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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.

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


Authors

J.C. Pless

A. Conway

M. Krabbendam



Contributors

F.J. Richards
Editor

N.J. Richardson
Editor

S.J. Rippington
Editor

R.W. Wilson
Editor

C.E. Bond
Editor

Abstract

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.

Citation

Pless, J., McCaffrey, K., Jones, R., Holdsworth, R., Conway, A., & Krabbendam, M. (2015). 3D characterization of fracture systems using Terrestrial Laser Scanning: an example from the Lewisian basement of NW Scotland. In F. Richards, N. Richardson, S. Rippington, R. Wilson, & C. Bond (Eds.), Industrial structural geology : principles, techniques and integration (125-141). The Geological Society. https://doi.org/10.1144/sp421.14

Acceptance Date May 29, 2015
Publication Date Nov 30, 2015
Deposit Date Jul 6, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Publisher The Geological Society
Pages 125-141
Series Title Geological Society special publication
Book Title Industrial structural geology : principles, techniques and integration.
DOI https://doi.org/10.1144/sp421.14
Publisher URL https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SP421
Additional Information Series: Geological Society special publication.

Files

Accepted Book Chapter (64.6 Mb)
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Copyright Statement
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 421, 125–141. First published online August 5, 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP421.14 © 2015 The Author(s). Published by The Geological Society of London




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