• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.335-358
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• 2020

We present a numerical model to simulate coupled hydro-mechanical behavior of fault using TOUGH-FLAC simulator. This study aims to develop a numerical method to estimate fluid injection-induced fault reactivation in low permeability rock and to access the relevant hydro-mechanical stability in rock as part of DECOVALEX-2019 Task B. A coupled fluid flow and mechanical interface model to explicitly represent a fault was suggested and validated from the applications to benchmark simulations and the field experiment at Mont Terri underground laboratory in Switzerland. The pressure build-up, hydraulic aperture evolution, displacement, and stress responses matched those obtained at the site, which indicates the capability of the model to appropriately capture the hydro-mechanical processes in rock fault.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.351-363
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• 2012

Although the Korean peninsula has been considered as a largely aseismic region compared with the surrounding high seismic areas such as North China and Japan, there are more than thirty Quaternary faults reported so far, which are mostly centered in the southeastern peninsula. Structural studies of active faults exposed in Yangnam-myeon of Gyeongju, SE Korea are largely interpreted to post date the late Quaternary, suggesting that the NE-trending reverse faults may result from the active stress regime in the peninsula. The prevailing present-day E-W $S_{Hmax}$ orientations in the peninsula are consistent with the nature of plate forcing stemming from the convergence between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates. It is clear that the Quaternary faults have been reactivated, although resolving more elaborate time intervals responsible for a future rupture remains a significant challenge. This study contributes to better assess many of potential seismic hazards in the study area, in particular, in terms of seismic stability for foundation of nuclear power plant.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.183-195
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• 2022

Hydrothermal gold deposits are evidence of intensive fluid flow through fault zones, and the resultant vein structures and textures reflect the fluid redistribution mechanism. This review introduces the suction pump and fault valve models as fluid circulation mechanisms causing hydrothermal gold deposits in the frameworks of the concepts of fault mechanics. The suction pump and fault valve models describe faulting-driven heterogeneous fluid flow and related vein formation mechanisms, accompanied by the cycles of (1) stress accumulation and fluid pressure build-up and (2) seismic rupture and stress/fluid pressure release. The models are available under different geological environments (stress conditions), and the vein structures and textures representing the mechanisms have similarities and differences. The suction pump and fault valve models must help better to interpret the origins of hydrothermal gold deposits in Korea and improve the efficiency of further exploration.

• Proceedings of the KSEG Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.193-200
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• 2002

울산광역시 울주군 삼남면 가천리와 상천리 일원에 발달하는 양산단층대 중남부의 발달특성과 제4기단층을 기재한다. 이 지역에는 중생대 백악기의 퇴적암과 화강암의 경계부 근처에 양산단층대의 주단층대와 부단층대로 확인되는 대규모의 단층파쇄대가 북북동-서남서 내지 남-북의 주향에 거의 수직으로 발달하고 있다. 단층조선은 수평에 가까우며 단층대내의 구조에 의하면, 주로 우향의 주향이동운동이 우세하다. 한편, 상천리와 가천리에는 이들 기반암과 제4기의 하성 사력층의 경계부 부근에서 제4기단층이 2조 발달하고 있다. 이들은 가천 제1단층과 가천 제2단층으로 기존의 양산단층대 일부가 제4기에 재활동한 것으로, 북북동 방향의 주향에 동측으로 고각의 경사를 보인다 단층조선은 거의 수평이며, 제4기 역들이 단층끌림에 의해 배열된 상태나 단층엽리내의 구조에 의하면 우향의 주향이동성운동이 우세하다.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.455-469
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• 2007

The study area, Bonggil-ri, Gyeongju, SE Korea, is composed of Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, and Tertiary igneous rocks and dykes. A research on fracture developing history and density distribution was carried out on well exposed Tertiary granites. The fractures developed in this area have the following sequence; NW-SE trending duo-tile shear bands (set a), NNW-SSE trending extensional fractures (set d), WNW-ESE trending extensional or normal fractures (set b), NE-SW trending right-lateral fractures (set c), WNW-ESE trending reverse fault reactivated from normal faults (set e) and NW-SE trending left-lateral faults reactivated from shear bands (set a) under brittle condition. According to the result of fracture density analysis, the fracture density in this area depends on rock property rather than rock age, and also higher fracture density is observed around fault damage zones. However, this high fracture density may also be related to the cooling process associated with dyke intrusion as well as rock types and fault movement. Regardless of the reason of the high fracture density, high fracture density itself contributes to fluid flow and migration of chemical elements.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2018

It is imperative to inject carbon dioxide($CO_2$) into an aquifer for alleviating the emission of $CO_2$. However, faults in the aquifer can be reactivated due to pressure increasement. Analyses of pressure change of the aquifer is necessary to prevent the fault reactivation. In this research, we assess the stability of an aquifer in Pohang Yeongil bay by investigating the pressure variation of faults EF1 and EF2. Two scenarios, which repeat $CO_2$ injection and suspension during two years, are simulated. Each scenario includes cases of injection rates of 20, 40, and 100 tons/day. In addition, we analyze planned and predicted injection rates for each case. In case of 20 tons/day, the maximum pressure of faults is 65% of the reactivation pressure. Even if daily injection rates are increased to 40 and 100 tons/day, the maximum pressures are 71% and 80% of the reactivation pressures, respectively. For 20 and 40 tons/day cases, planned injection rates almost accord with predicted injection rates during whole simulation period. On the other hand, predicted injection rates are smaller than planned injection rates for the 100 tons/day case due to bottom-hole pressure limit of the injection well.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.197-213
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• 2019

We simulated the fault reactivation experiment conducted at 'Main Fault' intersecting the low permeability clay formations of Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory in Switzerland using TOUGH-FLAC simulator. The fluid flow along a fault was modelled with solid elements and governed by Darcy's law with the cubic law in TOUGH2, whereas the mechanical behavior of a single fault was represented by creating interface elements between two separating rock blocks in FLAC3D. We formulate the hydro-mechanical coupling relation of hydraulic aperture to consider the elastic fracture opening and failure-induced dilation for reproducing the abrupt changes in injection flow rate and monitoring pressure at fracture opening pressure. A parametric study was conducted to examine the effects of in-situ stress condition and fault deformation and strength parameters and to find the optimal parameter set to reproduce the field observations. In the best matching simulation, the fracture opening pressure and variations of injection flow rate and monitoring pressure showed good agreement with field experiment results, which suggests the capability of the numerical model to reasonably capture the fracture opening and propagation process. The model overestimated the fault displacement in shear direction and the range of reactivated zone, which was attributed to the progressive shear failures along the fault at high injection pressure. In the field experiment results, however, fracture tensile opening seems the dominant mechanism affecting the hydraulic aperture increase.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.670-691
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• 2018

This study presents the research results of the BMT(Benchmark Model Test) simulations of the DECOVALEX-2019 project Task B. Task B named 'Fault slip modelling' is aiming at developing a numerical method to predict fault reactivation and the coupled hydro-mechanical behavior of fault. BMT scenario simulations of Task B were conducted to improve each numerical model of participating group by demonstrating the feasibility of reproducing the fault behavior induced by water injection. The BMT simulations consist of seven different conditions depending on injection pressure, fault properties and the hydro-mechanical coupling relations. TOUGH-FLAC simulator was used to reproduce the coupled hydro-mechanical process of fault slip. A coupling module to update the changes in hydrological properties and geometric features of the numerical mesh in the present study. We made modifications to the numerical model developed in Task B Step 1 to consider the changes in compressibility, Permeability and geometric features with hydraulic aperture of fault due to mechanical deformation. The effects of the storativity and transmissivity of the fault on the hydro-mechanical behavior such as the pressure distribution, injection rate, displacement and stress of the fault were examined, and the results of the previous step 1 simulation were updated using the modified numerical model. The simulation results indicate that the developed model can provide a reasonable prediction of the hydro-mechanical behavior related to fault reactivation. The numerical model will be enhanced by continuing interaction and collaboration with other research teams of DECOVALEX-2019 Task B and validated using the field experiment data in a further study.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.149-166
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• 2018

Many large earthquakes have continuously been reported and resulted in significant human casualties and extensive damages to properties globally. The accident of Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan was caused by a mega-tsunami, which is a secondary effect associated with the Tohoku large earthquake (M=9.0, 2011. 3. 11.). Most earthquakes occur by reactivation of pre-existing active faults. Therefore, the importance of paleoseismological study have greatly been increased. The Korean peninsula has generally been considered to be a tectonically stable region compared with neighboring countries such as Japan and Taiwan, because it is located on the margin of the Eurasian intra-continental region. However, the recent earthquakes in Gyeongju and Pohang have brought considerable insecurity on earthquake hazard. In particular, this region should be secure against earthquake, because many nuclear facilties and large industrial facilities are located in this area. However, some large earthquakes have been reported in historic documents and also several active faults have been reported in southeast Korea. This study explains the evaluation methods of geological structures on active fault, fault damage zone, the relationship between earthquake and active fault, and respect distance. This study can contribute to selection of safe locations for nuclear facilities and to earthquake hazards and disaster prevention.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.50-59
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• 2006

The risk of fault reactivation in the Gippsland Basin was calculated using the FAST (Fault Analysis Seal Technology) technique, which determines fault reactivation risk by estimating the increase in pore pressure required to cause reactivation within the present-day stress field. The stress regime in the Gippsland Basin is on the boundary between strike-slip and reverse faulting: maximum horizontal stress $({\sim}\;40.5\;Mpa/km)$ > vertical stress (21 Mpa/km) ${\sim}$ minimum horizontal stress (20 MPa/km). Pore pressure is hydrostatic above the Campanian Volcanics of the Golden Beach Subgroup. The NW-SE maximum horizontal stress orientation $(139^{\circ}N)$ determined herein is broadly consistent with previous estimates, and verifies a NW-SE maximum horizontal stress orientation in the Gippsland Basin. Fault reactivation risk in the Gippsland Basin was calculated using two fault strength scenarios; cohesionless faults $(C=0;{\mu}=0.65)$ and healed faults $(C=5.4;\;{\mu}=0.78)$. The orientations of faults with relatively high and relatively low reactivation potential are almost identical for healed and cohesionless fault strength scenarios. High-angle faults striking NE-SW are unlikely to reactivate in the current stress regime. High-angle faults oriented SSE-NNW and ENE-WSW have the highest fault reactivation risk. Additionally, low-angle faults (thrust faults) striking NE-SW have a relatively high risk of reactivation. The highest reactivation risk for optimally oriented faults corresponds to an estimated pore pressure increase (Delta-P) of 3.8 MPa $({\sim}548\;psi)$ for cohesionless faults and 15.6 MPa $({\sim}2262\;psi)$ for healed faults. The absolute values of pore pressure increase obtained from fault reactivation analysis presented in this paper are subject to large errors because of uncertainties in the geomechanical model (in situ stress and rock strength data). In particular, the maximum horizontal stress magnitude and fault strength data are poorly constrained. Therefore, fault reactivation analysis cannot be used to directly measure the maximum allowable pore pressure increase within a reservoir. We argue that fault reactivation analysis of this type can only be used for assessing the relative risk of fault reactivation and not to determine the maximum allowable pore pressure increase a fault can withstand prior to reactivation.