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Oil and gas wells and their integrity: Implications for shale and unconventional resource exploitation (2014)
Journal Article
Davies, R., Almond, S., Ward, R., Jackson, R., Adams, C., Worrall, F., …Whitehead, M. (2014). Oil and gas wells and their integrity: Implications for shale and unconventional resource exploitation. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 56, 239-254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2014.03.001

Data from around the world (Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, the UK and the USA) show that more than four million onshore hydrocarbon wells have been drilled globally. Here we assess all the reliable datasets (25)... Read More about Oil and gas wells and their integrity: Implications for shale and unconventional resource exploitation.

Induced Seismicity and Hydraulic Fracturing for the Recovery of Hydrocarbons (2013)
Journal Article
Davies, R., Foulger, G., Bindley, A., & Styles, P. (2013). Induced Seismicity and Hydraulic Fracturing for the Recovery of Hydrocarbons. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 45, 171-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2013.03.016

We compile published examples of induced earthquakes that have occurred since 1929 that have magnitudes equal to or greater than 1.0. Of the 198 possible examples, magnitudes range up to 7.9. The potential causes and magnitudes are (a) mining (M 1.6... Read More about Induced Seismicity and Hydraulic Fracturing for the Recovery of Hydrocarbons.

Hydraulic fractures: How far can they go? (2012)
Journal Article
Davies, R., Mathias, S., Moss, J., Hustoft, S., & Newport, L. (2012). Hydraulic fractures: How far can they go?. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 37(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.04.001

The maximum reported height of an upward propagating hydraulic fracture from several thousand fracturing operations in the Marcellus, Barnett, Woodford, Eagle Ford and Niobrara shale (USA) is ∼588 m. Of the 1170 natural hydraulic fracture pipes image... Read More about Hydraulic fractures: How far can they go?.

Deepwater canyons: An escape route for methane sealed by methane hydrate (2012)
Journal Article
Davies, R., Thatcher, K., Mathias, S., & Yang, J. (2012). Deepwater canyons: An escape route for methane sealed by methane hydrate. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 323-324, 72-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2011.11.007

Three-dimensional seismic imaging and modelling of gas hydrates from offshore of west Africa (Mauritania) shows that submarine canyons on stable continental slopes can capture and release methane that is sealed by methane hydrate. We demonstrate this... Read More about Deepwater canyons: An escape route for methane sealed by methane hydrate.

Influence of stratigraphic setting and simple shear on layer-bound compaction faults offshore Mauritania (2011)
Journal Article
Ireland, M., Goulty, N., & Davies, R. (2011). Influence of stratigraphic setting and simple shear on layer-bound compaction faults offshore Mauritania. Journal of Structural Geology, 33(4), 487-499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2010.11.005

We have used three-dimensional seismic data to examine the geometry of layer-bound compaction faults on the Mauritanian continental margin. The faults deform a fine-grained Neogene unit which mantles buried canyons. Above the canyons, most layer-boun... Read More about Influence of stratigraphic setting and simple shear on layer-bound compaction faults offshore Mauritania.

Methane recycling between hydrate and critically pressured stratigraphic traps, offshore Mauritania (2010)
Journal Article
Davies, R., & Clarke, A. (2010). Methane recycling between hydrate and critically pressured stratigraphic traps, offshore Mauritania. Geology, 38(11), 963-966. https://doi.org/10.1130/g31058.1

Three-dimensional seismic reflection data from offshore Mauritania reveal a base hydrate reflection, beneath which are 56 stratigraphically trapped gas accumulations (~0.08 Gt methane). Only 2 are sealed by the base of the hydrate (~0.004 Gt methane)... Read More about Methane recycling between hydrate and critically pressured stratigraphic traps, offshore Mauritania.

Fluid flow due to the advance of basin-scale silica reaction zones (2008)
Journal Article
Davies, R., Goulty, N., & Meadows, D. (2008). Fluid flow due to the advance of basin-scale silica reaction zones. GSA Bulletin, 120(1-2), 195-206. https://doi.org/10.1130/b26099.1

The conversion of biogenic silica (opal-A) to opal-CT (cristobalite and tridymite) in biosiliceous sediment causes increased rates of water expulsion because of the reduction in sediment porosity and dehydration of the amorphous opal-A phase. This re... Read More about Fluid flow due to the advance of basin-scale silica reaction zones.

Differential compaction and subsidence in sedimentary basins due to silica diagenesis: A case study (2005)
Journal Article
Davies, R. (2005). Differential compaction and subsidence in sedimentary basins due to silica diagenesis: A case study. GSA Bulletin, 117(9-10), 1146-1155. https://doi.org/10.1130/b25769.1

The conversion of opal A to opal CT is a thermochemical diagenetic process that can cause kilometer-scale differential compaction and differential subsidence within clastic sedimentary basins. This is demonstrated for an opal A to opal CT conversion... Read More about Differential compaction and subsidence in sedimentary basins due to silica diagenesis: A case study.

Termination of a fossil continent-ocean fracture zone imaged with three-dimensional seismic data: The Chain Fracture Zone, eastern Equatorial Atlantic (2005)
Journal Article
Davies, R., MacLeod, C., Morgan, R., & Briggs, S. (2005). Termination of a fossil continent-ocean fracture zone imaged with three-dimensional seismic data: The Chain Fracture Zone, eastern Equatorial Atlantic. Geology, 33(8), 641-644. https://doi.org/10.1130/g21530.1

We describe the first three-dimensional imaging of the termination of a continent-ocean fracture zone (COFZ), the Chain Fracture Zone, located offshore of the Niger Delta. The COFZ marks the abrupt transition between extended continental crust, compr... Read More about Termination of a fossil continent-ocean fracture zone imaged with three-dimensional seismic data: The Chain Fracture Zone, eastern Equatorial Atlantic.

Kilometer-scale fluidization structures formed during early burial of a deep-water slope channel on the Niger Delta (2003)
Journal Article
Davies, R. (2003). Kilometer-scale fluidization structures formed during early burial of a deep-water slope channel on the Niger Delta. Geology, 31(11), 949-952. https://doi.org/10.1130/g19835.1

Three-dimensional seismic data reveal a series of kilometer-wavelength hummocks and intervening depressions that formed above a 22-km-long section of a Pliocene–Pleistocene deep-water slope channel on the western margin of the Niger Delta. The depres... Read More about Kilometer-scale fluidization structures formed during early burial of a deep-water slope channel on the Niger Delta.

Three-dimensional seismic imaging of Paleogene dike-fed submarine volcanoes from the northeast Atlantic margin (2002)
Journal Article
Davies, R., Bell, B., Cartwright, J., & Shoulders, S. (2002). Three-dimensional seismic imaging of Paleogene dike-fed submarine volcanoes from the northeast Atlantic margin. Geology, 30(3), 223-226. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613%282002%29030%3C0223%3Atdsiop%3E2.0.co%3B2

We use three-dimensional seismic data to describe the architecture of shallow intrusive igneous sill and dike complexes intruded into the upper crust as well as the internal and external geometry of extrusive conical igneous mounds that were fed by t... Read More about Three-dimensional seismic imaging of Paleogene dike-fed submarine volcanoes from the northeast Atlantic margin.

Early Oligocene initiation of North Atlantic Deep Water formation (2001)
Journal Article
Davies, R., Cartwright, J., Pike, J., & Line, C. (2001). Early Oligocene initiation of North Atlantic Deep Water formation. Nature, 410, 917-920. https://doi.org/10.1038/35073551

Dating the onset of deep-water flow between the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans is critical for modelling climate change in the Northern Hemisphere1, 2 and for explaining changes in global ocean circulation throughout the Cenozoic era3 (from about 6... Read More about Early Oligocene initiation of North Atlantic Deep Water formation.