Quantitative reconstruction of the temporal evolution of stress in the Dutch basins

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Janos L. Urai (†)
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2005 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5450029

Changing stress fields through geological time were related to a wide range of processes in the Central European Basin (CEB): generation and reactivation of faults, changing patterns of sedimentation, retention and leakage of fluids for example. Based on 3D fault patterns and palinspastic reconstruction, we propose to carry out stress inversion analyses for selected horizons in a numer of areas. Our study is based on Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij¿s 3D seismic database, selecting domains in which the stress field at the time of interest is homogeneous. We will concentrate on four key time periods: the M. Tertiary and U. Cretaceous/L. Tertiary, the Jurassic, and the Triassic Buntsandstein. Active faults from these time periods will be selected and their 3D fault kinematics will be analysed. Fault morphology and kinematics will be used to determine the regional stress using the Angelier Method (1990). Comparion of the domain data will alow the reconstruction of the major far-field stresses active during the deposition of the CEB. Our results will provide: 1) An improved model of the dynamic evolution of the CEB in the areas studied, 2) a better understanding of the processes of tectonic inversion, and the interaction of salt tectonis and regional stress fields in the CEB.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1135: Dynamics of Sedimentary Systems under Varying Stress Regimes: The Example of the Central European Basin System
• Participating Person: Professor Peter Kukla, Ph.D.