An overview of some of the large scale mechanisms of salt dissolution in western Canada

Geophysics ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 1375-1387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil L. Anderson ◽  
Ralph Knapp
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Well Log ◽  
Lake Area ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Lake Formation ◽  
Salt Creep ◽  
Salt Dissolution ◽  
Devonian Age

Well log and seismic data indicate that the bedded rock salts (salts) of the Devonian Age Prairie Formation were widely distributed and uniformly deposited in the Lloydminster area, Western Canada (T45-65, R20W3M-R5W4M); however, as a result of extensive leaching, the distribution of these salts is not now what it once was. The Lloydminster area is now bisected by the north‐south trending main dissolutional edge of the Prairie salt. Thick salt (up to 150 m) is preserved to the west of this edge; to the east the salt is mostly absent. Analyses of remnant salt and patterns of subsurface structural relief suggests that the dissolution of the Prairie salt in the Lloydminster area was triggered and/or accentuated in part by several different large scale mechanisms including: near‐surface exposure, centripetal flow of unsaturated waters, regional faulting/fracturing, glacial loading and/or unloading, dissolution of the underlying salt, and salt creep. These mechanisms are supported by the incorporated seismic and well log control that indicate a direct relationship between the thicknesses of remnant salt and post‐salt strata. Well log and seismic data also indicate that the bedded salts of the Devonian Age Black Creek Member were uniformly deposited within the Black Creek sub‐basin, Rainbow Lake area, western Canada (T105-112, R5-R10W6M); however, as a result of extensive leaching, distribution of these salts is not now what it once was. The Black Creek salts are now preserved only as discontinuous remnants with maximum gross thicknesses on the order of 80 m. Seismic and well log control suggests that the dissolution of the Black Creek salt in the Rainbow Lake study area was triggered and/or accentuated in part by several different large scale mechanisms including: centrifugal flow of unsaturated waters, regional faulting/fracturing and salt creep. Bedded salt is preserved within five other Devonian Age evaporitic units in Alberta, Canada: the Lotsberg Formation, Cold Lake Formation, Beaverhill Lake Group, Leduc Formation, and Wabamun Group. Each of these salts has also been extensively leached in places. In the literature, dissolution is generally attributed to one or more of the previously noted large scale mechanisms. Herein we present an overview of the envisioned principal mechanisms of salt dissolution. In support of these hypothesized mechanisms, we present seismic and geologic control from both the Lloydminster and Rainbow Lake areas of western Canada, which illustrate that the dissolution of subsurface salts is accompanied by the subsidence of post‐salt strata and that the analyses of this information can be used to elucidate the timing and large scale mechanisms of salt dissolution.

scholarly journals Joint interpretation of magnetotelluric, seismic, and well-log data in Hontomín (Spain)

Solid Earth ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 943-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xènia Ogaya ◽  
Juan Alcalde ◽  
Ignacio Marzán ◽  
Juanjo Ledo ◽  
Pilar Queralt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Unconsolidated Sediments ◽  
Well Log ◽  
Storage Site ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Log Data ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Joint Interpretation

Abstract. Hontomín (N of Spain) hosts the first Spanish CO2 storage pilot plant. The subsurface characterization of the site included the acquisition of a 3-D seismic reflection and a circumscribed 3-D magnetotelluric (MT) survey. This paper addresses the combination of the seismic and MT results, together with the available well-log data, in order to achieve a better characterization of the Hontomín subsurface. We compare the structural model obtained from the interpretation of the seismic data with the geoelectrical model resulting from the MT data. The models correlate well in the surroundings of the CO2 injection area with the major structural differences observed related to the presence of faults. The combination of the two methods allowed a more detailed characterization of the faults, defining their geometry, and fluid flow characteristics, which are key for the risk assessment of the storage site. Moreover, we use the well-log data of the existing wells to derive resistivity–velocity relationships for the subsurface and compute a 3-D velocity model of the site using the 3-D resistivity model as a reference. The derived velocity model is compared to both the predicted and logged velocity in the injection and monitoring wells, for an overall assessment of the computed resistivity–velocity relationships. The major differences observed are explained by the different resolution of the compared geophysical methods. Finally, the derived velocity model for the near surface is compared with the velocity model used for the static corrections in the seismic data. The results allowed extracting information about the characteristics of the shallow unconsolidated sediments, suggesting possible clay and water content variations. The good correlation of the velocity models derived from the resistivity–velocity relationships and the well-log data demonstrate the potential of the combination of the two methods for characterizing the subsurface, in terms of its physical properties (velocity, resistivity) and structural/reservoir characteristics. This work explores the compatibility of the seismic and magnetotelluric methods across scales highlighting the importance of joint interpretation in near surface and reservoir characterization.

The Western Australia Modeling project — Part 2: Seismic validation

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. T793-T807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Shragge ◽  
David Lumley ◽  
Julien Bourget ◽  
Toby Potter ◽  
Taka Miyoshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Seismic Imaging ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
North West ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Imaging Results ◽  
Scenario Testing

Large-scale 3D modeling of realistic earth models is being increasingly undertaken in industry and academia. These models have proven useful for various activities such as geologic scenario testing through seismic finite-difference (FD) modeling, investigating new acquisition geometries, and validating novel seismic imaging, inversion, and interpretation methods. We have evaluated the results of the Western Australia (WA) Modeling (WAMo) project, involving the development of a large-scale 3D geomodel representative of geology of the Carnarvon Basin, located offshore of WA’s North West Shelf (NWS). Constrained by a variety of geologic, petrophysical, and field seismic data sets, the viscoelastic WAMo 3D geomodel was used in seismic FD modeling and imaging tests to “validate” model realizations. Calibrating the near-surface model proved to be challenging due to the limited amount of well data available for the top 500 m below the mudline. We addressed this issue by incorporating additional information (e.g., geotechnical data, analog studies) as well as by using soft constraints to match the overall character of nearby NWS seismic data with the modeled shot gathers. This process required undertaking several “linear” iterations to apply near-surface model conditioning, as well as “nonlinear” iterations to update the underlying petrophysical relationships. Overall, the resulting final WAMo 3D geomodel and accompanying modeled shot gathers and imaging results are able to reproduce the complex full-wavefield character of NWS marine seismic data. Thus, the WAMo model is well-calibrated for use in geologic and geophysical scenario testing to address common NWS seismic imaging, inversion, and interpretation challenges.

Building large-scale density model via a deep-learning-based data-driven method

Geophysics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. M1-M15
Author(s):  
Zhaoqi Gao ◽  
Chuang Li ◽  
Bing Zhang ◽  
Xiudi Jiang ◽  
Zhibin Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Field Data ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Extrapolation Method ◽  
Well Logs ◽  
Density Model ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Well Log ◽  
Log Data

As a rock-physics parameter, density plays a crucial role in lithology interpretation, reservoir evaluation, and description. However, density can hardly be directly inverted from seismic data, especially for large-scale structures; thus, additional information is needed to build such a large-scale model. Usually, well-log data can be used to build a large-scale density model through extrapolation; however, this approach can only work well for simple cases and it loses effectiveness when the medium is laterally heterogeneous. We have adopted a deep-learning-based method to build a large-scale density model based on seismic and well-log data. The long short-term memory network is used to learn the relation between seismic data and large-scale density. Except for the data pairs directly obtained from well logs, many velocity and density models randomly generated based on the statistical distributions of well logs are also used to generate several pairs of seismic data and the corresponding large-scale density. This can greatly enlarge the size and diversity of the training data set and consequently leads to a significant improvement of the proposed method in dealing with a heterogeneous medium even though only a few well logs are available. Our method is applied to synthetic and field data examples to verify its performance and compare it with the well extrapolation method, and the results clearly display that the proposed method can work well even though only a few well logs are available. Especially in the field data example, the built large-scale density model of the proposed method is improved by 11.9666 dB and 0.6740, respectively, in peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity compared with that of the well extrapolation method.

scholarly journals Joint interpretation of magnetotelluric, seismic and well-log data in Hontomín (Spain)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Ogaya ◽  
J. Alcalde ◽  
I. Marzán ◽  
J. Ledo ◽  
P. Queralt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Co2 Injection ◽  
Well Log ◽  
Storage Site ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Log Data ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
3D Velocity Model ◽  
Joint Interpretation

Abstract. Hontomín (N of Spain) hosts the first Spanish CO2 storage pilot plant. The subsurface characterisation of the site included the acquisition of a 3D seismic reflection and a circumscribed 3D magnetotelluric (MT) survey. This paper addresses the combination of the seismic and MT results, together with the available well-log data, in order to achieve a better characterisation of the Hontomín subsurface. We compare the structural model obtained from the interpretation of the seismic data with the geoelectrical model resulting from the MT data. The models corr elate well in the surroundings of the CO2 injection area with the major structural observed related to the presence of faults. The combination of the two methods allowed a more detailed characterisation of the faults, defining their structural and fluid flow characteristics, which is key for the risk assessment of the storage site. Moreover, we use the well-log data of the existing wells to derive resistivity-velocity relationships for the subsurface formations and compute a 3D velocity model of the site using the 3D resistivity model as a reference. The derived velocity model is compared to both the predicted and logged velocity in the injection and monitoring wells, for an overall assessment of the resistivity-velocity relationships computed. Finally, the derived velocity model is compared in the near surface with the velocity model used for the static corrections in the seismic data. The results allowed extracting information about the characteristics of the shallow subsurface, enhancing the presence of clays and water content variations. The good correlation of t he velocity models and well-log data demonstrate the potential of the two methods for characterising the subsurface, in terms of its physical properties (velocity, resistivity) and structural/reservoir characteristics. This work explores the compatibility of the seismic and magnetotelluric methods across scales highlighting the importance of joint interpretation in reservoir characterisation.

scholarly journals Influence of the Upstream Terrain on the Formation of a Cold Frontal Snowband in Northeast China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Li ◽  
Baofeng Jiao ◽  
Lingkun Ran ◽  
Zongting Gao ◽  
Shouting Gao
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Northeast China ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Control Experiment ◽  
Vertical Motion ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Inertial Instability ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Conditional Instability

AbstractWe investigated the influence of upstream terrain on the formation of a cold frontal snowband in Northeast China. We conducted numerical sensitivity experiments that gradually removed the upstream terrain and compared the results with a control experiment. Our results indicate a clear negative effect of upstream terrain on the formation of snowbands, especially over large-scale terrain. By thoroughly examining the ingredients necessary for snowfall (instability, lifting and moisture), we found that the release of mid-level conditional instability, followed by the release of low-level or near surface instabilities (inertial instability, conditional instability or conditional symmetrical instability), contributed to formation of the snowband in both experiments. The lifting required for the release of these instabilities was mainly a result of frontogenetic forcing and upper gravity waves. However, the snowband in the control experiment developed later and was weaker than that in the experiment without upstream terrain. Two factors contributed to this negative topographic effect: (1) the mountain gravity waves over the upstream terrain, which perturbed the frontogenetic circulation by rapidly changing the vertical motion and therefore did not favor the release of instabilities in the absence of persistent ascending motion; and (2) the decrease in the supply of moisture as a result of blocking of the upstream terrain, which changed both the moisture and instability structures leeward of the mountains. A conceptual model is presented that shows the effects of the instabilities and lifting on the development of cold frontal snowbands in downstream mountains.

scholarly journals Forced Fold Amplitude and Sill Thickness Constrained by Wireline and 3-D Seismic Data Suggest an Elastic Magma-Induced Deformation in Tarim Basin, NW China

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 293
Author(s):  
Wei Tian ◽  
Xiaomin Li ◽  
Lei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Tarim Basin ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Inelastic Deformation ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Well Log ◽  
Total Thickness ◽  
Nw China ◽  
Seismic Method ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Outer Area

Disparities between fold amplitude (A) and intrusion thickness (Hsill) are critical in identifying elastic or inelastic deformation in a forced fold. However, accurate measurements of these two parameters are challenging because of the limit in separability and detectability of the seismic data. We combined wireline data and 3-D seismic data from the TZ-47 exploring area in the Tarim Basin, Northwest China, to accurately constrain the fold amplitude and total thickness of sills that induced roof uplift in the terrain. Results from the measurement show that the forced fold amplitude is 155.0 m. After decompaction, the original forced fold amplitude in the area penetrated by the well T47 ranged from 159.9 to 225.8 m, which overlaps the total thickness of the stack of sills recovered by seismic method (171.4 m) and well log method (181.0 m). Therefore, the fold amplitude at T47 area is likely to be elastic. In contrast, the outer area of the TZ-47 forced fold is characterized by shear-style deformation, indicating inelastic deformation at the marginal area. It is suggested that interbedded limestone layers would play an important role in strengthening the roof layers, preventing inelastic deformation during the emplacement of intrusive magma.

scholarly journals Elucidating the Onset of Plasticity in Sliding Contacts Using Differential Computational Orientation Tomography

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Eder ◽  
P. G. Grützmacher ◽  
M. Rodríguez Ripoll ◽  
J. F. Belak
Keyword(s):  
Grain Boundary ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Boundary Migration ◽  
Material Design ◽  
Lattice Rotation ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Color Saturation ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

Abstract Depending on the mechanical and thermal energy introduced to a dry sliding interface, the near-surface regions of the mated bodies may undergo plastic deformation. In this work, we use large-scale molecular dynamics simulations to generate “differential computational orientation tomographs” (dCOT) and thus highlight changes to the microstructure near tribological FCC alloy surfaces, allowing us to detect subtle differences in lattice orientation and small distances in grain boundary migration. The analysis approach compares computationally generated orientation tomographs with their undeformed counterparts via a simple image analysis filter. We use our visualization method to discuss the acting microstructural mechanisms in a load- and time-resolved fashion, focusing on sliding conditions that lead to twinning, partial lattice rotation, and grain boundary-dominated processes. Extracting and laterally averaging the color saturation value of the generated tomographs allows us to produce quantitative time- and depth-resolved maps that give a good overview of the progress and severity of near-surface deformation. Corresponding maps of the lateral standard deviation in the color saturation show evidence of homogenization processes occurring in the tribologically loaded microstructure, frequently leading to the formation of a well-defined separation between deformed and undeformed regions. When integrated into a computational materials engineering framework, our approach could help optimize material design for tribological and other deformation problems. Graphic Abstract .

Line length balancing to evaluate multi-phase submarine landslide development: an example from the Storegga Slide, Norway

2019 ◽  
Vol 500 (1) ◽  
pp. 531-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Bull ◽  
Joseph A. Cartwright
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Line Length ◽  
Proximal Region ◽  
Submarine Landslide ◽  
Landslide Development ◽  
Multi Phase ◽  
Storegga Slide ◽  
2D And 3D ◽  
3D Seismic Data

AbstractThis study shows how simple structural restoration of a discrete submarine landslide lobe can be applied to large-scale, multi-phase examples to identify different phases of slide-lobe development and evaluate their mode of emplacement. We present the most detailed analysis performed to date on a zone of intense contractional deformation, historically referred to as the compression zone, from the giant, multi-phase Storegga Slide, offshore Norway. 2D and 3D seismic data and bathymetry data show that the zone of large-scale (>650 m thick) contractional deformation can be genetically linked updip with a zone of intense depletion across a distance of 135 km. Quantification of depletion and accumulation along a representative dip-section reveals that significant depletion in the proximal region is not accommodated in the relatively mild amount (c. 5%) of downdip shortening. Dip-section restoration indicates a later, separate stage of deformation may have involved removal of a significant volume of material as part of the final stages of the Storegga Slide, as opposed to the minor volumes reported in previous studies.

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