The effect of fault architecture on slip behavior in shale revealed by distributed fiber optic strain sensing

• Published in: Earth and Space Science Open Archive ESSOAr
• Main Authors: Hopp, Chet, Guglielmi, Yves, Antonio Pio Rinaldi, Soom, Florian, Quinn Wenning, Cook, Paul, Robertson, Michelle, KAKURINA, Maria, Zappone, Alba
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Washington American Geophysical Union 03.06.2021
• Subjects: Boreholes; Cross cutting; Displacement; Excavation; Fiber optics; Geological faults; Interfaces; Potentiometers; Shale; Shales; Shear strain; Slip
• DOI: 10.1002/essoar.10507120.2

We use Distributed Strain Sensing (DSS) through Brillouin scattering measurements to characterize the reactivation of a fault zone in shale (Opalinus clay), caused by the excavation of a gallery at ∼400 m depth in the Mont Terri Underground Laboratory (Switzerland). DSS fibers are cemented behind casing in six boreholes cross-cutting the fault zone. We compare the DSS data with co-located measurements of displacement from a chain potentiometer and a three-dimensional displacement sensor (SIMFIP). DSS proves to be able to detect in- and off-fault strain variations induced by the gallery excavated 30-50 m away. The total permanent displacement of the fault is ∼200 microns at rates up to 1.5 nm/sec. DSS is sensitive to longitudinal and shear strain with measurements showing that fault shear is concentrated at the top and bottom interfaces of the fault zone with little deformation within the fault zone itself. Such a localized pattern of strain relates to the architecture of the fault that is characterized by a thick, weak layer, slipping at the edges, with no surrounding damage zone. Overall, DSS shows that slow slip may activate everywhere there is a weak fault within a shale series. Thus, our work demonstrates the importance of shear strain on faults caused by remote loading, highlighting the utility of DSS systems to detect and quantify these effects at large reservoir scales.