Representation of normal slant faults in a 2D burial history model

A discussion is given of the impact of normal slant faults on basinal structure, compaction, fluid overpressure development, and thermal effects in sedimentary basins. Faults which are hydraulically closed or open to fluid flow are examined in a dynamical two-dimensional fluid/ flow compaction model.
From this numerical investigation three dominant factors characterize the effects of single and multiple faults with open or closed hydraulic behaviours: (i) there is a difference in excess pressure for fault planes with open or shut hydraulic conditions, but the neighbourhood where the effect of the fault is dominant is fairly localized (to within about half a kilometre or so laterally from the fault plane); (ii) the lateral and vertical motion of sediments between faulted blocks induces a thermal difference prior to, during, and post-faulting, which can play a role in influencing hydrocarbon generation, migration, and accumulation; (iii) porosity retention and permeability modification by fault development could influence hydrocarbon exploration decisions regarding sealing, migration pathways, and fluid retention.
The general patterns of slant fault effects described here should prevail in most geological situations, because the numerical experiments are designed to illuminate sharply the dominant response characteristics within the framework of simplified situations.