Seismic imaging of faults and fault systems

这项研究建议的主要目标是利用反射地震数据改善地质断层和断层系统的成像和解释，从而形成地下图像。我有一个独特的机会来分析和解释高质量的2D地震数据，这些数据是在2010年9月和2011年2月新西兰基督城附近地震期间在地质断层上记录的。在9月地震中，地表破裂的断层不是单一的断层痕迹，而是从一个断层段到下一个断层段的阶梯状模式。这项研究将产生重要的新信息，位移是如何在断层段之间转移。我提议的研究还将涉及对断层和断层系统的详细分析，这些断层和断层系统是从我的研究小组收集的或最近从工业界提供给我的加拿大西部三维地震体中解释的。这些数据集来自阿尔伯塔和不列颠哥伦比亚省的地区，这些地区在经济上非常重要，因为它们描绘了石油和天然气田。我们从地震数据中看到了令人信服的证据，即断层不是单一的表面，而是由雁列表面组成的复杂网络。我们将对三维地震体进行详细分析，这将使我们能够绘制沿单个断层面走向长度沿着的位移场，并了解它们之间的关系以及断层如何划分储层并影响储量和产量。改进断层系统的成像和理解对于许多其他应用至关重要。其中包括CO2的地质储存，其中能够绘制和解释可能导致CO2从储层泄漏的储存盖层中的断层至关重要，以及对于页岩气等非常规资源的开发，其中断层可能影响天然气生产。

The major goal of this research proposal is to improve the imaging and interpretation of geological faults and fault systems using reflection seismic data, which makes images of the subsurface. I have a unique opportunity to analyse and interpret high-quality 2D seismic data that was recorded across geological faults that slipped during earthquakes near Christchurch, New Zealand, in September, 2010 and in February, 2011. Rather than a single fault trace, faults that ruptured the ground surface during the September earthquake have an en-echelon pattern with step-overs from one fault segment to the next. This research will yield significant new information about how displacement is transferred between fault segments. My proposed research will also involve detailed analysis of faults and fault systems interpreted from 3D seismic volumes from Western Canada that my research group has collected or which have recently been made available to me from industry. These datasets are from areas in Alberta and British Columbia which are important economically, as they image oil and gas fields. We are seeing compelling evidence from the seismic data that faults are not single surfaces, but are complex networks of en-echelon surfaces. We will undertake a detailed analysis of 3D seismic volumes will enable us to map displacement fields along the strike length of individual fault surfaces and to understand the relationships between them and how faults compartmentalize reservoirs and impact reserves and production. Improved imaging and understanding of fault systems is critically important for many other applications. These include the geological storage of CO2 in which it is critical to be able to map and interpret faults in the storage caprock that may cause CO2 to leak from the reservoir, and for the development of unconventional resources such as shale gas, where faults can impact gas production.