3D characterization of fracture systems using Terrestrial Laser Scanning: an example from the Lewisian basement of NW Scotland

Pless, J.C.; McCaffrey, K.J.W.; Jones, R.R.; Holdsworth, R.E.; Conway, A.; Krabbendam, M.. 2015 3D characterization of fracture systems using Terrestrial Laser Scanning: an example from the Lewisian basement of NW Scotland. In: Richards, F.L., (ed.) Industrial structural geology : principles, techniques and integration. London, UK, Geological Society of London, 125-141. (Geological Society Special Publication, 421, 421).

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text
Pless_etal_3D_Fractures_GeolSocSpecPub_NORA.pdf - Accepted Version
Download (64MB) | Preview

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP421.14

Abstract/Summary

Fractured gneiss lithologies form a basement-cored high, the Rona Ridge in the Faroe–Shetland Basin. Basement structures are known to play an important role in the petroleum system for the overlying giant Clair Field. An onshore analogue exposure in the Lewisian Gneiss Complex at Kinlochbervie in NW Scotland provides an example of a hanging-wall damage zone of a large basement-hosted normal fault. In this study, we used remote sensing (2D), outcrop line sample methods (1D) and a virtual outcrop created by terrestrial laser scanning methods (3D) to characterize spatial variations of the fracture systems. Spacing distributions from 1D line samples collected from exposures and pseudo-wells constructed through the virtual outcrop show power-law distributions. The virtual outcrop data enable us to extend the scale-invariant description from 1 to 3 orders of magnitude. We developed a novel box-counting workflow to provide an assessment of 2- and 3D variations in the fracture properties. Fracture density and fractal dimension are elevated whereas the number of intersections is decreased within a 220 m-wide volume adjacent to the fault. We discuss how the methods and results from this study can aid the development of analogue for basement reservoirs in the offshore UK continental shelf.

Item Type:	Publication - Book Section
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1144/SP421.14
ISBN:	9781862397309
ISSN:	0305-8719
Date made live:	14 Apr 2016 15:45 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513448

Item Type:

Publication - Book Section

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1144/SP421.14

ISBN:

9781862397309

ISSN:

0305-8719

Date made live:

14 Apr 2016 15:45 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513448