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Prediction of the internal structure of salt diapirs – is that possible?

We explore this question using the example of salt structures in Northern Germany. The salt mines in the North German basin are among the best explored in the world. The question now arises as to whether findings on the internal structure of these salt structures also allow conclusions to be drawn about previously unexplored diapirs. BGR worked on the crucial question posed by BGE on the prediction of homogeneous salt volumes in saline rocks. However, improvements in the prognosis could also support the exploration and possible future economic use (as storage caverns) of underexplored salt structures, for example in the German North Sea. Our method is based on the definition of several basin-wide assessable proxies, which suggest an influence on the internal structure and its variability with regard to the utilization of the salt structure. Furthermore, additional findings on genesis, kinematics or the detailed internal structure are discussed which cannot be directly transferred into a basin-wide proxy but can contribute to the evaluation of the variability of the internal structure. Due to the wide range of influencing factors to be discussed, our presentation will focus in particular on new findings on salt tectonics from the comparison of the analyzed structures, but also on the given limitations of a prediction of the internal structure. In summary, certain types of salt structures that have passed through certain evolutionary stages indicate a higher probability of larger salt homogeneous volumes in economically exploitable depths.

Details

Author
Fabian Jähne-Klingberg1, Lukas Pollok1
Institutionen
1Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Germany
Veranstaltung
GeoSaxonia 2024
Datum
2024
DOI
10.48380/620b-hm19
Geolocation
Northern Germany