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Mineralogy controls fracture containment in mechanically layered carbonates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2022

Nina P. Bowness ,
Adam J. Cawood Open the ORCID record for Adam J. Cawood [Opens in a new window] ,
David A. Ferrill ,
Kevin J. Smart  and
Harrison B. Bellow
Nina P. Bowness
Affiliation:
Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, Texas 78238-5166, USA
Adam J. Cawood*
Affiliation:
Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, Texas 78238-5166, USA
David A. Ferrill
Affiliation:
Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, Texas 78238-5166, USA
Kevin J. Smart
Affiliation:
Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, Texas 78238-5166, USA
Harrison B. Bellow
Affiliation:
Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, Texas 78238-5166, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Adam J. Cawood, Email: adam.cawood@swri.org
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Abstract

Understanding the distribution and geometry of faults and fractures is critical for predicting both subsurface permeability architecture and the integrity of geological fluid barriers, particularly in rocks with low primary porosity and permeability. While fracture patterns in relatively competent, weathering-resistant (therefore often well-exposed) rocks are generally well studied in outcrop, the role of mechanically weak layers in defining fracture patterns is frequently overlooked or under-represented. Here we show that rock composition, specifically clay and silicate minerals versus carbonate content, exerts a strong control on fault and fracture propagation and bed-containment within a mechanically layered, Cretaceous carbonate sequence at Canyon Lake Gorge, Texas. We find that relatively incompetent, clay-rich layers limit fault and fracture propagation, and cause bed-containment of fractures in more competent beds. In our results, no clear relationships exist between mechanical layer thickness and fracture abundance. These results are important for understanding the relative importance of composition versus bed thickness on fracture abundance in the subsurface, and for predicting fracture-controlled fluid flow pathways, seals and fracture connectivity across beds with variable compositions, thicknesses and competences.

Keywords

fracturesmechanical stratigraphydeformationcarbonatesCanyon Lake Gorge
Type
FRACTURE OCCURRENCE, PATTERNS AND PROPERTIES
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 159 , Issue 11-12: THEMATIC ISSUE: Faults and fractures in rocks: mechanics, occurrence, dating, stress history and fluid flow , November 2022 , pp. 1855 - 1873
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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