A review of the new geophysics : a new understanding of pre-fracturing deformation in the crack-critical crust with implications for hydrocarbon production

Crampin, Stuart; Yuan, G.. 2008 A review of the new geophysics : a new understanding of pre-fracturing deformation in the crack-critical crust with implications for hydrocarbon production. Petroleum Science, 5 (1). 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-008-0001-9

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Abstract/Summary

This paper reviews a new understanding of shear-wave splitting (seismic-birefringence) that is a fundamental revision of conventional fluid-rock deformation. It is a New Geophysics with implications for almost all solid-earth geosciences, including hydrocarbon exploration and production, and earthquake forecasting. Widespread observations of shear-wave splitting show that deformation in in situ rocks is controlled by stress-aligned fluid-saturated grain-boundary cracks and preferentially orientated pores and pore-throats pervasive in almost all igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks in the Earth’s crust. These fluid-saturated microcracks are the most compliant elements of the rock-mass and control rock deformation. The degree of splitting shows that the microcracks in almost all rocks are so closely spaced that they verge on fracture-criticality and failure by fracturing, and are critical systems with the “butterfly wing’s” sensitivity of all critical systems. As a result of this crack-criticality, evolution of fluid-saturated stress-aligned microcracked rock under changing conditions can be modelled with anisotropic poroelasticity (APE). Consequently, low-level deformation can be: monitored with shear-wave splitting; future behaviour calculated with APE; future behaviour predicted with APE, if the change in conditions can be quantified; and in principle, future behaviour controlled by feed-back. This paper reviews our current understanding of the New Geophysics of low-level pre-fracturing deformation.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-008-0001-9
Programmes:	BGS Programmes 2008 > Marine Geoscience
Additional Keywords:	Geophysics, Hydrocarbons
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	30 Oct 2008 15:17 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/4690

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