Influence of surface processes and initial topography on lateral fold growth and fold linkage mode

Elongation of randomly distributed fold segments and their potential linkage are important for hydrocarbon exploration because it can greatly influence the morphology of the reservoir and both migration and accumulation of hydrocarbons in antiformal traps. Here we study the effects of surface processes and the presence of a topographic slope on the different linkage modes that can occur, and how these parameters affect the required horizontal offset for perturbations to link. The proposed numerical model represents a sedimentary cover detached over a much weaker basal decollement layer. The upper surface is modified by mass redistribution, which is achieved by a combination of fluvial and hillslope processes. Several series of simulations were performed: (1) without surface processes or regional slope, (2) with regional slope only, (3) with fluvial incision and hillslope processes, and (4) with hillslope processes only. Model results show that the presence of a regional slope reduces the critical distance required for the transition between linkage and no linkage modes, whereas erosion and redeposition of sediments, on the contrary, increase this distance. The location of the saddle point, where fold segments link, and its vertical distance to the crests of the anticlines are different compared to the case without erosion or initial topographic slope, which potentially can affect the morphology of hydrocarbon traps. Moreover, both erosion and redeposition of sediments enhance the fold elongation (growth along the fold axis), once the erosion velocity exceeds the folding velocity. Model results have been compared to the Zagros Fold Belt.