Probabilistic fault displacement hazard in a salt tectonic environment: an innovative approach

Probabilistic Fault Displacement Hazard Assessment (PFDHA) allows quantification of surface displacement hazard for infrastructure in tectonically active regions where earthquake-generated fault rupture is a concern, but also in areas of salt tectonics and gravity (growth) faulting. This type of analysis provides essential information especially for projects where active fault zone crossing is inevitable. The process presented here contains fault analysis and characterization, and the result of the PFDHA is given in terms of fault displacement hazard curves and probabilities of exceeding selected displacement levels. In this paper we present a case study in which the approach has been applied to an offshore project site of salt tectonic environment. The site in consideration is in a graben area where the fault analysis of the identified faults suggested them to be potentially active. This paper gives insights and considerations for performing a probabilistic analysis for active offshore faults.