Numerical simulation of viscoelastic buckle folds: Implications for stress, fractures, porosity and fluid flow

<p>"Over the past several decades, buckle folds have been exclusively studied by numerous methods. However, lots of assumptions and simplifications are made, which may not result in realistic in-situ stress conditions leading to rock failure. This study represents the first numerical simulation of folding under the consideration of gravity and pore pressure to simulate the structural development of buckle folds.</p> <p>The first topic covered in this dissertation is the fracture associated to the single layer fold. It is concluded that burial depth, viscosity, and permeability are critical for the initiation of major fracture sets at the hinge zone with varying degrees. Moreover, this study provides a detail research on the stress and strain distribution in the multilayer folds and it is concluded that the stress/strain state within the folding layer(s) are determined by the buckling process, fold geometry and material parameters. The second topic covered in this dissertation is the numerical simulation of multilayer folds. This study demonstrates that the shapes of the multilayer folds are influenced by the various parameters. In addition, the numerical simulations provide a general understanding of the stress/strain distribution in the multilayer system. The third topic covered in this dissertation is the numerical simulation of parasitic folds. This study demonstrates that the shapes of the parasitic folds depend on the buckling of both the large- and small-scale folds and are influenced by the various parameters. The numerical modeling results show a large variability in porosity changes due to the complex distribution of the volumetric strain. In addition, the numerical simulations provide a general understanding of the influence of the various model parameters on the resulting porosity distribution"--Abstract, page iv.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D. in Petroleum Engineering

Grantor

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Author dc:creator

• Liu, Xiaolong

• Petroleum Engineering

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/doctoral_dissertations/2564

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsmine.mst.edu:doctoral_dissertations-3569