The geometric and temporal evolution of fault‐related folds constrains normal fault growth patterns, Barents Sea, offshore Norway

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Alghuraybi ◽  
Rebecca E. Bell ◽  
Christopher A‐L. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Barents Sea ◽  
Temporal Evolution ◽  
Normal Fault ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Fault Growth

scholarly journals Geometric and temporal evolution of extensional growth folds in the Barents Sea, offshore Norway: A tool to understand normal fault growth

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Alghuraybi ◽  
Rebecca Bell ◽  
Chris Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Temporal Evolution ◽  
Normal Fault ◽  
Normal Faults ◽  
Borehole Data ◽  
Growth Strata ◽  
Sedimentary Evolution ◽  
Extensional Strain ◽  
Fault Growth

Extensional growth folds form ahead of the tips of propagating normal faults. These folds can accommodate a considerable amount of extensional strain and they may control rift geometry. Fold-related surface deformation may also control the sedimentary evolution of syn-rift depositional systems; thus, the stratigraphic record can constrain the four-dimensional evolution of extensional growth folds, which in term provides a record of fault growth and broader rift history. Here we use high-quality 3D seismic reflection and borehole data from the SW Barents Sea, offshore northern Norway to determine the geometric and temporal evolution of extensional growth folds associated with a large, long-lived, basement-involved fault. We show that the fault grew via linkage of four segments, and that fault growth was associated with the formation of fault-parallel and fault-perpendicular folds that accommodated a substantial portion (10 – 40%) of the total extensional strain. Fault-propagation folds formed at multiple times in response to periodic burial of the causal fault, with individual folding events (c. 25 Myr and 32 Myr) lasting a considered part of the total, c. 130 Myr rift period. Our study supports previous suggestions that continuous (i.e., folding) as well as discontinuous (i.e., faulting) deformation must be explicitly considered when assessing total strain in extensional setting. We also show changes in the architecture of growth strata record alternating periods of how folding and faulting, showing how rift margins may be characterised by basinward-dipping monoclines as opposed to fault-bound scarps. Our findings have broader implications for our understanding of the structural, physiographic, and tectonostratigraphic evolution of rift basins.

Quantitative analysis of fault and fold growth in a salt-bearing transtensional basins: the Sørvestsnaget Basin, Western Barents Sea

2020 ◽  
pp. SP495-2020-123
Author(s):  
Thomas B. Kristensen ◽  
Atle Rotevatn ◽  
Maria Marvik ◽  
Gijs A. Henstra ◽  
Rob L. Gawthorpe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Barents Sea ◽  
Hanging Wall ◽  
Structural Evolution ◽  
Normal Fault ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Normal Faults ◽  
Lateral Migration ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Economic Implications

AbstractThe growth of faults and folds in basins formed under transtension has been less studied than in their extensional counterparts. In this study, we capitalise on 3D seismic reflection data to investigate the evolution of faults and folds that evolved coevally during sub-orthogonal partitioned extension and shortening, respectively, in the Sørvestsnaget Basin, Western Barents Sea. We use quantitative techniques to constrain the distribution of normal fault throw, shortening accommodated by folds and thrusts, and stratigraphic thickness variations, to analyse the relative temporal and spatial evolution of faults and folds. Our results show that normal faults display a similar evolution to those occurring in extensional basins, where they grew by lateral- and dip-linkage of individual fault segments as well as upward propagation. Notably, we show that shortening-related fold growth affected the fault growth patterns, skewing their throw distributions, and shifting the location of accommodation away from the evolving folds. Thus, fold amplification caused lateral migration of normal fault hanging-wall depocentres. Our results shed new light on fault and fold growth processes in transtensional basins and contributes to an improved understanding of the structural evolution of basins forming along sheared continental margins, which has economic implications for sheared-margin basins targeted for hydrocarbon exploration.

Influence of normal fault growth and linkage on the evolution of a rift basin: A case from the Gaoyou depression of the Subei Basin, eastern China

AAPG Bulletin ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 101 (02) ◽  
pp. 265-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Liu ◽  
Qinghua Chen ◽  
Xi Wang ◽  
Kai Hu ◽  
Shaolei Cao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern China ◽  
Normal Fault ◽  
Rift Basin ◽  
Fault Growth

scholarly journals Contrasting geomorphic and stratigraphic responses to normal fault development during single and multi-phase rifting

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Pechlivanidou ◽  
Anneleen Geurts ◽  
Guillaume Duclaux ◽  
Robert Gawthorpe ◽  
Christos Pennos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Normal Fault ◽  
Sedimentary Facies ◽  
Surface Processes ◽  
Extension Direction ◽  
Multi Phase ◽  
Fault Growth ◽  
Stratigraphic Evolution ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Topographic Evolution ◽  
Previous Phase

Understanding the impact of tectonics on surface processes and the resultant stratigraphic evolution in multi-phase rifts is challenging, as patterns of erosion and deposition related to older phases of extension are overprinted by the subsequent extensional phases. In this study, we use a one-way coupled numerical modelling approach between a tectonic and a surface processes model to investigate topographic evolution, erosion and basin stratigraphy during single and multi-phase rifting. We compare the results from the single and the multi-phase rift experiments for a 5 Myr period during which they experience equal amounts of extension, but with the multi-phase experiment experiencing fault topography inherited from a previous phase of extension. Our results demonstrate a very dynamic evolution of the drainage network that occurs in response to fault growth and linkage and, to depocentre overfilling and overspilling. However, we observe profound differences between topographic and depocenter development during single and multi-phase rifting with implications for sedimentary facies development. Our quantitative approach, enables us to better understand the impact of changing extension direction on the distribution of sediment source areas and the syn-rift stratigraphic development through time and space.

Displacement and interaction of normal fault segments branched at depth: Implications for fault growth and potential earthquake rupture size

2008 ◽  
Vol 30 (10) ◽  
pp. 1288-1299 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Soliva ◽  
A. Benedicto ◽  
R.A. Schultz ◽  
L. Maerten ◽  
L. Micarelli
Keyword(s):  
Normal Fault ◽  
Earthquake Rupture ◽  
Fault Growth

Normal fault growth and segment linkage in a gravitationally detached delta system: evidence from 3D seismic reflection data from the Ceduna Sub-basin, Great Australian Bight

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 467
Author(s):  
Alexander Robson ◽  
Rosalind King ◽  
Simon Holford
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Reflection ◽  
Fault Plane ◽  
Structural Evolution ◽  
Normal Fault ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Reflection Data ◽  
Listric Fault ◽  
Dip Angle ◽  
Fault Growth

The authors used three-dimensional (3D) seismic reflection data from the central Ceduna Sub-Basin, Australia, to establish the structural evolution of a linked normal fault assemblage at the extensional top of a gravitationally driven delta system. The fault assemblage presented is decoupled at the base of a marine mud from the late Albian age. Strike-linkage has created a northwest–southeast oriented assemblage of normal fault segments and dip-linkage through Santonian strata, which connects a post-Santonian normal fault system to a Cenomanian-Santonian listric fault system. Cenomanian-Santonian fault growth is on the kilometre scale and builds an underlying structural grain, defining the geometry of the post-Santonian fault system. A fault plane dip-angle model has been created and established through simplistic depth conversion. This converts throw into fault plane dip-slip displacement, incorporating increasing heave of a listric fault and decreasing in dip-angle with depth. The analysis constrains fault growth into six evolutionary stages: early Cenomanian nucleation and radial growth of isolated fault segments; linkage of fault segments by the latest Cenomanian; latest Santonian Cessation of fault growth; erosion and heavy incision during the continental break-up of Australia and Antarctica (c. 83 Ma); vertically independent nucleation of the post-Santonian fault segments with rapid length establishment before significant displacement accumulation; and, continued displacement into the Cenozoic. The structural evolution of this fault system is compatible with the isolated fault model and segmented coherent fault model, indicating that these fault growth models do not need to be mutually exclusive to the growth of normal fault assemblages.

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