and it is therefore convenient to distinguish the footwall damage zone from that of the hangingwall.
Field investigations show that damage zones are
not symmetrically distributed around the fault core.
Accordingly, it is commonly observed that the fracture
frequency curves build up towards their maximum
values more steeply in the footwall than in the
hangingwall. Also, there are differences where orientation of the major fracture populations is concerned.
The footwall damage zone is characterised by a set of
fractures oriented subparallel to the footwall master
fault-branch. This fracture population may interfere
with fracture sets that dip both more and less steeply
than the master fault-branch. The hangingwall damage
zone is influenced to a greater extent by antithetic
fractures to the master fault and a wider area is
affected by these fractures. The fractures of the damage zones may be of different kinds, depending on
lithology, depth of burial at the time of deformation,
and strain intensity.
Faults that are in their early stage of development
do not possess the complexity described above. In
sandstones they develop from single or arrays of
deformation bands that with increasing strain coalesce
into one zone of focused shear. This is generally also
the case for incipient faults in carbonates.
Further Reading
Allen, M.R., Goffey, G.P., Morgan, R.K. and Walker, I.M.
(eds.). 2006. The Deliberate Search for the Subtle Trap.
Geological Society Special Publication 254, 304 pp.
Biddle, K.T. and Christie-Blick, N. (eds.). 1985. Strike-slip
Deformation, Basin Formation and Sedimentation. Society
of Economic Palaeontologists and Mineralogists (Tulsa
OK), Special Publication 37, 386 pp.
Boyer, S.E. and Elliot, D. 1982. Thrust systems. American
Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin 66,
1196–1230.
Brun, J.-P. and Fort, X. 2009. Entre Sel et Terre. Structures et
Me ´chanismes de la Tectonique Salifie `re. Socie ´te ´ Ge ´ologique
de France, Paris, 154 pp.
Butler, B.W.H. 1982. Terminology of structures in thrust belts.
Journal of Structural Geology 4, 239–245.
Cooper, M.A., Williams, G.D., de Graciansky, P.C., Murphy, R.
W., Needham, T., de Paor, D., Stoneley, R., Todd, S.P., Turner,
J.P. and Ziegler, P.A. 1989. Inversion tectonics – A discussion.
Geological Society Special Publication 44, 335–347.
Coward, M. 1994. Continental collision. In: Hancock, P.L. (ed.),
Continental Deformation. Pergamon Press, New York,
55–100 pp.
Cunningham, W.D. and Mann, P. 2007. Tectonics of Strike-Slip
Restraining and Releasing Bends. Geological Society Special Publication 290, 482 pp.
Dahlstrom, C.D.A. 1970. Structural geology in the eastern margin of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Bulletin Canadian
Petroleum Geology 18, 332–406.
Fossen, H. and Gabrielsen, R.H. 2005. Strukturgeolgi.
Fagbokforlaget Vigmostad & Bjørke AS, 375 pp (in
Norwegian).
Gabrielsen, R.H. 1986. Structural elements in graben systems
and their influence on hydrocarbon trap types. In: Spencer,
A.M. et al. (eds.), Habitat of Hydrocarbons on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Norwegian Petroleum Society.
Graham & Trotman, London, pp. 55–60.
Gabrielsen, R.H. and Møller-Holst, J. 1997. The influence of
present and future development in information technology
on the Exploration and Production phase model. Petroleum
Geoscience 3(3), 193–202.
Gabrielsen, R.H., Steel, R.J. and Nøttvedt, A. 1995. Subtle traps
in extensional terranes: A model with reference to the North
Sea. Petroleum Geoscience 1, 223–235.
Halbouty, M.T. 1979. Salt Domes: Gulf Region, United States
and Mexico, 2
nd edition. Gulf Publishing, Houston, Texas.
561 pp.
Hancock, P.L. (ed.). Continental Deformation. Pergamon Press,
Oxford, 421 pp.
Hardebol, N.J., Callot, J.P., Bertotti, G. and Faure, J.L. 2009.
Burial and temperature evolution in thrust belt systems:
Sedimentary and thrust sheet loading in the SE Canadian
Cordillera. Tectonics 28, TC3003, 1–28, doi: 10.1029/
2008TC002335.
Jackson, M.P.A. and Talbot, C.J. 1991. A glossary of salt tectonics. Geological Circular 91-4, University of Austin,
Texas, Bureau of Economic Geology, 44 pp.
Kearey, P., Klepeis, K.A. and Vine, F.J. 2009. Global Tectonics,
3rd edition, Wiley-Blackwell, New York, NY, 482 pp.
Lister, G.S., Etheridge, M.A. and Symonds, P.A. 1986. Detachment faulting and the evolution of passive continental
margins. Geology 14, 246–250.
McKenzie, D.P. 1978. Some remarks on the development of
sedimentary basins. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 40,
25–32.
Nøttvedt, A., Larsen, B.T., Gabrielsen, R.H., Olaussen, S.,
Brekke, H., Tørudbakken, B., Birkeland, Ø. and Skogseid,
J. (eds.), 2000. Dynamics of the Norwegian margin. Geological Society Special Publication 167, 472 pp.
Nøttvedt, A., Gabrielsen, R.H. and Steel, R.J. 1995. Tectonostratigraphy and sedimentary architecture of rift basins, with
reference to the northern North Sea. Marine and Petroleum
Geology 12, 881–901.
Nystuen, J.P. 2008. The changing face of the Earth, Chapter 2 in
Ramberg, I.B., Bryhni, I., Nøttvedt, A. and Rangnes, K.
(eds.) The Making of a Land – Geology of Norway, Norsk
geologisk forening. The Norwegian Geological Association,
Oslo, pp. 20–61.
Odinsen, T., Christiansson, P., Gabrielsen, R.H., Faleide, J.I.
and Berge, A.M. 2000. The geometries and deep structure of
the northern North Sea rift system. In: Nøttvedt, A. et al.
(eds.), Dynamics of the Norwegian Margin. Geological
Society Special Publication 167, pp. 41–57.
12 The Structure and Hydrocarbon Traps of Sedimentary Basins
349
Field investigations show that damage zones are
not symmetrically distributed around the fault core.
Accordingly, it is commonly observed that the fracture
frequency curves build up towards their maximum
values more steeply in the footwall than in the
hangingwall. Also, there are differences where orientation of the major fracture populations is concerned.
The footwall damage zone is characterised by a set of
fractures oriented subparallel to the footwall master
fault-branch. This fracture population may interfere
with fracture sets that dip both more and less steeply
than the master fault-branch. The hangingwall damage
zone is influenced to a greater extent by antithetic
fractures to the master fault and a wider area is
affected by these fractures. The fractures of the damage zones may be of different kinds, depending on
lithology, depth of burial at the time of deformation,
and strain intensity.
Faults that are in their early stage of development
do not possess the complexity described above. In
sandstones they develop from single or arrays of
deformation bands that with increasing strain coalesce
into one zone of focused shear. This is generally also
the case for incipient faults in carbonates.
Further Reading
Allen, M.R., Goffey, G.P., Morgan, R.K. and Walker, I.M.
(eds.). 2006. The Deliberate Search for the Subtle Trap.
Geological Society Special Publication 254, 304 pp.
Biddle, K.T. and Christie-Blick, N. (eds.). 1985. Strike-slip
Deformation, Basin Formation and Sedimentation. Society
of Economic Palaeontologists and Mineralogists (Tulsa
OK), Special Publication 37, 386 pp.
Boyer, S.E. and Elliot, D. 1982. Thrust systems. American
Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin 66,
1196–1230.
Brun, J.-P. and Fort, X. 2009. Entre Sel et Terre. Structures et
Me ´chanismes de la Tectonique Salifie `re. Socie ´te ´ Ge ´ologique
de France, Paris, 154 pp.
Butler, B.W.H. 1982. Terminology of structures in thrust belts.
Journal of Structural Geology 4, 239–245.
Cooper, M.A., Williams, G.D., de Graciansky, P.C., Murphy, R.
W., Needham, T., de Paor, D., Stoneley, R., Todd, S.P., Turner,
J.P. and Ziegler, P.A. 1989. Inversion tectonics – A discussion.
Geological Society Special Publication 44, 335–347.
Coward, M. 1994. Continental collision. In: Hancock, P.L. (ed.),
Continental Deformation. Pergamon Press, New York,
55–100 pp.
Cunningham, W.D. and Mann, P. 2007. Tectonics of Strike-Slip
Restraining and Releasing Bends. Geological Society Special Publication 290, 482 pp.
Dahlstrom, C.D.A. 1970. Structural geology in the eastern margin of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Bulletin Canadian
Petroleum Geology 18, 332–406.
Fossen, H. and Gabrielsen, R.H. 2005. Strukturgeolgi.
Fagbokforlaget Vigmostad & Bjørke AS, 375 pp (in
Norwegian).
Gabrielsen, R.H. 1986. Structural elements in graben systems
and their influence on hydrocarbon trap types. In: Spencer,
A.M. et al. (eds.), Habitat of Hydrocarbons on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Norwegian Petroleum Society.
Graham & Trotman, London, pp. 55–60.
Gabrielsen, R.H. and Møller-Holst, J. 1997. The influence of
present and future development in information technology
on the Exploration and Production phase model. Petroleum
Geoscience 3(3), 193–202.
Gabrielsen, R.H., Steel, R.J. and Nøttvedt, A. 1995. Subtle traps
in extensional terranes: A model with reference to the North
Sea. Petroleum Geoscience 1, 223–235.
Halbouty, M.T. 1979. Salt Domes: Gulf Region, United States
and Mexico, 2
nd edition. Gulf Publishing, Houston, Texas.
561 pp.
Hancock, P.L. (ed.). Continental Deformation. Pergamon Press,
Oxford, 421 pp.
Hardebol, N.J., Callot, J.P., Bertotti, G. and Faure, J.L. 2009.
Burial and temperature evolution in thrust belt systems:
Sedimentary and thrust sheet loading in the SE Canadian
Cordillera. Tectonics 28, TC3003, 1–28, doi: 10.1029/
2008TC002335.
Jackson, M.P.A. and Talbot, C.J. 1991. A glossary of salt tectonics. Geological Circular 91-4, University of Austin,
Texas, Bureau of Economic Geology, 44 pp.
Kearey, P., Klepeis, K.A. and Vine, F.J. 2009. Global Tectonics,
3rd edition, Wiley-Blackwell, New York, NY, 482 pp.
Lister, G.S., Etheridge, M.A. and Symonds, P.A. 1986. Detachment faulting and the evolution of passive continental
margins. Geology 14, 246–250.
McKenzie, D.P. 1978. Some remarks on the development of
sedimentary basins. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 40,
25–32.
Nøttvedt, A., Larsen, B.T., Gabrielsen, R.H., Olaussen, S.,
Brekke, H., Tørudbakken, B., Birkeland, Ø. and Skogseid,
J. (eds.), 2000. Dynamics of the Norwegian margin. Geological Society Special Publication 167, 472 pp.
Nøttvedt, A., Gabrielsen, R.H. and Steel, R.J. 1995. Tectonostratigraphy and sedimentary architecture of rift basins, with
reference to the northern North Sea. Marine and Petroleum
Geology 12, 881–901.
Nystuen, J.P. 2008. The changing face of the Earth, Chapter 2 in
Ramberg, I.B., Bryhni, I., Nøttvedt, A. and Rangnes, K.
(eds.) The Making of a Land – Geology of Norway, Norsk
geologisk forening. The Norwegian Geological Association,
Oslo, pp. 20–61.
Odinsen, T., Christiansson, P., Gabrielsen, R.H., Faleide, J.I.
and Berge, A.M. 2000. The geometries and deep structure of
the northern North Sea rift system. In: Nøttvedt, A. et al.
(eds.), Dynamics of the Norwegian Margin. Geological
Society Special Publication 167, pp. 41–57.
12 The Structure and Hydrocarbon Traps of Sedimentary Basins
349