Caves developed in carbonate units have a significant role in fluid flow, but most of these subsurface voids are below seismic resolution. We concentrated our study on four caves to determine the roles of fractures and folds in the development of karst conduits that may form flow pathways in carbonate reservoirs. We performed structural field investigations, petrographic analyses, and geometric characterization using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) for caves in Neoproterozoic carbonates of the Salitre Formation, central part of the São Francisco Craton, Brazil. We found that the conduit shape, usually with an ellipsoidal cross-section, reflects the tectonic features and textural variations. Carbonate layers containing pyrite and low detritic mineral contents are generally karstified and appear to act as favorable flow pathways. Our results indicate that the development of the karst system is related to fracture corridors formed along parallel and orthogonal sets of fold hinges, which provide preferential pathways for fluid flow and contribute to the development of super-K zones. This study provides insights into the prediction of subseismic-scale voids in carbonate reservoirs, with direct application for the hydrocarbon and hydrogeology flow and storage.

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The Morro Vermelho Cave (MVC) (Brazil) developed within the Morro Vermelho karst system, which affected Neoproterozoic limestones (Salitre Formation). The MVC experienced little interactions with meteoric processes and is an example of a hypogenic cave formed during strike-slip deformation. The Salitre carbonates in the MVC experienced distributed deformation along an elongated domain overlying a buried strike-slip fault. Gently dipping, semiductile shear zones formed with decimeter-scale (3.9 in.) dolomitic veins. In our model, Mg-rich fluids flowing along the Salitre aquifer caused at the same time extensive dolomitization of the body of rock (100-m [328-ft] scale) experiencing distributed deformation. With progressive displacement, the deep strike-slip fault propagated upward causing the development of an anticline pop-up, steepening sedimentary layers, and steep 1-10-m-long (3.3-33.8-ft) fractures, which served as pathways for upward fluid flow. These steep extensional fractures made it possible for fluids flowing in lower, quartzitic aquifers to enter the carbonate aquifer causing silica deposition in rock cavities and in fractures and fault planes. Following the main stage of speleogenesis, silica deposition took over again depositing on the cave walls a continuous silica crust, rarely observed in other settings worldwide. The interplay between regional bedding-parallel flow and focused circulation of fluids along steep faults and dipping layers, and the associated rock-fluid interactions are not unique to the contractional settings presented but can also occur in association with similar faults in rifted continental margins.

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The carbonate rocks exposed in the Irecê (Brazil) are pervasively affected by hydrothermal silicification and dolomitization. These mineralizing events drastically changed the original petrophysical properties of the host rock. In order to understand the role played by deformation mechanisms and tectonic evolution of these carbonates on the ingression of the mineralizing fluids, we focused our study on the mineralogical, petrographic, stratigraphic, structural and geochemical characterization of the faulted Neoproterozoic carbonates of the Salitre Formation, central Brazil. In this contribution, we present the first results of a combined outcrop- to micro-scale investigation of the structural evolution of the fracture network responsible for hydrothermal silicification and dolomitization processes.

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Multiscale karst systems, typically below seismic resolution, are important contributors to permeability but also provide significant challenges in drilling operations and in flow simulations. A substantial portion of subsurface karsts is of hypogenic origin, that is, is associated with upward movement of chemically aggressive fluids. The Morro Vermelho Karst System and Cave developed within Proterozioc shallow water carbonates and is an inspiring analog for buried hypogenic karsts. MVKS formed in association with a regional strike-slip fault. In an initial stage, deformation in the “softer” carbonates overlying more rigid quartzites and basement was accommodated by a 100s of m wide semi-ductile shear zone. Wholesale dolomitization took place and numerous dolomite-filled veins formed. With progressing strike-slip, the fault propagated upward creating an anticline parallel to the fault zone, causing the development of m-long extensional fractures, the arrival of SiO2 rich fluids in the karts and, eventually, the formation of the cave. Vertical fracture corridors and/or faults capturing deep, generally layer parallel flow are present in different settings, from foredeeps to rifted margins and are primary candidates for widespread hypogenic karst development.@en

The hypogenic caves developed in carbonate units have a significant structural control but most of their features are not detect by conventional methods due to their size below seismic resolution. This contribution focuses on the structural, petrographic and geometric characterization of karst conduits in Neoproterozoic carbonates of the Salitre Formation, central part of São Francisco Craton, Brazil. We address the influence of fractures and folds on the development of karst conduits through field and laboratory analysis and the application of Light Detection Ranging to characterize cave/conduit geometry. The preliminary results indicate that the process of karstification are intensified in fractures corridors developed along fold hinges, which create fluid flow corridors in carbonate units and may change petrophysical reservoir properties.

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