PSGD Discussion Session: Fracture Corridors

Hot Topics in Structural Geology and Geomechanics, AAPG Annual Convention & Exhibition, Denver, May-June 2015.

In keeping with the ethos of the PSGD's (Petroleum, Structure and Geomechanics Division) informal evening discussion session at the AAPG ACE meeting, this is an irreverent look at the challenges of recognising so-called Fracture Corridors, and the difficulties in applying associated terminology and nomenclature in a consistent way.

xamples of definitions for fracture corridors include:

Fracture corridors are an extraordinary cluster of a huge number of quasi-parallel fractures.
Singh et al. 2008 (First Break, 26 (5), 109-113)

Tabular zones of significantly increased fracture intensity affecting otherwise well-lithified rocks.
Questiaux et al. 2010 (Geophysical Prospecting, 58, 279-295)

Closely spaced, sub-parallel fracture networks contained within localized tabular zones within discrete portions of a rock assemblage characterized by greater fracture frequencies than the background.
Ogata et al. 2014 (J. Structural Geology, 66, 162-187)

Next : Quantitatively understanding the imprint of fractures in the seismic wave-field.
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