Articles | Volume 13, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1087-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1087-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
29 Jun 2022
Research article |
| 29 Jun 2022
| 29 Jun 2022
The analysis of slip tendency of major tectonic faults in Germany
Institute of Applied Geosciences, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt,
Germany
Steffen Ahlers
Institute of Applied Geosciences, KIT, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Birgit Müller
Institute of Applied Geosciences, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt,
Germany
Karsten Reiter
Institute of Applied Geosciences, KIT, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Oliver Heidbach
Helmholtz Zentrum Potsdam, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Institute of Applied Geosciences, TU Berlin, 10587 Berlin, Germany
Andreas Henk
Institute of Applied Geosciences, KIT, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Tobias Hergert
Institute of Applied Geosciences, KIT, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Frank Schilling
Institute of Applied Geosciences, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt,
Germany
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The rotation of the principal stress axes in a fault structure because of a rock stiffness contrast has been investigated for the impact of the ratio of principal stresses, the angle between principal stress axes and fault strike, and the ratio of the rock stiffness contrast. A generic 2D geomechanical model is employed for the systematic investigation of the parameter space.
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In numerical geomechanical models, an initial stress state is established before displacement boundary conditions are applied in order to match calibration data. We present generic models to show that the choice of initial stress and boundary conditions affects the final state of stress in areas of the model domain where no stress data for calibration are available. These deviations are largest in the vicinity of lithological interfaces, and they can be reduced if more stress data exist.
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Revised manuscript under review for ESSD
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In numerical geomechanical models, an initial stress state is established before displacement boundary conditions are applied in order to match calibration data. We present generic models to show that the choice of initial stress and boundary conditions affects the final state of stress in areas of the model domain where no stress data for calibration are available. These deviations are largest in the vicinity of lithological interfaces, and they can be reduced if more stress data exist.
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Preprint archived
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In this study, we investigate the evolution of fault reactivation potential in the greater Ruhr region (Germany) in respect to a future utilization of deep geothermal resources. We use analytical and numerical approaches to understand the initial stress conditions on faults as well as their evolution in space and time during geothermal fluid production. Using results from our analyses, we can localize areas more favorable for geothermal energy use based on fault reactivation potential.
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The authors assemble an in situ stress magnitude and orientation database based on 429 hydrofracturing tests that were carried out in six coal mines and two coal bed methane boreholes between 1986 and 1995 within the greater Ruhr region (Germany). Our study summarises the results of the extensive in situ stress test campaign and assigns quality to each data record using the established quality ranking schemes of the World Stress Map project.
Moritz Ziegler and Oliver Heidbach
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 1, 187–188, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-187-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-187-2021, 2021
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The Earth's crust is subject to constant stress which is manifested by earthquakes at plate boundaries. This stress is not only at plate boundaries but everywhere in the crust. A profound knowledge of the magnitude and orientation of the stress is important to select and build a safe deep geological repository for nuclear waste. We demonstrate how to build computer models of the stress state and show how to deal with the associated uncertainties.
Luisa Röckel, Steffen Ahlers, Sophia Morawietz, Birgit Müller, Karsten Reiter, Oliver Heidbach, Andreas Henk, Tobias Hergert, and Frank Schilling
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 1, 77–78, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-77-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-77-2021, 2021
Karsten Reiter, Steffen Ahlers, Sophia Morawietz, Luisa Röckel, Tobias Hergert, Andreas Henk, Birgit Müller, and Oliver Heidbach
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 1, 75–76, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-75-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-75-2021, 2021
Steffen Ahlers, Andreas Henk, Tobias Hergert, Karsten Reiter, Birgit Müller, Luisa Röckel, Oliver Heidbach, Sophia Morawietz, Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth, and Denis Anikiev
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 1, 163–164, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-163-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-163-2021, 2021
Sophia Morawietz, Moritz Ziegler, Karsten Reiter, and the SpannEnD Project Team
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 1, 71–72, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-71-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-71-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Knowledge of the crustal stress state is important for the assessment of subsurface stability. In particular, stress magnitudes are essential for the calibration of geomechanical models that estimate a continuous description of the 3-D stress field from pointwise and incomplete stress data. We present the first comprehensive and open-access stress magnitude database for Germany, consisting of 568 data records. We introduce a quality ranking scheme for stress magnitude data for the first time.
Steffen Ahlers, Andreas Henk, Tobias Hergert, Karsten Reiter, Birgit Müller, Luisa Röckel, Oliver Heidbach, Sophia Morawietz, Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth, and Denis Anikiev
Solid Earth, 12, 1777–1799, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1777-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1777-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Knowledge about the stress state in the upper crust is of great importance for many economic and scientific questions. However, our knowledge in Germany is limited since available datasets only provide pointwise, incomplete and heterogeneous information. We present the first 3D geomechanical model that provides a continuous description of the contemporary crustal stress state for Germany. The model is calibrated by the orientation of the maximum horizontal stress and stress magnitudes.
Karsten Reiter
Solid Earth, 12, 1287–1307, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1287-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1287-2021, 2021
Short summary
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The influence and interaction of elastic material properties (Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio), density and low-friction faults on the resulting far-field stress pattern in the Earth's crust is tested with generic models. A Young's modulus contrast can lead to a significant stress rotation. Discontinuities with low friction in homogeneous models change the stress pattern only slightly, away from the fault. In addition, active discontinuities are able to compensate stress rotation.
Simon Breuer and Frank R. Schilling
Eur. J. Mineral., 33, 23–38, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-23-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-33-23-2021, 2021
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The knowledge of physical properties of quartz as an abundant rock-forming mineral in the Earth’s crust allows for a better understanding of its dynamic processes. The thermal transport properties of single-crystal quartz are studied between –120 °C and 800 °C using a laser flash method. First, low-temperature data as well as the role of the low-to-high quartz phase transition (e.g. a transition-related non-ballistic radiative transfer) and size effects on thermal diffusivity are discussed.
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Short summary
Reactivation of tectonic faults can lead to earthquakes and jeopardize underground operations. The reactivation potential is linked to fault properties and the tectonic stress field. We create 3D geometries for major faults in Germany and use stress data from a 3D geomechanical–numerical model to calculate their reactivation potential and compare it to seismic events. The reactivation potential in general is highest for NNE–SSW- and NW–SE-striking faults and strongly depends on the fault dip.
Reactivation of tectonic faults can lead to earthquakes and jeopardize underground operations....
