Fracture architecture of the Tensleep Sandstone at Zeisman Dome and Brokenback Anticline, Wyoming

The purpose of this study is to describe the fracture connectivity network in a forced fold using outcrop data. The basic premise of a stochastically generated fracture connectivity network is to use very limited fracture data collected from seismic, well, and outcrop studies to statistically represent a complete network of generated fractures that simulates the fractures in the volume of rock being modeled. FracMan© is the fracture generating program that is used to stochastically derive fracture sets based on collected outcrop data. The generated fracture sets are combined to form a complete fracture connectivity network of a forced fold. Fracture data was collected in the Tensleep Sandstone at Zeisman Dome and Brokenback Anticline, in the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming. Zeisman Dome and Brokenback Anticline are asymmetric anticlines formed by a thrust fault. Zeisman Dome has a curved hinge that is doubly plunging; Brokenback Anticline has a straight hinge that is plunging in only one direction. The Tensleep Sandstone is exposed and fractured at both features. This study is the first documented fracture connectivity network of a fault propagation fold setting. More specifically, this study is the first documented fracture connectivity network of Zeisman Dome and Brokenback Anticline.