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Information on Fault Orientation from Unoriented Cores

¹ Statoil, GF/PETEK-GEO, N-5020 Bergen, Norway
² Statoil, GF/PETEK-GEO, N-5020 Bergen, Norway; jonhe{at}statoil.no

Jonny is a structural geologist who obtained his M.Sc. degree in 1991 from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. In 1991 he worked with Husky Oil in Canada before he joined Statoil in Norway as a geologist on the Gullfaks field. The structural complexity of the field and the huge amount of data available led him to start on a Ph.D. in 1995 at the University of Bergen (while working with Statoil), which he finished in 1999.Jon is a geophysicist who received his Cand. Real. (equivalent to M.Sc.) degree from the Seismological Observatory at the University of Bergen, Norway, in 1976. He joined Statoil's exploration department in Stavanger in 1977. In 1985 he participated in the early development of the Gullfaks field. He is presently working with seismic interpretation and data processing associated with the satellites surrounding the Gullfaks field.

Unoriented core data can be integrated with other data types, such as seismic data, dipmeter data, and stratigraphic isochore or isopach data, to provide a unique solution for bedding orientation. In addition, such an integrated approach will help to identify erroneous data and interpretations. Once a unique solution for bedding orientation is obtained, this information can be used to find the orientation of faults and deformation bands as observed in core data. Although larger scale faults commonly are difficult to core due to brecciation and poor coherency of the fault rock, structural studies demonstrate that faults (with discrete slip surfaces) in sandstones are associated with numerous deformation bands in damage zones that are typically several meters wide. Within the fault zone itself, the deformation bands commonly are subparallel to the larger scale fault. Analyses of the orientation of deformation bands within the fault zone thus may yield information on the orientation of the larger scale fault. Based on such an integrated approach, it is possible to find information on faults on a subseismic scale that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to obtain. Quality control against seismically resolvable faults from the Gullfaks field, northern North Sea, demonstrates that this simple approach is valid and can provide important additional information for the structural interpreter. The results can be used to optimize well planning and enhance the understanding of fluid flow patterns in the reservoir.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Hesthammer and H. Fossen From seismic data to core data: an integrated approach to enhance reservoir characterization Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 2003; 209(1): 39 - 54. [Abstract] [PDF]

				The Effect of Temperature on Sealing Capacity of Faults in Sandstone Reservoirs: Examples from the Gullfaks and Gullfaks Sor Fields, North Sea AAPG Bulletin, October 1, 2002; 86(10): 1733 - 1751.