@misc{HeidbachRajabiCuietal.2018, author = {Heidbach, Oliver and Rajabi, Mojtaba and Cui, Xiaofeng and Fuchs, Karl and Mueller, Birgit and Reinecker, John and Reiter, Karsten and Tingay, Mark and Wenzel, Friedemann and Xie, Furen and Ziegler, Moritz O. and Zoback, Mary-Lou and Zoback, Mark}, title = {The World Stress Map database release 2016}, series = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, volume = {744}, journal = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0040-1951}, doi = {10.1016/j.tecto.2018.07.007}, pages = {484 -- 498}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Knowledge of the present-day crustal in-situ stress field is a key for the understanding of geodynamic processes such as global plate tectonics and earthquakes. It is also essential for the management of geo-reservoirs and underground storage sites for energy and waste. Since 1986, the World Stress Map (WSM) project has systematically compiled the orientation of maximum horizontal stress (S-Hmax). For the 30th anniversary of the project, the WSM database has been updated significantly with 42,870 data records which is double the amount of data in comparison to the database release in 2008. The update focuses on areas with previously sparse data coverage to resolve the stress pattern on different spatial scales. In this paper, we present details of the new WSM database release 2016 and an analysis of global and regional stress pattern. With the higher data density, we can now resolve stress pattern heterogeneities from plate-wide to local scales. In particular, we show two examples of 40 degrees-60 degrees S-Hmax rotations within 70 km. These rotations can be used as proxies to better understand the relative importance of plate boundary forces that control the long wave-length pattern in comparison to regional and local controls of the crustal stress state. In the new WSM project phase IV that started in 2017, we will continue to further refine the information on the S-Hmax orientation and the stress regime. However, we will also focus on the compilation of stress magnitude data as this information is essential for the calibration of geomechanical-numerical models. This enables us to derive a 3-D continuous description of the stress tensor from point-wise and incomplete stress tensor information provided with the WSM database. Such forward models are required for safety aspects of anthropogenic activities in the underground and for a better understanding of tectonic processes such as the earthquake cycle.}, language = {en} } @article{PenaHeidbachMorenoetal.2019, author = {Pena, Carlos and Heidbach, Oliver and Moreno, Marcos and Bedford, Jonathan and Ziegler, Moritz 0. and Tassara, Andres Ollero and Oncken, Onno}, title = {Role of Lower Crust in the Postseismic Deformation of the 2010 Maule Earthquake: Insights from a Model with Power-Law Rheology}, series = {Pure and applied geophysics}, volume = {176}, journal = {Pure and applied geophysics}, number = {9}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Basel}, issn = {0033-4553}, doi = {10.1007/s00024-018-02090-3}, pages = {3913 -- 3928}, year = {2019}, abstract = {The surface deformation associated with the 2010 M-w 8.8 Maule earthquake in Chile was recorded in great detail before, during and after the event. The high data quality of the continuous GPS (cGPS) observations has facilitated a number of studies that model the postseismic deformation signal with a combination of relocking, afterslip and viscoelastic relaxation using linear rheology for the upper mantle. Here, we investigate the impact of using linear Maxwell or power-law rheology with a 2D geomechanical-numerical model to better understand the relative importance of the different processes that control the postseismic deformation signal. Our model results reveal that, in particular, the modeled cumulative vertical postseismic deformation pattern in the near field (< 300 km from the trench) is very sensitive to the location of maximum afterslip and choice of rheology. In the model with power-law rheology, the afterslip maximum is located at 20-35 km rather than > 50 km depth as suggested in previous studies. The explanation for this difference is that in the model with power-law rheology the relaxation of coseismically imposed differential stresses occurs mainly in the lower crust. However, even though the model with power-law rheology probably has more potential to explain the vertical postseismic signal in the near field, the uncertainty of the applied temperature field is substantial, and this needs further investigations and improvements.}, language = {en} } @article{LiMorenoSwittBedfordetal.2017, author = {Li, Shaoyang and Moreno Switt, Marcos and Bedford, Jonathan and Rosenau, Matthias and Heidbach, Oliver and Melnick, Daniel and Oncken, Onno}, title = {Postseismic uplift of the Andes following the 2010 Maule earthquake}, series = {Geophysical research letters}, volume = {44}, journal = {Geophysical research letters}, number = {4}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0094-8276}, doi = {10.1002/2016GL071995}, pages = {1768 -- 1776}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Postseismic surface deformation associated with great subduction earthquakes is controlled by asthenosphere rheology, frictional properties of the fault, and structural complexity. Here by modeling GPS displacements in the 6 years following the 2010 M-w 8.8 Maule earthquake in Chile, we investigate the impact of heterogeneous viscosity distribution in the South American subcontinental asthenosphere on the 3-D postseismic deformation pattern. The observed postseismic deformation is characterized by flexure of the South America plate with peak uplift in the Andean mountain range and subsidence in the hinterland. We find that, at the time scale of observation, over 2 orders of magnitude gradual increase in asthenosphere viscosity from the arc area toward the cratonic hinterland is needed to jointly explain horizontal and vertical displacements. Our findings present an efficient method to estimate spatial variations of viscosity, which clearly improves the fitting to the vertical signal of deformation. Lateral changes in asthenosphere viscosity can be correlated with the thermomechanical transition from weak subvolcanic arc mantle to strong subcratonic mantle, thus suggesting a stationary heterogeneous viscosity structure. However, we cannot rule out a transient viscosity structure (e.g., power law rheology) with the short time span of observation.}, language = {en} } @article{ReiterHeidbach2014, author = {Reiter, Karsten and Heidbach, Oliver}, title = {3-D geomechanical-numerical model of the contemporary crustal stress state in the Alberta Basin (Canada)}, series = {Solid earth}, volume = {5}, journal = {Solid earth}, number = {2}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1869-9510}, doi = {10.5194/se-5-1123-2014}, pages = {1123 -- 1149}, year = {2014}, abstract = {In the context of examining the potential usage of safe and sustainable geothermal energy in the Alberta Basin, whether in deep sediments or crystalline rock, the understanding of the in situ stress state is crucial. It is a key challenge to estimate the 3-D stress state at an arbitrarily chosen point in the crust, based on sparsely distributed in situ stress data. To address this challenge, we present a large-scale 3-D geomechanical-numerical model (700 km x 1200 km x 80 km) from a large portion of the Alberta Basin, to provide a 3-D continuous quantification of the contemporary stress orientations and stress magnitudes. To calibrate the model, we use a large database of in situ stress orientation (321 S-Hmax) as well as stress magnitude data (981 S-V, 1720 S-hmin and 2 (+11) S-Hmax) from the Alberta Basin. To find the best-fit model, we vary the material properties and primarily the displacement boundary conditions of the model. This study focusses in detail on the statistical calibration procedure, because of the large amount of available data, the diversity of data types, and the importance of the order of data tests. The best-fit model provides the total 3-D stress tensor for nearly the whole Alberta Basin, and allows estimation of stress orientation and stress magnitudes in advance of any well. First-order implications for the well design and configuration of enhanced geothermal systems are revealed. Systematic deviations of the modelled stress from the in situ data are found for stress orientations in the Peace River and the Bow Island Arch as well as for leak-off test magnitudes.}, language = {en} } @article{ReiterHeidbachSchmittetal.2014, author = {Reiter, Karsten and Heidbach, Oliver and Schmitt, Douglas and Haug, Kristine and Ziegler, Moritz O. and Moeck, Inga}, title = {A revised crustal stress orientation database for Canada}, series = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, volume = {636}, journal = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0040-1951}, doi = {10.1016/j.tecto.2014.08.006}, pages = {111 -- 124}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The Canadian database on contemporary crustal stress has not been revised systematically in the past two decades. Here we present the results of our new compilation that contains 514 new data records for the orientation data of maximum compressive horizontal stress and 188 data records that were re-assessed. In total the Canadian stress database has now 1667 data records, which is an increase of about 45\%. From these data, a new Canadian Stress map as well as one for the Province of Alberta is presented. To analyse the stress pattern, we use the quasi median on the circle as a smoothing algorithm that generates a smoothed stress map of the maximum compressive horizontal stress orientation on a regular grid. The newly introduced quasi interquartile range on the circle estimates the spreading of the data and is used as a measure for the wave-length of the stress pattern. The result of the hybrid wavelength analysis confirms that long spatial wavelength stress patterns (>= 1000 km) exist in large areas in Canada. The observed stress pattern is transmitted through the intra-plate regions. The results reveal that shorter spatial wave length variation of the maximum compressive horizontal stress orientation of less than 200 km, prevails particularly in south-eastern and western Canada. Regional stress sources such as density contrasts, active fault systems, crustal structures, etc. might have a significant impact in these regions. In contrast to these variations, the observed stress pattern in the Alberta Basin is very homogeneous and mainly controlled by plate boundary forces and body forces. The influence of curvature of the Rocky Mountains salient in southern Alberta is minimal. The present-day horizontal stress orientations determined herein have important implications for the production of hydrocarbons and geothermal energy in the Alberta Basin. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @misc{ZieglerHeidbachReineckeretal.2016, author = {Ziegler, Moritz O. and Heidbach, Oliver and Reinecker, John and Przybycin, Anna M. and Scheck-Wenderoth, Magdalena}, title = {A multi-stage 3-D stress field modelling approach exemplified in the Bavarian Molasse Basin}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {556}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-40980}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-409806}, pages = {18}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The knowledge of the contemporary in situ stress state is a key issue for safe and sustainable subsurface engineering. However, information on the orientation and magnitudes of the stress state is limited and often not available for the areas of interest. Therefore 3-D geomechanical-numerical modelling is used to estimate the in situ stress state and the distance of faults from failure for application in subsurface engineering. The main challenge in this approach is to bridge the gap in scale between the widely scattered data used for calibration of the model and the high resolution in the target area required for the application. We present a multi-stage 3-D geomechanical-numerical approach which provides a state-of-the-art model of the stress field for a reservoir-scale area from widely scattered data records. Therefore, we first use a large-scale regional model which is calibrated by available stress data and provides the full 3-D stress tensor at discrete points in the entire model volume. The modelled stress state is used subsequently for the calibration of a smaller-scale model located within the large-scale model in an area without any observed stress data records. We exemplify this approach with two-stages for the area around Munich in the German Molasse Basin. As an example of application, we estimate the scalar values for slip tendency and fracture potential from the model results as measures for the criticality of fault reactivation in the reservoir-scale model. The modelling results show that variations due to uncertainties in the input data are mainly introduced by the uncertain material properties and missing S-Hmax magnitude estimates needed for a more reliable model calibration. This leads to the conclusion that at this stage the model's reliability depends only on the amount and quality of available stress information rather than on the modelling technique itself or on local details of the model geometry. Any improvements in modelling and increases in model reliability can only be achieved using more high-quality data for calibration.}, language = {en} } @misc{HergertHeidbachReiteretal.2015, author = {Hergert, T. and Heidbach, Oliver and Reiter, Karsten and Giger, S. B. and Marschall, P.}, title = {Stress field sensitivity analysis in a sedimentary sequence of the Alpine foreland, northern Switzerland}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {522}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-40960}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-409600}, pages = {20}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The stress field at depth is a relevant parameter for the design of subsurface constructions and reservoir management. Yet the distortion of the regional stress field due to local-scale features such as sedimentary and tectonic structures or topography is often poorly constrained. We conduct a stress sensitivity analysis using 3-D numerical geomechanical modelling with an elasto-plastic material law to explore the impact of such site-specific features on the stress field in a sedimentary sequence of the Swiss Alpine foreland. The model's dimensions are 14 x 14 x 3 km(3) and it contains 10 units with different mechanical properties, intersected by two regional fault zones. An initial stress state is established involving a semi-empirical relationship between the ratio of horizontal to vertical stress and the overconsolidation ratio of argillaceous sediments. The model results indicate that local topography can affect the stress field significantly to depths greater than the relief contrasts at the surface, especially in conjunction with horizontal tectonic loading. The complexity and frictional properties of faults are also relevant. The greatest variability of the stress field arises across the different sedimentary units. Stress magnitudes and stress anisotropy are much larger in stiffer formations such as massive limestones than in softer argillaceous formations. The stiffer formations essentially carry the load of the far-field forces and are therefore more sensitive to changes of the boundary conditions. This general characteristic of stress distribution in the stiff and soft formations is broadly maintained also with progressive loading towards the plastic limit. The stress field in argillaceous sediments within a stack of formations with strongly contrasting mechanical properties like in the Alpine foreland appears to be relatively insensitive to changes in the tectonic boundary conditions and is largely controlled by the maximum stiffness contrast with respect to the load-bearing formations.}, language = {en} } @article{ZieglerHeidbachReineckeretal.2016, author = {Ziegler, Moritz O. and Heidbach, Oliver and Reinecker, John and Przybycin, Anna M. and Scheck-Wenderoth, Magdalena}, title = {A multi-stage 3-D stress field modelling approach exemplified in the Bavarian Molasse Basin}, series = {Solid earth}, volume = {7}, journal = {Solid earth}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1869-9510}, doi = {10.5194/se-7-1365-2016}, pages = {1365 -- 1382}, year = {2016}, language = {en} } @article{RajabiZieglerTingayetal.2016, author = {Rajabi, Mojtaba and Ziegler, Moritz O. and Tingay, Mark and Heidbach, Oliver and Reynolds, Scott}, title = {Contemporary tectonic stress pattern of the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand}, series = {Journal of geophysical research : Solid earth}, volume = {121}, journal = {Journal of geophysical research : Solid earth}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {2169-9313}, doi = {10.1002/2016JB013178}, pages = {6053 -- 6070}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The present-day stress state is a key parameter in numerous geoscientific research fields including geodynamics, seismic hazard assessment, and geomechanics of georeservoirs. The Taranaki Basin of New Zealand is located on the Australian Plate and forms the western boundary of tectonic deformation due to Pacific Plate subduction along the Hikurangi margin. This paper presents the first comprehensive wellbore-derived basin-scale in situ stress analysis in New Zealand. We analyze borehole image and oriented caliper data from 129 petroleum wells in the Taranaki Basin to interpret the shape of boreholes and determine the orientation of maximum horizontal stress (S-Hmax). We combine these data (151 S-Hmax data records) with 40 stress data records derived from individual earthquake focal mechanism solutions, 6 from stress inversions of focal mechanisms, and 1 data record using the average of several focal mechanism solutions. The resulting data set has 198 data records for the Taranaki Basin and suggests a regional S-Hmax orientation of N068 degrees E (22 degrees), which is in agreement with NW-SE extension suggested by geological data. Furthermore, this ENE-WSW average S-Hmax orientation is subparallel to the subduction trench and strike of the subducting slab (N50 degrees E) beneath the central western North Island. Hence, we suggest that the slab geometry and the associated forces due to slab rollback are the key control of crustal stress in the Taranaki Basin. In addition, we find stress perturbations with depth in the vicinity of faults in some of the studied wells, which highlight the impact of local stress sources on the present-day stress rotation.}, language = {en} } @article{ZieglerRajabiHeidbachetal.2016, author = {Ziegler, Moritz O. and Rajabi, Mojtaba and Heidbach, Oliver and Hersir, Gylfi Pall and Agustsson, Kristjan and Arnadottir, Sigurveig and Zang, Arno}, title = {The stress pattern of Iceland}, series = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, volume = {674}, journal = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0040-1951}, doi = {10.1016/j.tecto.2016.02.008}, pages = {101 -- 113}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Iceland is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which is the plate boundary between the Eurasian and the North American plates. It is one of the few places on earth where an active spreading centre is located onshore but the stress pattern has not been extensively investigated so far. In this paper we present a comprehensive compilation of the orientation of maximum horizontal stress (S-Hmax). In particular we interpret borehole breakouts and drilling induced fractures from borehole image logs in 57 geothermal wells onshore Iceland. The borehole results are combined with other stress indicators including earthquake focal mechanism solutions, geological information and overcoring measurements resulting in a dataset with 495 data records for the S-Hmax orientation. The reliability of each indicator is assessed according to the quality criteria of the World Stress Map project The majority of S-Hmax orientation data records in Iceland is derived from earthquake focal mechanism solutions (35\%) and geological fault slip inversions (26\%). 20\% of the data are borehole related stress indicators. In addition minor shares of S-Hmax orientations are compiled, amongst others, from focal mechanism inversions and the alignment of fissure eruptions. The results show that the S-Hmax orientations derived from different depths and stress indicators are consistent with each other. The resulting pattern of the present-day stress in Iceland has four distinct subsets of S-Hmax orientations. The S-Hmax orientation is parallel to the rift axes in the vicinity of the active spreading regions. It changes from NE-SW in the South to approximately N-S in central Iceland and NNW-SSE in the North. In the Westfjords which is located far away from the ridge the regional S-Hmax rotates and is parallel to the plate motion. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} }