Faulting, fluids and geohazards within subduction zone forearcs

该项目涉及利用地震反射和其他数据集研究俯冲带前弧内的断层作用和相关的流体。众所周知，俯冲板块边界断层上的滑动会引发大震级地震和海啸，但也会通过弧前许多断层上的滑动产生内部变形，但以前还没有对这些进行系统的研究。主要目的是了解这些不同的断层系统是如何发展的，应变是如何通过弧前分布的，以及断层在控制这些系统内的流体流动中所起的作用。天然气水合物和泥底辟作用在许多边缘地区很常见，并将探索这些环境中断层作用与流体圈闭和流体流动之间的相互作用。更好地了解逆冲断层和其他断层类型的发展，将提供有关断层如何影响流体储存潜力的重要数据，包括用于脱碳和圈闭油气资源的二氧化碳储存。该项目还有助于我们更好地了解流体如何影响断层滑动、地震和海啸以及可能影响海底基础设施的海洋斜坡破坏等方面的地质灾害。该项目中使用的俯冲带例子是苏门答腊岛、马克兰和卡斯卡迪亚。

The project involves study of the faulting within subduction zone forearcs and associated fluids using seismic reflection and other datasets. Slip on the subduction plate-bounding fault is known to generate large magnitude earthquakes and tsunami, but also produces internal deformation through slip on many faults within the forearc, but these have not previously been systematically studied. The main aims are to understand how these different fault systems develop, how strain is distributed through a forearc, and the role faulting plays in controlling fluid flow within such systems. Gas hydrates and mud diapirism are common at many of these margins and the interaction between faulting and fluid trapping and fluid flow in these environments will be explored. Improved understanding of the development of thrust faults, and other fault types, will provide important data on how faulting affects the potential for fluid storage, including CO2 storage for decarbonisation and trapping of hydrocarbon resources. This project is also relevant to our improved understanding of geohazards in terms of how fluids affect fault slip, generating earthquakes and tsunami, and marine slope failure, which can impact seafloor infrastructure. Example subduction zones to be used in the project are Sumatra, the Makran and Cascadia.