Modeling Serpentinization Driven Fracturing in the Oman Ophiolite

Natural serpentinization rates for the Oman region have previously been estimated using numerical simulations (Rudge et al., 2010; Malvoisin et al., 2020). Comparing the estimated serpentinization rate from in-situ data with this numerically estimated rate will help constrain future numerical predictions of serpentinization in regions that are less accessible (e.g., oceanic environments).

In collaboration with Fabian Barras, a post-doctorate fellow at the Njord Centre whose focus is simulating fracture nucleation and dynamics, the master thesis will focus on building a new, fracture based, simulation based on Rudge et al. (2010), Evans et al., (2020), and Malvoisin et al. (2020).

This simulation will be driven by data from the Oman Drilling Program Multi-Borehole Observatory site BA1 boreholes. It will estimate gas production, microearthquake events, and ultimately the serpentinization rates. We will then compare results with the in-situ rates.

Fig. 1 Click here for bigger version.

 

Published Oct. 17, 2022 3:20 PM - Last modified Oct. 17, 2022 3:20 PM

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