Fault Overview

Interests
Clay smearing in faults	Dilatant faults in cohesive materials
Fractures Salt	Stress and paleostress
Fault shape	Faults and fractures in Tight gas sandstones
Tools and field trips
Oman	Moab
Miri	3D seismic data
Sandbox experiments

Faults news

21.03.2012

now available online: 'Localization patterns in sandbox-scale numerical experiments above a normal fault in basement'

08.02.2012

This week, the 9th of February Sofie Nollet will give a NUGGED seminar. Title of the talk will be: Importance of fault zone geometry in hydrocabon exploration & production. 12 o'clock, room 4.08, 4th floor, Lochnerstrasse 4-20, Haus A, Aachen.

06.02.2012

We have updated our section on this year's EGU general assembly in Vienna. Have a look!

23.11.2011

Paper on 'DEM simulation of normal faults in cohesive materials' (by Steffen Abe, Heijn van Gent and Janos L. Urai) now published in 'Tectonophysics'!

14.10.2011

Today Alistair McCay from the University of Strathclyde will give a talk about Enhanced fracture connectivity in fault zones. Everybody is kindly invited to join us at 2pm in Room 408

19.09.2011

Upcoming 3-day short course "Structure, permeability and fluid flow at depth in the Earth's crust". October 11th - 13th. Lecturer is Professor Stephen Cox (ANU). More information: http://bit.ly/Cox11Shortcourse.
MSc-students, PhD-students and PostDocs are welcome to apply!

25.08.2011

Upcoming 2 days short course on "geologic trapping of buoyant fluids" at our institute the 13th-14th of October, held by Peter Vrolijk and Franco Corona from ExxonMobil. No tuition fees for Master-students, PhD-students & Post Docs. More information at here.

27.05.2011

We posted some pictures of our latest fieldwork in Utah, together with the NUG.

02.04.2011

Visit our talks and poster presentations at the EGU this week!

28.03.2011

Marc Hollands MSc mapping report and analogue modeling thesis, both on the dynamics of fault zones near the Kilauea caldera on Hawaii are available on the RWTH Library server.

11.03.2011

Marc's paper on 4D evolution of dilatant fault networks using cohesive modeling material is now online at Earth and Planetary Science Letters. We have uploaded a number of related videos to our YouTube Channel, including a true 3D representation of a fault zone.

01.03.2011

Have a look at our latest Teaching Movie: Pull Apart Basins on our YouTube Channel.

22.02.2011

Find an overview of all our contributions to EGU 2011 here.

22.02.2011

The paper of Steffen and Karen Mair on simulated fault gouge evolution is online at Pure and Applied Geophysics

02.02.2011

Heijn' Msc-thesis is now available on the webserver of the RWTH library! Download the pdf here.

27.01.2011

We uploaded a number of new DEM movies to our YouTube channel. These movies show the development of open fractures in numerical models, and include Stephan Tulkens' work on crack detection.

22.12.2010

Sohrab Noorsalehi-Garakani and Heijn van Gent recieved the Heitfeldpreis 2010 for their outstanding Diplom and Dr- thesi, respectivly.

21.12.2010

Joyce' paper on Clay smear is published in the Journal of Structural Geology!

24.11.2010

The papers of Marc on vein networks in Oman and Heijn on models of dilatant faulting using cohesive powders are now published in JSG

02.11.2010

The abstract submission for EGU 2011 in Vienna is now open. Consider submitting an abstract to the session: "The influence of host rock heterogeneity on stress distribution and brittle deformation".

29.09.2010

Heijn's entire thesis is now available on the webserver of the RWTH library!

01.09.2010

In situ stress variations at the Variscan Deformation Front

Fault publications

Theses

Michael Kettermann

The effect of preexisting joints on normal fault evolution : insights from fieldwork and analogue modeling. MSc thesis, supervised by Janos Urai, Heijn van Gent and Christoph GrÃ¼tzner (2011)

Heijn van Gent

Stress and strain from reflection seismic data. PhD-thesis. Geologie - Endogene Dynamik, RWTH Aachen. 198 pages (2010)

Marc Holland

Aspects of faulting and fracturing in brittle lithologies. PHD-thesis RWTH. 168 pages. (2009)

Joyce Schmatz

Experimental study on clay gouge evolution in mechanically stratified sequences. Diplomarbeit, RWTH Aachen University. (2006)

Heijn van Gent

Scaled analogue models of normal faulting in brittle lithologies, MSc-thesis, Geologie - Endogene Dynamik, RWTH Aachen University & Faculty of Earthsciences, University of Utrecht. (2005)

Marc Holland

Structure of fault zones in cohesive volcanic sequences. Diplomthesis. Geologie - Endogene Dynamik. (2004)

Books

D.A. Nieuwland, Janos Urai, M. Knoop

In-situ stress measurements in model experiments of tectonic faulting. In: Lehner, F.K.,Urai, J.L. (Eds.), Aspects of Tectonic Faulting: in honour of Georg Mandl. Springer-Verlag, 151-162 (2000)

Book chapters

Jonas Kley, H J Franzke, F Jaehne, Charlote Krawcyk, Tina Lohr, Klaus Reicherter, Magdalena Scheck Wenderoth, Judith Sippel, David Tanner, Heijn van Gent

Strain and Stress. In: Littke, R., Bayer, U., Gajewski, D. & Nelskamp, S. (Eds.), Dynamics of complex intracontinental basins: The Central European Basin System. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 98-124. (2008)

Joyce Schmatz, Janos Urai

Clay smear in Sandbox experiments. In: Dynamics of complex intracontinental basins: The Central European Basin System. Littke, R., Bayer, U., Gajewski, D. & Nelskamp, S. Eds.). Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg, 520 p. (2008)

Papers

Gisa J. Kleine Vennekate, Janos Urai

The evolution of normal faults in layered sedimentary sequences: insights from Finite Element modelling of free localization of deformation in mechanically stratified rocks undergoing homogeneous extension. Journal of Structural Geology. submitted. (In press)

A. Rathbun, F. Renard, Steffen Abe

Numerical Investigation of the Interplay between Wall Geometry and Friction in Granular Fault Gouge. Journal of Geophysical Research. accepted (In press)

Karen Mair, Steffen Abe

Breaking up: Comminution mechanisms in sheared simulated fault gouge. Pure and Applied Geophysics Special Issue on Brittle deformation of solid and granular materials with applications to mechanics of earthquakes and faults. DOI: 10.1007/s00024-011-0266-6 (2011)

Marc Holland, Heijn van Gent, Loic Bazalgette, Najwa Yassir, Eilard Hoogerduijn-Strating, Janos Urai

Evolution of dilatant fracture networks in normal faults - evidence from 4D model experiments. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 304: 399-406. (2011)

Ute Trautwein-Bruns, Christoph Hilgers, Stephan Becker, Janos Urai, Peter A. Kukla

Fracture and fault systems characterising the intersection between the Lower Rhine Embayment and the Ardennes-Rhenish Massif - results from the RWTH-1 well, Aachen, Germany. Z.dt. Ges. Geowiss., 163/3, 251-276, Stuttgart. (2011)

Christoph Leitner, Franz Neubauer, Janos Urai, Johannes SchÃ¶nherr

Structure and Evolution of a Rocksalt-Mudrock-Tectonite: the Haselgebirge in the Northern Calcareous Alps. Journal of Structural Geology 33 (5): 970-984 (2011)

Heijn van Gent, Marc Holland, Janos Urai, Ramon Loosveld

Evolution of fault zones in carbonates with mechanical stratigraphy - insights from scale models using layered cohesive powder. Journal of Structural Geology, Volume 32, Issue 9, Pages 1375-1391 (2010)

Heijn van Gent, Stefan Back, Janos Urai, Peter A. Kukla

Small-scale faulting in the Upper Cretaceous of the Groningen Block (The Netherlands): 3D seismic interpretation, fault plane analysis and paleostress. Journal of Structural Geology 32, 537-553 (2010)

Joyce Schmatz, Peter Vrolijk, Janos Urai

Clay smear in normal fault zones - the effect of multilayers and clay cementation in water-saturated model experiments Journal of Structural Geology 32 - Fault zones (11), 1834-1849. (2010)

Heijn van Gent, Stefan Back, Janos Urai, Peter A. Kukla, Klaus Reicherter

Paleostresses of the Groningen area, the Netherlands - results of a seismic based structural reconstruction. Tectonophysics - Progress in understanding sedimentary basins 470(1-2), 147-161. (2009)

Steffen Abe, Karen Mair

Effects of gouge fragment shape on fault friction: New 3D modelling results. Geophysical Research Letters. 36, L23302, doi:10.1029/2009GL040684. (2009)

Karen Mair, Steffen Abe

3D numerical simulations of fault gouge evolution during shear: Grain size reduction and strain localization. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 274(1-2), 72-81. (2008)

Marc Holland, Janos Urai, Wouter van der Zee, Helge Stanjek, Jan Konstanty

Fault gouge evolution in highly overconsolidated claystones. Journal of Structural Geology, 28(2),323 (2006)

Marc Holland, Janos Urai, Stephen Martel

The internal structure of fault zones in basaltic sequences. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 248(1-2),301 (2006)

J. Adam, Janos Urai, B. Wieneke, O. Oncken, K. Pfeiffer, N. Kukowski, J. Lohrmann, S. Hoth, Wouter van der Zee, Joyce Schmatz

Shear localisation and strain distribution during tectonic faulting - new insights from granular flow experiments and high-resolution optical image correlation techniques. Journal of Structural Geology, 27,283-301 (2005)

Wouter van der Zee, Janos Urai

Processes of normal fault evolution in a siliciclastic sequence: a case study from Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. Journal of Structural Geology, 27(12),2281-2300 (2005)

Abstracts

Steffen Abe, Karen Mair

DEM Modelling of Comminution Processes in Fault Gouge. EGU General Assembly. Geophysical Research Abstracts, 13, pp. EGU2011-1293. Room 28 / Tue, 05 Apr, 10:45-11:00, oral (2011)

ZoltÃ¡n KomorÃ³czi, Heijn van Gent, Janos Urai

Distribution of sub-seismic deformation near faults - Implications for tight gas production. Geotag 2011, RWTH Aachen University. (2011)

P. Stenhouse, S. F. Cox, Simon Virgo, Max Arndt, Janos Urai

Localisation of Fault-controlled Fluid Flow During Growth of a Normal Fault Network, Jebel Akhdar Dome, Oman. IUGG Melbourne, Australia (28 June - 7 July 2011). Oral presentation. (2011)

Michael Kettermann, Heijn van Gent, Christoph GrÃ¼tzner

Interaction between joints and normal faults in a graben setting - a field study in Canyonlands National Park, Utah/USA. Geotag 2011, RWTH Aachen University (2011)

ZoltÃ¡n KomorÃ³czi, Heijn van Gent, Janos Urai

Distribution of sub-seismic deformation near faults - Implications for Tight Gas production. EGU General Assembly. Geophysical Research Abstracts, 13, pp. EGU2011-4273. Hall XL / Mon, 04 Apr, 08:00-19:30, XL31 (2011)

Heijn van Gent, ZoltÃ¡n KomorÃ³czi, Janos Urai

Stress evolution at single-tip fault interactions - Paleostresses at the Courthouse branch point, Moab, Utah. Tectonomechanics Colloquium. April 1st 2011. (2011)

ZoltÃ¡n KomorÃ³czi, Heijn van Gent, Janos Urai

Distribution of Sub-Seismic Deformation near Faults - Implications for Tight Gas Production. DGMK/GEW Veranstaltung FrÃ¼hjahrstagung, pp. Poster. Montag, 11. April 2011. (2011)

Steffen Abe, Karen Mair

DEM Simulations of Fault Gouge Processes - where we stand, where we'll go. EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, 1607-7962, 12, EGU2010-9378. (2010)

ZoltÃ¡n KomorÃ³czi, Heijn van Gent, Janos Urai

Distribution of sub-seismic deformation near faults - Implications for Tight Gas production GeoDarmstadt 2010, Darmstadt, Germany, 10-13 October 2010, Hoppe, RÃ¶hling, SchÃ¼tz (eds) Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft fÃ¼r Geowissenschaften, vol. 68, E (2010)

Heijn van Gent, Janos Urai, Martin de Keijzer, Frank Strozyk

The internal geometry of the Zechstein - Seismic interpretation of coeval extension and compression. GeoDarmstadt 2010, Darmstadt, Germany, 10-13 October 2010, Hoppe, RÃ¶hling, SchÃ¼tz (eds) Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft fÃ¼r Geowissenschaften, v (2010)

Steffen Abe, Janos Urai, Joyce Schmatz

DEM Simulation of Clay Smear along Faults. EGU General Assembly 2009, Vienna, Austria, 19 - 24 April 2009, 11. (2009)

Heijn van Gent, Steffen Abe, Janos Urai, Marc Holland

The formation of open fractures in brittle rocks and the evolution of permeability with fault slip- results from analogue and numerical models. EGU General Assembly 2009, Vienna, Austria, 19 - 24 April 2009, 11. (2009)

Janos Urai, Joyce Schmatz, Heijn van Gent, Steffen Abe, Marc Holland

From Fault Seal to Fault Leak: Effect of Mechanical Stratigraphy on the Evolution of Transport Processes in Fault Zones. AGU 90 Fall Meet. (2009)

Steffen Abe, Karen Mair

How do Things break in Fault Gouge ? Abrasion vs. Grain splitting in Discrete Element Simulations. EGU General Assembly 2008, Vienna, Austria, 10. (2008)

Steffen Abe, Heijn van Gent, Janos Urai

Discrete Element Simulation of Normal Faulting In cohesive Materials. Geo 2008; International Conference and 106th annual meeting of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fÃ¼r Geowissenschaften e. V. (DGG) and 98th annual meeting of the Geologische Vereinigung e.V. (G (2008)

Steffen Abe, Heijn van Gent, Marc Holland

Discrete Element Simulations of the formation of open fractures during normal faulting of cohesive materials. Third International Geomodelling Conference, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale, Florence, Italy, September 22, 2008, (2008)

Steffen Abe, Heijn van Gent, Janos Urai

DEM Simulation of normal faulting in cohesive materials The 27th IUGG Conference on Mathematical Geophysics, Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, Norway, June 15 - 20, 2008, 22. (2008)

Martin P.J. SchÃ¶pfer, Conrad Childs, John Walsh, Steffen Abe, Arzu Arslan, Eoghan P. Holohan

Distinct Element Method (DEM) Modelling of Laboratory to Outcrop-Scale Fracturing of Natural Rocks. Joint Annual Meeting : GSA, ASA, CSSA, SSSA, GCACS, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, USA, 5-9 October, 129-4. (2008)

Steffen Abe, Marc Holland, Janos Urai

Discrete Element Simulation of the formation of open Fractures during normal faulting of cohesive Materials. EGU General Assembly 2008, Vienna, Austria, 10. (2008)

Heijn van Gent, Steffen Abe, Janos Urai, Marc Holland

The formation of open fractures in scaled analogue and numerical experiments. Third International Geomodelling Conference, Florence, Italy, September 23, 2008, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale, 49, 338-342. (2008)

Janos Urai, Joyce Schmatz, Steffen Abe, Heijn van Gent, Marc Holland

The Effect of mechanical stratigraphy on the evolution of transport processes in fault zones. Geo 2008; International Conference and 106th annual meeting of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fÃ¼r Geowissenschaften e. V. (DGG) and 98th annual meeting of the Geologi (2008)

Heijn van Gent, Stefan Back, Janos Urai, Peter A. Kukla, Klaus Reicherter

The estimation of paleostress through the palinspastic reconstruction of 3D seismic data from the Groningen gas field, the Netherlands. . DRT 2007 -16th conference on Deformation mechanics, Rheology and Tectonics, Milano, Italy, 27-29 September, Societa' G (2007)

Heijn van Gent, Janos Urai, Peter A. Kukla, Stefan Back, Jos Terken, Martin de Keijzer

Paleostress inversion using seismic data for the North West Groningen gas field (the Netherlands). SPP1135 Erdingerfeld Taggung 2006, Erdingerfeld, Germany, 15-17-11-2006. (2006)

Marc Holland, Janos Urai, Stephen Martel

The internal structure of fault zones in basaltic sequences. AGU Fall meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States, 3-9.12.2005, 86 (52), V23C-08. (2005)

Marc Holland, Janos Urai, Stephen Martel

Internal Structure of Fault Zones in Mid-Oceanic-Ridges: Implications for habitat and fluid flow. AGU 2004 fall meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States, 3-9.12.2005, American Geophysical Union, 85 (52), V23C-08. (2004)

Marc Holland, Janos Urai, Wouter van der Zee, Jan Konstanty

Evolutionary stages in fault gouge development in highly overconsolidated mudrocks. TSK 10, 10. Symposium Tektonik, Struktur- und Kristallingeologie, Aachen, 31.03-02.04, 2004/01, 33. (2004)

Marc Holland, Janos Urai, Wouter van der Zee, Jan Konstanty

Fault Gouge Evolution in Highly Overconsolidated Mudrocks - A Field Study. Fault and Top Seals: What do we know and where do we go? EAGE, Montpellier, France, 8-11 September 2003, P42. (2003)

Joyce Schmatz, Marc Holland, Wouter van der Zee, Janos Urai

Fault gouge evolution in layered sand-clay sequences - first results of water-saturated sandbox experiments. Fault and Top Seals: What do we know and where do we go?, EAGE, Montpellier, France, 8-11 September 2003, O22. (2003)