Geology Commons^™

Unraveling Controls On Fracture Stratigraphy In Carbonates: The Influence Of Regional Stress, Mechanical Properties, And Diagenesis, Matthew H. Peppers

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Fracture characteristics analyzed from outcrops provide key insights into the migration pathways of subsurface hydrocarbons, and allow for a detailed understanding of the tectonic history in an area. This study looks to assess the impacts that various controlling factors have on the development of fracture characteristics. To complete this objective, a succession of Ordovician to Mississippian rocks was examined. The logged section includes the Cotter Dolomite, Chattanooga Shale, St. Joe Formation, and the Boone Formation (subdivided into informal Upper and Lower members). Located in northwestern Arkansas and southwestern Missouri, data were collected from roadcut exposures along Highway 71. Collected fracture …