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Seismic, morphologic and scale variabilities of subsurface pipes and vent complexes in a magma-rich margin

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Abstract

Subsurface pipes related to fluid flow are observed in seismic reflection data as vertical to sub-vertical features of low-amplitude reflections, linking chaotic reflections at the base (root zones) of volcanic constructs to their summits which can comprise craters, mounds or eye-shaped vents. To date, uncertainties remain regarding the linear correlation and scaling relationship between pipes and their overlying vent structures. Using 3D seismic reflection data from a magma-rich basin, the Vigrid Syncline in the Vøring Basin (offshore Norway), this study provides a seismic, morphometric and statistical description of forty (40) pipes and their associated structures. These pipes include conical, bifurcated, fault-controlled and columnar types, which are a consequence of the intrusion of two mappable magmatic sills of Early Eocene age. The heights (av. 1098 m), widths (av. 1740 m) and slenderness ratios (i.e. the heights/widths (Ω)) of the pipes (av. 0.6) show low to moderate correlation coefficients with vent parameters such as height (av. 258 m), area (av. 2.3 km2) and ellipticity (av. 1.5). The morpho-statistical analyses provided here show that ‘pipe’ formation mechanisms are mutually exclusive and that vent geometries are not particularly systematic in nature.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) for graciously granting them access to the wellbore and seismic data used for this research during Kamal’s postdoc program at NTNU. Schlumberger is acknowledged for provision of Petrel® for seismic interpretation. Many thanks to Associate editor, Valerio Acocella, Chris Morley and Alan Bischoff for their insight review of this paper. Andrew Harris is thanked for final review, editing and proofread.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. TimeLapse Geo, Stiklestadveien 1, 7041, Trondheim, Norway

    Kamaldeen Olakunle Omosanya

  2. Formerly at the Department of Geoscience and Petroleum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Kamaldeen Olakunle Omosanya

  3. GeoSurveys Portugal, Edifício TAB Park, Aveiro, Portugal

    Ana R. Maia

  4. Geo-Energy/Reservoir Geology and Basin Analysis Group, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    Ovie Emmanuel Eruteya

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  1. Kamaldeen Olakunle Omosanya
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  2. Ana R. Maia
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Correspondence to Kamaldeen Olakunle Omosanya.

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Editorial responsibility: A. Tibaldi

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Omosanya, K.O., Maia, A.R. & Eruteya, O.E. Seismic, morphologic and scale variabilities of subsurface pipes and vent complexes in a magma-rich margin. Bull Volcanol 82, 40 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-020-01379-3

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