Hiding in Plain Sight: Small-Throw Transpressional Basement-Rooted Faults and the Induced Seismicity

"Hiding in Plain Sight: Small-Throw Transpressional Basement-Rooted Faults and the Induced Seismicity of Anadarko Basin"
Dr Folarin Kolawole
Columbia University

The recent widespread basement-hosted seismicity of the Anadarko Basin, Oklahoma is attributed to the reactivation of pre-existing basement faults by wastewater injection. However, only limited details are known for the inherited basement structure and the faults that they host. These knowledge gaps impact the ability to identify potentially seismogenic faults prior to drilling and fluid injection in the region. To address these problems, I integrated structural interpretations from 3D seismic reflection data, well data, and field observations.
In my talk, I will show research results revealing the details of basement structure in north-central Oklahoma. I will show how the geometry and upward propagation styles of basement-rooted transpressional faults provide pathways for fluid flow from the sedimentary sequences into the seismogenic basement. Further, I will show how the geological origin and structure of these faults pose challenges for their geophysical illumination in the sedimentary zones of hydrocarbon exploration and wastewater disposal. In summary, this talk presents insights into the development of transpressional basement-rooted faults, and their implications for injection-induced fault reactivation in the Anadarko Basin.