Research on the Evolution and Damage Mechanism of Normal Fault Based on Physical Simulation Experiments and Particle Image Velocimetry Technique

The formation and evolution of (normal) fault affect the formation and preservation of some reservoirs, such as fault-block reservoirs and faulted reservoirs. Strain energy is one of the parameters describing the strength of tectonic activity. Thus, the formation and evolution of normal fault can be studied by analyzing the variation of strain energy in strata. In this work, we used physical simulation to study the formation and evolution of normal fault from a strain energy perspective. Based on the similarity principle, we designed and conducted three repeated physical simulation experiments according to the normal fault in the Yanchang Formation of Jinhe oilfield, Ordos Basin, China, and obtained dip angle, fault displacement, and strain energy via the velocity profile recorded by high-resolution Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). As a result, the strain energy is mainly released in the normal fault line zone, and can thus serve as channels for oil/gas migration and escape routes connecting to the earth’s surface, destroying the already formed oil/gas reservoirs. One might need to avoid drilling near the fault line. Besides, a significant amount of strain energy remaining in the hanging wall is the reason why the normal fault continues to evolve after the normal fault formation until the antithetic fault forms. Our findings provide important insights into the formation and evolution of normal fault from a strain energy perspective, which plays an important role in the oil/gas exploration, prediction of the shallow-source earthquake, and post-disaster reconstruction site selection.