Search

This article presents a morpho-structural map at 1:50,000 scale of the confluence area between three regional units: (1) the Burgalesa Platform (Mesozoic; Cantabrian Mountains), (2) the Duero Basin and (3) the Ebro Basin (Cenozoic foreland basins). The map covers an area of 527 km2 in north Iberia. Additionally, structural lineaments such as joints are well preserved and documented in the Upper Cretaceous sediments of the Burgalesa Platform, represented by four main sets regarding their orientation. The foreland basins are incised in Miocene materials by rivers that have developed a complex drainage system controlling the deposition of the most recent alluvial sediments, following the four structural orientations. The map, together with the analysis of orthophotos and a Digital Terrain Model, and outcrop-scale observations, have led us to document the influence of the Miocene to present-day compression and strike-slip tectonic regime on the configuration of the drainage system and the geomorphological features.

One of the concerns of underground CO2 onshore storage is the triggering of induced seismicity and fault reactivation by the pore pressure increasing. Hence, a comprehensive analysis of the tectonic parameters involved in the storage rock formation is mandatory for safety management operations. Unquestionably, active faults and seal faults depicting the storage bulk are relevant parameters to be considered. However, there is a lack of analysis of the active tectonic strain field affecting these faults during the CO2 storage monitoring. The advantage of reconstructing the tectonic field is the possibility to determine the strain trajectories and describing the fault patterns affecting the reservoir rock. In this work, we adapt a methodology of systematic geostructural analysis to underground CO2 storage, based on the calculation of the strain field from kinematics indicators on the fault planes (ey and ex for the maximum and minimum horizontal shortening, respectively). This methodology is based on a statistical analysis of individual strain tensor solutions obtained from fresh outcrops from the Triassic to the Miocene. Consequently, we have collected 447 fault data in 32 field stations located within a 20 km radius. The understanding of the fault sets' role for underground fluid circulation can also be established, helping further analysis of CO2 leakage and seepage. We have applied this methodology to Hontomín onshore CO2 storage facilities (central Spain). The geology of the area and the number of high-quality outcrops made this site a good candidate for studying the strain field from kinematics fault analysis. The results indicate a strike-slip tectonic regime with maximum horizontal shortening with a 160 and 50∘ E trend for the local regime, which activates NE–SW strike-slip faults. A regional extensional tectonic field was also recognized with a N–S trend, which activates N–S extensional faults, and NNE–SSW and NNW–SSE strike-slip faults, measured in the Cretaceous limestone on top of the Hontomín facilities. Monitoring these faults within the reservoir is suggested in addition to the possibility of obtaining a focal mechanism solutions for micro-earthquakes (M

One of the concerns of underground CO2 onshore storage is the triggering of Induced Seismicity and fault reactivation. Hence, a comprehensive analysis of the tectonic parameters involved in the storage rock formation is mandatory for safety management operations. Unquestionably, active faults and seal faults depicting the storage bulk are relevant parameters to be considered. However, there is a lack of analysis of the active tectonic strain field affecting these faults during the CO2 storage monitoring. The advantage of reconstructing the tectonic field is the possibility to determine the strain trajectories and describing the fault patterns affecting the reservoir rock. In this work, we adapt a methodology of systematic geostructural analysis to the underground CO2 storage, based on the calculation of the strain field and defined by the strain field from kinematics indicators on the fault planes (ey and ex for the maximum and minimum horizontal shortening respectively). This methodology is based on statistical analysis of individual strain tensor solutions obtained from fresh outcrops. Consequently, we have collected 447 fault data in 32 field stations located within a 20 km radius. The understanding of the fault sets role for underground fluid circulation can also be established, helping for further analysis about CO2 leakage and seepage. We have applied this methodology to Hontomín onshore CO2 storage facilities (Central Spain). The geology of the area and the number of high-quality outcrops, made this site as a good candidate for studying the strain field from kinematics fault analysis. The results indicate a strike-slip tectonic regime with the maximum horizontal shortening with N160° E and N50º E trend for local regime, which activates NE–SW strike-slip faults and NE–SW compressional faults. A regional tectonic field was also recognized with N–S trend, which activates E–W compressional faults. Monitoring of E–W faults within the reservoir is suggested in addition with the possibility of obtaining focal mechanism solutions for micro earthquakes (M

Contractional deformation in the transition between the Iberian and Catalan Coastal Ranges (Linking Zone) generated both thin-skinned structures detached in low-strength Triassic units and basement-involved structures. To evaluate their extent and relative contribution to the overall structure, we carried out a study combining structural geology and gravimetry. New gravity data (938 stations) and density determinations (827 samples) were acquired and combined with previous existing databases to obtain Bouguer anomaly and residual Bouguer anomaly maps of the study area. Seven serial and balanced cross sections were built, their depth geometries being constrained through the 2.5-D gravity modeling and the 3-D gravity inversion that we accomplished. The residual Bouguer anomaly map shows a good correlation between basement antiforms and gravity highs whereas negative anomalies mostly correspond to (i) Meso-Cenozoic synclines and (ii) Neogene-Quaternary basins. Cross sections depict a southern, thick-skinned domain where extensional, basement faults inherited from Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous times were inverted during the Cenozoic. To the north, we interpret the existence of both Triassic-detached and basement-involved deformation domains. The two deformation styles are vertically overlapped in the southernmost part of the Catalan Coastal Ranges but relay both across and along strike in the Eastern Iberian Range. These basement and cover relationships and their along-strike variations are analyzed in terms of the interplay between structural inheritance, its obliquity to the shortening direction, and the continuity and effectiveness of Triassic décollements in the study area., This study has been supported by the Instituto para la Reestructuracion de la Mineria del Carbon y el Desarrollo Alternativo de las Comarcas Mineras Ministry of Energy and Industry, Spain. Additional support has also come from the DR3AM and SALTCRES Projects (CGL2014-54118) from the Science National Plan of Spain (MINECO). The authors also acknowledge Midland Valley Exploration for providing Move software academic licenses. The contribution of Jose Maria Llorente, Agustin Gonzalez, and Israel Perez was essential for the acquisition of the geophysical data and the density measurements. The financial support of the Aragonian Goberment is also acknowledged (Applied Geology Group-GeoAp, E01_17R). The data used in this work can be found in the manuscript itself or in previous works listed in the references. Elevation reference data from the Instituto Geografico Nacional (http://www.ign.es/ign/main/index.do) were used in the gravity processing as well as digital terrain models from the Spanish Army Geographical Survey (http://www.ejercito.mde.es/unidades/Madrid/ceget/).Geological maps are available at the IGME website (http://info.igme.es/cartografiadigital/), whereas well data from the Water Authority (CHE) are accessible at the IBER website (http://iber.chebro.es/sitebro/sitebro.aspx?hydrogeoebro).

The Caspe geological structure was formed by the convergence of the Iberian Range and the Catalonian Coastal Range, during the Tertiary compression. Traditionally, the Caspe structure has been interpreted from seismic profiles without considering surface structural data. The aim of this study is to build a 3D geological model taking into account the structural data from the geological map, stress fields and lineaments, and evaluate its possibility as potential CO2 storage site. Four surfaces have been modelled: Buntsandstein Top, Muschelkalk-I Top, Muschelkalk-II Top and Cenozoic Bottom. Considering the geometry and depth for storage the target reservoir was considered to be the Buntsandstein facies. The available seismic data indicate that the Buntsandstein facies top is at approximately 500 m depth and hosts a deep saline aquifer. The target reservoir series include the conglomerate and sandstone of the Hoz del Gallo and Cañizar Fms (Buntsandstein Facies) with an average thickness of 500 m and 21% porosity. The seal comprises the shales and silts of the Röt Fm with an average thickness of 100-150 m. The structure volume was calculated based on the -500 mbsl for the Buntsandstein top deepest closed contour lines. The estimated volume is 5,800 Mm3 with most of CO2 in gaseous state., Financial support for this study was received from the Spanish administration through the Instituto para la Reestructuración de la Minería del Carbón y el Desarrollo Alternativo de las Comarcas Mineras (IRMC).

León, Ricardo ... et al.-- Special issue Advancements in Understanding Deep-Sea Clastic Sedimentation Processes.-- 20 pages, 14 figures, 1 table, This paper presents a combined onshore-offshore morpho-structural characterization of the El Golfo giant landslide, island of El Hierro (Canary Archipelago, Spain). Offshore data from multibeam echosounders, chirp sub-bottom profiles and multichannel seismic reflection data and onshore data coming from water wells and galleries have been analyzed. The geomorphology and the internal architecture of this giant flank collapse are defined in order to determine its multi-event nature. The subaerial headscarp shows a non-continuous arcuate profile formed by two nested semi-circular amphitheaters that extend offshore along a smooth chute, suggesting the occurrence of at least two large retrogressive events. Channels/gullies and escarpments developed along the submarine sector of the scar also indicate smaller-scale events and predominance of sediment bypass. In the lower slope, two subunits of submarine mass transport deposits (MTDs), debris avalanche, are identified on multichannel seismic reflection profiles with a total estimated volume of 318 km3: ~ 84 km3 and ~ 234 km3, for the younger and older MTDs respectively. Data from wells and galleries show abrasion platforms with beach deposits at sea-level (0 masl) formed after the landslide scar and buried by the post-collapse El Golfo lavas infill, suggesting an age at least older than 23.5–82.5 Ka for the landslide, This work has been supported by the Spanish research project SUBVENT (CGL2012-39524-C02-02) and Project for the Extension of the Continental Shelf West to Canary Islands (CTM2010-09496-E). This research has been also developed within the framework of the IGCP-640 S4SLIDE project (Significance of Modern and Ancient Submarine Slope LandSLIDEs)