fault reactivation and fluid flow along a previously dormant normal fault in the northern North Sea. Geology 2000;; 28 (7): 595–598. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<595:FRAFFA>2.0.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 Detailed seismic imaging and in situ stress and pore-pressure measurements are used to analyze reverse-fault reactivation of a long-dormant normal fault in the northern North Sea. Fault reactivation is caused by three factors: (1) a recent increase in the compressional stress in the area associated with postglacial rebound, (2) locally elevated pore pressure due to the presence of natural gas in a hydrocarbon reservoir on the footwall side of the fault, and (3) a fault orientation that is nearly optimally oriented for frictional slip in the present-day stress field. We demonstrate that the combination of these three factors induces fault slippage and gas leakage along sections of the previously sealing reservoir-bounding fault. We argue that similar pore-pressure triggering of fault slip in the crust may occur because of the accumulation of gas columns of, e.g., CO2 and He in the vicinity of tectonic faults. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.