In this talk, we review the science behind Shale Gouge Ratio. Bill Power and I have done this large body of work over the past 4 years. We summarise the fault rock continuity based on the work of Foxford et al. 1998, Doughty 2003, De Rossa et al. 2018 & Gabrielle Watson PhD. We review the evidence for or against SGR in the; - Ironbark Prospect NW Australia, - Nun River Field Nigeria, - Oseberg Field Norway, -Tune Field Norway, - Oswig Discovery Norway & - Gullfaks Field Norway. We can not replicate the SGR case studies. Our conclusions are If juxtaposition works why use SGR? The key control on fluid contacts the interplay between; -displacement, - stratigraphic seal thickness. Faults have complexity don't use fancy models Just do a good job and manage uncertainty.

This was a lecture presented at the 2021 FORCE Fault Compartment meeting helped by the NPD in Norway. In the talk, we review juxtaposition and SGR analysis for the Oseberg and Gullfaks fields.

This is a short video cut from the main lecture, giving a VERY fast review of the FaultRisk Ironbark analysis. It will give you an idea about what an Ironbark tree looks like and taste of the work I did on the prospect mid 2020

Abstract Recent research suggests that faults are neither singularly sealing nor singularly leaking. Instead, their behaviour is variable, depending on a patchwork of conditions that result from cross-fault juxtapositions and fault rock type. Preparation of a representative 3D solid geology model prior to assessing fault-related fluid flow is essential. Scaling relationships for faults, for example, the fault length to fault throw ratio, and the fault length to fault thickness ratio can provide constraint when direct, outcrop scale observation of the faults is not possible. Faults are best approximated as thin, approximately planar zones, with gouge zone or core zone thickness at 0.1-10% of their horizontal or vertical dimension. Fractured damage zones are somewhat thicker. Core zone/gouge zone thickness is actually “paper thin”, in fact the ratio of size to damage zone thickness is approximately analogous to an A4 size sheet of paper. However, when examined closely most fault zones also have "holes" or zero thickness positions where the fault damage zone or gouge/fault rock has negligible thickness. In groundwater analysis, it is essential to consider the complete hydrological system in order to calculate risks. Cross fault flow between aquifers is controlled by the juxtaposition area and the thickness of the fault zone. For fault juxtapositions, the juxtaposition area is large in comparison to the damage zone thickness, which means there is a very short flow path over a large cross sectional area. In contrast, flow paths along fault zones through fractures can be controlled by either the length of the pathway, or the cross sectional area. Hydrogeological modelling has only just begun to incorporate these details into flow models, which suggests that many hydrological risk assessments that have been undertaken may be flawed if faults are present. The creation and preservation of conventional oil and gas accumulations requires both a source pathway to charge a structural trap, and also a coherent and long-term top and lateral seal. Although widely used, fault seal calculations using shale gouge ratio or shale smear algorithms are generally inaccurate. This is very likely because these algorithms typically assume capillary seal and a continuous membrane, which is usually not warranted (fault gouge zones are actually paper thin and typically have holes). A large number of case studies of known hydrocarbon accumulations are summarised in the talk and a recent publication (below). These show that analysis with simple juxtaposition seal rather than juxtaposition with additional clay smear seal provides the best match to the independently observed hydrocarbon fill levels. Recent Publication: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335040180_Validation_and_Analysis_Procedures_for_Juxtaposition_and_Membrane_Fault_Seals_in_Oil_and_Gas_Exploration?fbclid=IwAR0khfnonmIgOWwKTXQLOUmyIAytrRCTTl-oeBgZ5yspcgScuN4BBNU7IQU Biographies William Power is a Perth-based structural geologist/consultant and independent researcher with over 30 years experience in work with geological faults, fault zones, and fractured rock masses. He has worked in many areas related to geological faults including earthquake hazards, structural geology, mineral exploration, hydrogeology, insitu stress estimation, and oil and gas related geomechanics and exploration. Titus Murray is a NSW-based structural geologist, consultant, and independent researcher with over 30 years experience in structural geology. Titus has specific and intensive experience in the fields of oil and gas and groundwater. He has spent much of the last 15 years developing methods for the analysis of fault seal, and conducting independent research on the character and geometry of fault zones. He also has significant experience with the development and constraint of trap structures in oil and gas exploration.

Bill and Titus discuss the process and rationale for producing a discussion providing an alternative model for the Oseberg Shale Gouge fault seal case presented in Bretan2019. We talk through the importance of presenting data to allow reviewers to invalidate theories and issues appropriating SGR into C02, groundwater and rad-waste. You can download our Discussion at https://pg.lyellcollection.org/content/early/2020/10/12/petgeo2020-081 or https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346659932_Discussion_on_'A_knowledge_database_of_hanging-wall_traps_that_are_dependent_on_fault-rock_seal'_Geological_Society_London_Special_Publications_496_209-222 The reply https://pg.lyellcollection.org/content/early/2020/12/02/petgeo2020-101 The original paper https://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/496/1/209

This video is about AAPG 2020 Groundwater CSG

Lecture 8 shows a FaultRisk analysis of the Mako Field Natuna Sea Indonesia. Another great illustration of stochastic juxtaposition analysis and how to find more oil and gas with fault seal.

FaultRisk Review of the Katnook Fields Penola Trough South Australia. This is a review of the Katnook, Ladbroke Grove, Hazelgrove and Redman fields in the Otway Basin Southern Australia. It is part of our reply to a paper in Petroleum Geoscience published in July 2020. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343149359_Discussion_on_'Fault_seal_modelling_-_the_influence_of_fluid_properties_on_fault_sealing_capacity_in_hydrocarbon_and_CO_2_systems'_Petroleum_Geoscience_2020_httpsdoiorg101144petgeo2019-126 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343148314_Reply_to_Discussion_on_'Fault_seal_modelling_-_the_influence_of_fluid_properties_on_fault_sealing_capacity_in_hydrocarbon_and_CO_2_systems'_Petroleum_Geoscience_2020_httpsdoiorg101144petgeo2019-126 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339704624_Fault_seal_modelling_-_the_influence_of_fluid_properties_on_fault_sealing_capacity_in_hydrocarbon_and_CO_2_systems

This video is about Lecture 6 GroundWater Fault Zone Background In this video, we provide a primer on how we think about faults and groundwater flow.