1887
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Basin Research
  4. Volume 17, Issue 2
  5. Article
Volume 17, Issue 2
  • E-ISSN: 1365-2117

Abstract

Abstract

Well‐calibrated seismic interpretation in the Halten Terrace of Mid‐Norway demonstrates the important role that structural feedback between normal fault growth and evaporite mobility has for depocentre development during syn‐rift deposition of the Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Viking and Fangst Groups. While the main rift phase reactivated pre‐existing structural trends, and initiated new extensional structures, a Triassic evaporite interval decouples the supra‐salt cover strata from the underlying basement, causing the development of two separate fault populations, one in the cover and the other confined to the pre‐salt basement.

Detailed displacement–length analyses of both cover and basement fault arrays, combined with mapping of the component parts of the syn‐rift interval, have been used to reveal the spatial and temporal evolution of normal fault segments and sediment depocentres within the Halten Terrace area. Significantly, the results highlight important differences with traditional models of normal fault‐controlled subsidence, including those from parts of the North Sea where salt is absent. It can now be shown that evaporite mobility is intimately linked to the along‐strike displacement variations of these cover and basement faults. The evaporites passively move beneath the cover in response to the extension, such that the evaporite thickness becomes greatest adjacent to regions of high fault displacement. The consequent evaporite swells can become large enough to have pronounced palaeobathymetric relief in hangingwall locations, associated with fault displacement – the exact opposite situation to that predicted by traditional models of normal fault growth. Evaporite movement from previous extension also affects the displacement–length relationships of subsequently nucleated or reactivated faults. Evaporite withdrawal, on the other hand, tends to be a later‐stage feature associated with the high stress regions around the propagating tips of normal faults or their coeval hangingwall release faults. The results indicate the important effect of, and structural feedback caused by, syn‐rift evaporite mobility in heavily modifying subsidence patterns produced by normal fault array evolution. Despite their departure from published models, the results provide a new, generic framework within which to interpret extensional fault and depocentre development and evolution in areas in which mobile evaporites exist.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1111/j.1365-2117.2005.00250.x
2005-02-16
2024-04-26

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1111/j.1365-2117.2005.00250.x
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Anders, M.H. & Schlische, R.W. (1994) Overlapping faults, intra‐basin highs, and the growth of normal faults. J. Geol., 102, 165–180.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Brekke, H. (2000) The tectonic evolution of the Norwegian Sea Continental Margin with emphasis on the Vøring and Møre Basins. In: Dynamics of the Norwegian Margin (Ed. by Nøttvedt , et al), Geol. Soc. London Spec. Publ. , 167, 327–378.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Bukovics, C., Cartier, E.G., Shaw, N.D. & Ziegler, P.A. (1984) Structure and development of the mid‐Norway continental margin. In: Petroleum Geology of the North European Margin (Ed. by A.M.Spencer ), pp. 407–423. Graham and Trotman, London.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Bukovics, C. & Ziegler, P.A. (1985) Tectonic development of the mid‐Norway continental margin. Marine Petrol. Geol., 2, 2–22.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Cartwright, J.A., Trudgill, B.D. & Mansfield, C.S. (1995) Fault growth by segment linkage: an explanation for scatter in maximum displacement and trace length data from the Canyonlands grabens of SE Utah. J. Struct. Geol., 17, 1319–1326.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Contreras, J., Anders, M.H. & Scholtz, C.H. (2000) Growth of a normal fault system: observations from the Lake Malawi basin of the east African rift. J. Struct. Geol., 22, 159–168.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Corfield, S. & Sharp, I.R. (2000) Structural style and stratigraphic architecture of fault propagation folding in extensional settings: a seismic example from the Smørbukk area, Halten Terrace, Mid-Norway. Basin Res., 12, 329–341.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Cowie, P.A. (1998) A healing‐reloading feedback control on the growth rate of seismogenic faults. J. Struct. Geol., 20, 1075–1087.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Cowie, P.A., Gupta, S. & Dawers, N.H. (2000) Implications of Fault Interaction for Early Syn‐Rift Sedimentation: insights from a Numerical Fault Growth Model. Basin Res., 12, 241–262.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Cowie, P.A., Sornette, D. & Vanneste, C. (1995) Multifractal scaling properties of a growing fault population. Geophys. J. Int., 122, 457–469.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Dalland, A., Worseley, D. & Ofstad, K. (1988) A lithostratigraphic scheme for the Mesozoic and Cenozoic succession offshore mid and northern Norway. Norwegian Petrol. Directorate Bull., 4.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Dawers, N.H. & Anders, M.H. (1995) Displacement–length scaling and fault linkage. J. Struct. Geol., 17, 607–614.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Dawers, N.H. & Underhill, J.R. (2000) The role of fault interaction and linkage in controlling syn‐rift stratigraphic sequences: late Jurassic, Statfjord East Area, Northern North Sea. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., 84, 45–64.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Dooley, T., McClay, K.R., Hempton, M. & Smit, D. (2005) Salt tectonics above complex basement extensional fault systems: results from analogue modelling. In: Petroleum Geology of Northwest Europe: Proceedings of the 6th Conference (Ed. by A.G.Doré & B.Vining ), Geol. Soc. London , 1631–1648.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Dooley, T., McClay, K.R. & Pascoe, R. (2003) 3D Analogue models of variable displacement extensional faults: applications to the Revfallet fault systems, Mid‐Norway. In: New Insights into Structural Interpretation and Modelling (Ed. by D.A.Nieuland ), Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ. , 212, 151–167.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Finch, E., Hardy, S. & Gawthorpe, R.L. (2004) Discrete‐element modelling of extensional fault‐propagation folding above rigid basement fault blocks. Basin Res., 16, 489–506.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Gawthorpe, R.L. & Hurst, J.M. (1993) Transfer zones in extensional basins; their structural style and influence on drainage development and stratigraphy. J. Geol. Soc. London, 150, 1137–1152.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Gawthorpe, R.L. & Leeder, M.R. (2000) Tectono‐sedimentary evolution of active extensional basins. Basin Res., 12, 195–218, doi:10.1046/j.1365‐2117.2000.00121.x.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Gawthorpe, R.L., Sharp, I., Underhill, J.R. & Gupta, S. (1997) Linked sequence stratigraphic and structural evolution of propagating normal faults. Geology, 25, 795–798.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Gupta, S., Cowie, P.A., Dawers, N.H. & Underhill, J.R. (1998) A mechanism to explain rift‐basin subsidence and stratigraphic patterns through fault array evolution. Geology, 26, 595–598.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Gupta, A. & Scholz, C.H. (2000) A model of normal fault interaction based on observations and theory. J. Struct. Geol., 22, 865–879.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Harvey, M.J. & Stewart, S.A. (1998) Influence of salt on the structural evolution of the Channel Basin. In: Development, Evolution and Petroleum Geology of the Wessex Basin (Ed. by J.R.Underhill ), Geol. Soc. London Spec. Publ. , 133, 241–266.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Helgeson, D.E. (1999) Structural development and trap formation in the Central North Sea HP/HT play. In: Petroleum Geology of Northwest Europe: Proceedings of the 5th Conference (Ed. by A.J.Fleet & S.A.R.Boldy ), Geol. Soc. London , 1029–1034.
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Hubbard, R.J., Pape, J.J. & Roberts, D.G. (1985) Depositional sequence mapping as a technique to establish tectonic and stratigraphic framework and evaluate hydrocarbon potential on a passive continental margin. In: Seismic Stratigraphy II: An Integrated Approach (Ed. by O.R.Berg & P.Woolverton ), Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem. , 39, 79–91.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Jackson, M.P.A. & Vendeville, B.C. (1994) Regional extension as a geologic trigger for diapirism. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 106, 57–73.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Jacobsen, V.W. & Van Veen, P. (1984) The Triassic offshore Norway north of 62 N. In: Petroleum Geology of the North European Margin (Ed. by A.M.Spencer ), pp. 317–327. Graham and Trotman, London.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Kneller, B.C. & McCaffrey, W.D. (1995) Modelling the effects of salt‐induced topography on deposition from turbidity currents. In: Salt, Sediment and Hydrocarbons (Ed. by C.J.Travis , H.Harrison , M.R.Hudec , B.C.Vendeville , F.J.Peel & R.F.Perkins ), pp. 137–145. SEPM, Gulf Coast Section, Houston, TX.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Koyi, H., Jenyon, M.K. & Peterson, K. (1993) The effect of basement faulting on diapirism. J. Petrol. Geol., 16, 285–312.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Mitchum, R.M., Vail, P.R. & Thompson, S. (1977) Seismic stratigraphy and global changes of sea level; Part 2, the depositional sequence as a basic unit for stratigraphic analysis. In: Seismic Stratigraphy: Applications to Hydrocarbon Exploration (Ed. by C.E.Payton ), Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem. , 26, 53–62.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. McLeod, A.E., Dawers, N.H. & Underhill, J.R. (2000) The propagation and linkage of normal faults: insights from the Strathspey–Brent–Statfjord fault array, northern North Sea. Basin Res., 12, 263–284.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Nalpas, T. & Brun, J.P. (1993) Salt flow and diapirism related to extension at crustal scale. Tectonophysics, 228, 349–362.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Nichol, A., Walsh, J.J., Watterson, J. & Underhill, J.R. (1997) Displacement rates on normal faults. Nature, 390, 157–159.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Pascoe, R., Hooper, R., Storhaug, K. & Harper, H. (1999) Evolution of extensional styles at the southern termination of the Nordland Ridge, mid‐Norway: a response to variation in coupling above Triassic salt. In: Petroleum Geology of Northwest Europe: Proceedings of the 5th Conference (Ed. by A.J.Fleet & S.A.R.Boldy ), pp. 83–90. Geological Society, London.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Peacock, D.C.P. & Sanderson, D.J. (1991) Displacements, segment linkage and relay ramps in normal fault zones. J. Struct. Geol., 13, 721–733.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Price, N.J. & Cosgrove, J.W. (1990) Analysis of Geological Structures. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 502pp.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Van Rensbergen, P., Morley, C.K., Ang, D.W., Hoan, T.Q. & Lam, N.T. (1999) Structural evolution of shale diapirs from reactive rise to mud volcanism: 3D seismic data from the Baram delta, offshore Brunei Darussalam. J. Geol. Soc. London, 156, 633–650.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Rouby, D., Guillocheau, F., Robin, C., Bouroullec, R., Raillard, S., Castelltort, S. & Nalpas, T. (2003) Rates of deformation of an extensional growth fault/raft system (offshore Congo, West African margin) from combined accommodation measurements and 3‐D restoration. Basin Res., 15 (2), 183–200.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Rowan, M.G., Hart, B.S., Nelson, S., Flemings, P.B. & Trudgill, B.D. (1998) Three‐dimensional geometry and evolution of a salt‐related growth‐fault array: Eugene Island 330 field, offshore Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico. Marine Petrol. Geol., 15, 309–328.
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Schlische, R.W. (1995) Geometry and origin of fault related folds in extensional settings. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., 79, 1661–1678.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Schlische, R.W., Young, S.S., Ackermann, R.V. & Gupta, A. (1996) Geometry and scaling relations of a population of very small rift‐related normal faults. Geology, 23, 683–686.
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Stewart, S.A. & Clark, J.A. (1999) Impact of salt on the structure of the Central North Sea hydrocarbon fairways. In: Petroleum Geology of Northwest Europe: Proceedings of the 5th Conference (Ed. by A.J.Fleet & S.A.R.Boldy ), pp. 179–200. Geological Society, London.
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Stewart, S.A., Harvey, M.J., Otto, S.C. & Weston, P.J. (1996) Influence of salt on fault geometry: examples from the UK salt basins. In: Salt Tectonics (Ed. by G.I.Alsop , D.J.Blundell & I.Davison ), Geol. Soc. Spec. Publ. , 100, 175–202.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Stewart, S.A., Ruffell, A.H. & Harvey, M.J. (1997) Relationship between basement‐linked and gravity‐driven fault systems in the UKCS salt basins. Marine Petrol. Geol., 14, 581–604.
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Swiecicki, T., Gibbs, P.B., Farrow, G.E. & Coward, M.P. (1998) A tectonostratigraphic framework for the Mid‐Norway region. Marine Petrol. Geol., 15, 245–276.
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Trudgill, B.D. & Cartwright, J. (1994) Relay‐ramp forms and normal‐fault linkages, Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 106, 1143–1157.
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Vendeville, B.C. & Jackson, M.P.A. (1992) The rise of diapirs during thin‐skinned extension. Marine Petrol. Geol., 9, 331–353.
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Walsh, J.J., Bailey, W.R., Childs, C., Nicol, A. & Bonson, C.G. (2003) Formation of segmented normal faults: a 3-D perspective. J. Struct. Geol., 25, 1251–1262.
     [Google Scholar]
  48. Withjack, M.O. & Callaway, J.S. (2000) Active normal faulting beneath a salt layer ‐ an experimental study of deformation in the cover sequence. AAPG Bull., 84, 627–651.
    [Google Scholar]
  49. Withjack, M.O., Meisling, K.E. & Russell, L.R. (1989) Forced folding and basement detached normal faulting in the Haltenbanken area, offshore Norway. In: Extensional Tectonics and Stratigraphy of the North Atlantic Margins (Ed. by A.J.Tankard & H.R.Balkwill ), Mem. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. , 46, 567–575.
    [Google Scholar]
  50. Withjack, M.O., Olson, J. & Peterson, E. (1990) Experimental models of extensional forced folds. AAPG Bull., 74, 1038–1054.
    [Google Scholar]
  51. Young, M.J., Gawthorpe, R.L. & Hardy, S. (2001) Growth and linkage of a segmented normal fault zone; the Late Jurassic Murchison‐Statfjord North Fault, northern North Sea. J. Struct. Geol., 23, 1933–1952.
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1111/j.1365-2117.2005.00250.x
Loading
The role of evaporite mobility in modifying subsidence patterns during normal fault growth and linkage, Halten Terrace, Mid‐Norway
Basin Research 17, 203 (2005); https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2117.2005.00250.x
/content/journals/10.1111/j.1365-2117.2005.00250.x
/content/journals/10.1111/j.1365-2117.2005.00250.x
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error