Physical Principles of Sedimentary Basin Analysis

A user-friendly, thorough introduction to quantitative modelling of sedimentary basins, illustrated throughout with real-world examples, applications and test exercises.

Magnus Wangen (Author)

9781108446969, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 March 2018

544 pages, 245 b/w illus. 28 tables
24.5 x 17 x 3 cm, 0.97 kg

'… I recommend this book to all specialists in sedimentary geology (and, particularly, basin analysis), geophysics, tectonics … a new significant contribution to the understanding of the complex Earth dynamics. Well done!' The Sedimentary Record

Presenting a rigorous treatment of the physical and mechanical basis for the modelling of sedimentary basins, this book supplies geoscientists with practical tools for creating their own models. It begins with a thorough grounding in properties of porous media, linear elasticity, continuum mechanics and rock compressibility. Chapters on heat flow, subsidence, rheology, flexure and gravity consider sedimentary basins in the context of the Earth's lithosphere, and the book concludes with coverage of pore space cementation, compaction and fluid flow. The volume introduces basic, state-of-the-art models and demonstrates how to reproduce results using tools like MATLAB® and Octave. Main equations are derived from first principles, and their basic solutions are obtained and then applied. Separate notes sections supply more technical details, and the text is illustrated throughout with real-world examples, applications and test exercises. This is an accessible introduction to quantitative modelling of basins for graduate students, researchers and oil industry professionals.

Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Preliminaries
2. Properties of porous media
3. Linear elasticity and continuum mechanics
4. Compressibility of rocks and sediments
5. Burial histories
6. Heat flow
7. Subsidence
8. Rheology: fracture and flow
9. Flexure of the lithosphere
10. Gravity and gravity anomalies
11. Quartz cementation of sandstones
12. Overpressure and compaction: exact solutions
13. Fluid flow: basic equations
14. Fluid flow: examples
15. Wells
16. Appendix: Fourier series, the discrete Fourier transform and the fast Fourier transform
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Mining technology & engineering [TTU], Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Petroleum technology [THFP], Soil science, sedimentology [RBGB], Geology & the lithosphere [RBG], Earth sciences [RB], Geophysics [PHVG], Petroleum & oil industries [KNBP]