• Login
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Theses & Dissertations
    • 2017 - Mines Theses & Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   Home
    • Theses & Dissertations
    • 2017 - Mines Theses & Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

    All of Mines RepositoryCommunitiesPublication DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionPublication DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    Login

    Mines Links

    Arthur Lakes LibraryColorado School of Mines

    Statistics

    Display Statistics

    Structural styles of the Niobrara Formation: a study of Kansas and Colorado outcrops using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

    • CSV
    • RefMan
    • EndNote
    • BibTex
    • RefWorks
    Thumbnail
    Name:
    Garbus_mines_0052N_11290.pdf
    Size:
    13.85Mb
    Format:
    PDF
    Download
    Author
    Garbus, Caleb H.
    Advisor
    Sonnenberg, Stephen A.
    Date issued
    2017
    Keywords
    fault system
    polygonal fault system
    UAV
    Niobrara
    drone
    structural geology
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    URI
    https://hdl.handle.net/11124/171141
    Abstract
    The Late Cretaceous Niobrara Formation is a productive unconventional hydrocarbon system throughout the Denver Basin. Alternating chalk and marl units of the Smoky Hill Member act as a source, reservoir, and seal for the Niobrara petroleum system. The Niobrara has attracted attention from operators after advances in drilling and production technologies have made Niobrara oil and gas economic. The focus of this study aims at achieving a complete understanding of fracture types, fault characteristics, and fault systems in Niobrara outcrop using modern technology. Outcrop analysis across western Kansas indicates the presence of a polygonal fault system (PFS) within the Niobrara. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data was collected, developed into 3D models, and interpreted to identify fault and joint orientations, geometries, and relations across the study area. Polygonal and structurally-reactivated faults were observed in outcrop. Non-tectonic polygonal faults display random orientations, dip-slip normal faults, are characteristically layer-bound, and are unaffected by geomechanical variation. Limited outcrop and exposure bias result in a general SE-NW trend for polygonal strike orientations; however, increased data and hangingwall slip directions confirms the presence of a non-tectonic fault system at Castle Rock, Kansas. Structurally-reactivated polygonal faults originate from fourth-order structural influence or tectonic events and display common antithetic faults, brecciation zones, fracture swarms, and changes in fault plane geometries across geomechanical boundaries in the chalk and marl intervals. Data indicates the presence of two or three joint sets at most field locations. Stable isotope results of host rock and calcite fault fill samples indicates meteoric influence. Structural analysis of the UAV models resulted in accurate measurements. Applications for UAVs should be incorporated into all facets of geological research including structural geology, stratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, sedimentology, mineralogy, and field mapping.
    Rights
    Copyright of the original work is retained by the author.
    Collections
    2017 - Mines Theses & Dissertations

    entitlement

     
    DSpace software (copyright © 2002 - 2023)  DuraSpace
    Quick Guide | Contact Us
    Open Repository is a service operated by 
    Atmire NV
     

    Export search results

    The export option will allow you to export the current search results of the entered query to a file. Different formats are available for download. To export the items, click on the button corresponding with the preferred download format.

    By default, clicking on the export buttons will result in a download of the allowed maximum amount of items.

    To select a subset of the search results, click "Selective Export" button and make a selection of the items you want to export. The amount of items that can be exported at once is similarly restricted as the full export.

    After making a selection, click one of the export format buttons. The amount of items that will be exported is indicated in the bubble next to export format.