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Geophysics and Seismology Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Geophysics and Seismology

Evaluating Hydrocarbon Source Rock For Unconventional Shale Oil Play From Seismic And Well Log Data; Kingak Shale, North Slope, Alaska, Sarah Elisabeth Leedberg Jan 2012

Evaluating Hydrocarbon Source Rock For Unconventional Shale Oil Play From Seismic And Well Log Data; Kingak Shale, North Slope, Alaska, Sarah Elisabeth Leedberg

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

It has been proposed that Acoustic impedance (AI) responses can be used to estimate total organic carbon (TOC) within thick, clay rich shale. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness of the AI inversion technique, and establish a methodology that can be applied to other basins. The Kingak Formation (lower Jurassic to early Cretaceous), located on the North Slope of Alaska, has been extensively evaluated for its unconventional potential. The Kingak is shale and is known to have greater than 30 percent clay. Because clay has ductile properties it makes it difficult to stimulate a well through …


Vertical Deformation Along The San Andreas Fault, Garrett Thornton Jan 2012

Vertical Deformation Along The San Andreas Fault, Garrett Thornton

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

There have been numerous M 6+ earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault System (SAFS) (Schwartz et al., 1984) (Figure. 1.1) in the historical past. These rupture events have created millions of dollars worth of damage, and have been responsible for multiple lives lost. An improved understanding of the motions and crustal characteristics along the SAFS can lead to better hazard mitigation (Bakun et al., 2005). Horizontal crustal motions of the SAFS have been widely studied and applied to seismic hazard models (WGCEP, 2007), however vertical motions are not often utilized due to their complicated origin and sometimes large uncertainties. This …


Seismic Reflection Study Of The East Potrillo Fault, Southwestern Dona Ana County, New Mexico, Shane Alan Carley Jan 2012

Seismic Reflection Study Of The East Potrillo Fault, Southwestern Dona Ana County, New Mexico, Shane Alan Carley

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The East Potrillo Mountains are located just north of the U.S.-Mexico border in southwestern Dona Ana County, New Mexico. Laramide and Rio Grande rift deformation has formed low-angle and high-angle Tertiary normal faults that are exposed in the area. Along the east flank of the range is the East Potrillo Fault identified on the surface as a north-striking scarp. Fault scarps associated with the East Potrillo Fault have been dated using slope degradation models and they range between 56 ka and 377 ka in age. Offset of geomorphic surfaces interpreted to be tectonic terraces records at least four earthquakes over …


Numerical Modeling Of Tectonics And Fault Activity Of Icy Satellites, John Olgin Jan 2012

Numerical Modeling Of Tectonics And Fault Activity Of Icy Satellites, John Olgin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Enceladus, one of the satellites of Saturn, exhibits evidence of recent fault activity, which may be due to gravitational fluctuations, or tidal stresses, generated by its orbit around Saturn. Recent Cassini spacecraft observations of Enceladus reveal water-ice plume activity at the south polar region, originating from locations that correlate with four geologically young, linear fracture-like features, named the "tiger stripes". It is the goal of this investigation to determine the ideal geophysical and geological factors (e.g., fault depths, frictional coefficients, ice layer thickness, ocean layer thickness, tidal stress sources) that support fault activity on Enceladus. The core of this work …