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Doktorat Projekte Drucken
2008 - 2011:

Jürgen Gustenhuber
Oliver J. Krische
Lorenz Scheucher

2009 - 2012:

Petronela Cretu
Birgit Leitner
Anke Wölfler

2010 - 2013:

Elisabeth Henjes-Kunst
Peter Kollegger
Stefan Neumeister


Jürgen Gustenhuber

Titel: Basin and petroleum systems modelling of the eastern Molasse Basin (Upper Austria, Salzburg)
Supervisors: Reinhard F. Sachsenhofer (University of Leoben), Werner E. Piller (University of Graz)

Das alpine Vorlandbecken erstreckt sich entlang des Alpennordrandes von Genf bis Wien. Das Untersuchungsgebiet liegt in Österreich (Oberösterreich, Salzburg). Bis 2005 wurden über 1.200 Explorationsbohrungen auf Erdöl und Erdgas abgeteuft und 192 Funde dokumentiert. Eine „Yet to find“ Analyse zeigt, dass einige hundert kleinere Kohlenwasserstoffvorkommen mit einem geschätzten förderbaren Volumen von 400 MMboe (million barrels of oil equivalent) noch zu entdecken sind (VERON, 2005). Aufgrund der geografisch günstigen Lage, der rohstoffwirtschaftlichen Situation und nicht zuletzt der sich stetig verbessernden Ausbeutungsgrade der Lagerstätten können sich diese noch nicht gefundenen Vorkommen als hoch wirtschaftlich erweisen. Als Inputparameter für die Lagestättenmodellierung dienen Kernbeschreibungen, gemessene Porositäts- und Permeabilitätswerte, Vitrinitreflexionswerte, geochemische Parameter von Rohölen, lithologische Eigenschaften von Gesteinen sowie regionale Tiefenkarten. In einem ersten Schritt werden damit die thermische Geschichte des Beckens und der Zeitraum der Kohlenwasserstoffgenese rekonstruiert.In weiterer Folge werden mithilfe der 3D Modellierung die Migrationswege (inklusive Quantifizierung der Migrationsverluste) simuliert und die Menge der generierten Kohlenwasserstoffe abgeschätzt.



Ref.
BECHTEL A., GRATZER R., SACHSENHOFER R., GUSTERHUBER J., LÜCKE A. & PÜTTMANN W. (2008) Biomarker and carbon isotope variation in coal and fossil wood of Central Europe through the Cenozoic.- Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 262, 166 – 175.

GASSER D., GUSTERHUBER J., KRISCHE O., PUHR B., SCHEUCHER L., WAGNER T., & STÜWE K. (2009) Geology of Styria: An overview.- Mitteilungen des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins für Steiermark 139, 5 – 36.
http://www.uni-graz.at/~nwvst/ArtikelGasseretal/Gasseretal2009_GeologyofStyria.pdf



Oliver Krische

Titel: Emplacement of the gypsum and salt deposits (Alpine Haselgebirge) in the central Northern Calcareous Alps: Late Jurassic and Cretaceous basin analysis
Supervisor: Hans-Jürgen Gawlick

The aim of the proposed project is to clarify the controversial discussed models on the age and geodynamic background of the gypsum and salt deposits (Alpine Haselgebirge) in “Rossfeld”-type basins in the central Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA). Different interpretations exist about the age of their emplacement (Kimmeridgian, Tithonian or Early Cretaceous) as well as about the mechanism (gravitational gliding, nappe thrusting, parautochthonous concepts). These variable opinions come from different interpretations about the geodynamic evolution of the NCA in Jurassic to Early Cretaceous times, especially on the basin formation processes in this time span (extensional basins or strike-slip basins versus trench formation in Jurassic times and trench formation versus remnant basins in Early Cretaceous times). To solve these problems different geological and sedimentological methods are used: Field mapping (incl. measurement of structural data), thin sections (Facies analysis, biostratigraphy) and acid samples (Biostratigraphy, heavy minerals). Only with a detailed biostratigraphical, facies, sedimentological and structural analysis of each profile and their correlation across the different investigated areas it will be possible to reconstruct in time and space the sedimentological and tectonical regime of the emplacement of the Alpine Haselgebirge. The work is done at the Montanuniversity of Leoben, Department for Applied Geosciences and Geophysics, Prospection and Applied Sedimentology in cooperation with the Leoben Working Group under the leadership of H.-J. Gawlick.

Ref.
KRISCHE, O. et al. (2005): Geologie im Raum Graden, Steiermark. - Unveröffentlichte
Bakkalaureatsarbeit Montanuniversität Leoben, 1-96, Leoben.

KRISCHE, O. (2006): Neue Erkenntnisse in der Problematik Hainschquellen. - Unveröffentlichte Bakkalaureatsarbeit Montanuniversität Leoben, 1-35, Leoben.

KRISCHE, O., SCHLAGINTWEIT, F., MISSONI, S. & GAWLICK, H.-J. (2006): „Algen-Zement-Riffe“ (Anis/?Ladin vom Loibler Baba und vom Grintoutz (Koschuta Einheit, Kärnten). - In: TESSARDI-WACKERLE, M.(Ed.): PANGEO AUSTRIA 2006-Conference Series, 157-158, Innsbruck.

KRISCHE, O. (2007): Die westliche Koschuta - Geologische, tektonische und fazielle Untersuchungen als Grundlage für eine verbesserte hydrogeologische Bewertung des Gebietes zwischen Malealm und Loibler Baba. - Unveröffentlichte Magisterarbeit Montanuniversität Leoben, 1-169 Leoben.

KRISCHE, O., SUZUKI, H. & GAWLICK, H.-J. (2008): Type locality of the Hochreith Formation as part of the Lower Cretaceous Rossfeld basin fill of the Weitenau syncline revisited (Northern Calcareous Alps, Salzburg). – Journal Alpine Geology (Mitteilungen Gesellschaft Geologie- Bergbaustudenten Österreich), 49: 58-59, Wien.

GASSER, D., GUSTERHUBER, J., KRISCHE, O., PUHR, B., SCHEUCHER, L., WAGNER, T. & STÜWE K. (2009): Geology of Styria: An overview. – Mitteilungen des naturwissenschaftlichen Vereines für Steiermark, 139: 5-36, Graz.



Lorenz E. A. Scheucher

Titel: Distinguishing tsunami- and storm deposits on the basis of detailed investigations in the Caribbean
Supervisors: Walter Vortisch (University of Leoben), Werner E. Piller (University of Graz)

Tsunami and storms are natural phenomena, which have a significant impact on coastlines. Both events widely inundate coastal areas and cause destruction on coastal landscapes. For land-planning purposes, hazard and risk assessment, infrastructure design, insurance industry and shelter-planning, recurrence intervals of tsunami and storm events need to be known. However, historic records of tsunami and storms are very limited, as they only cover the last few hundred years. Especially for tsunami, these records are not sufficient for the determination of recurrence intervals and the extent of tsunami inundation on a specific coastline. For the estimation of recurrence intervals and magnitude of the event, (palaeo-)deposits of tsunami/storms may provide important data. Tsunami and storms tend to form similar deposits. In order to identify tsunami deposits with certainty, they must be distinguished from deposits created by storms and vice versa. So, differentiating palaeodeposits of tsunami from those generated by storms is a very important task, especially for assessing the tsunami risk and the estimation of recurrence intervals. Observation of deposits from known tsunami (e.g. the Sumatra-Andaman Tsunami of 26 December 2004) and storms provide important information on the appearance of tsunami/storm deposits, easing the identification of past events. A suitable area for studying, comparing and distinguishing tsunami deposits and storm deposits is the Caribbean. The Caribbean area is well known for its hurricane vulnerability, but the risk of tsunami is, because of their “rare” occurrence, often underestimated. All potential sources for tsunami origin, namely submarine earthquakes, submarine volcanic eruptions and landslides affecting the sea are present in the Caribbean region. Investigations and examinations of O´LOUGHLIN & LANDER (2003) showed that 53 tsunami and an additional 27 probable tsunami occurred in the Caribbean in a 500 year period from 1498 to 1998.


Grey-coloured sand layer (with rip-up clast), deposited by the Sumatra-Andaman Tsunami, overlying dark-coloured, pre-tsunami sandy soil in the area of Khao Lak, southern Thailand

Ref.
SCHEUCHER, L.E.A., VORTISCH, W., LAGUNA-MORALES, J. (2008): Geological and mineralogical investigations of the lithologies and their weathering products in a study area south-west of the field station “La Gamba”, Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica. – Stapfia 88, 31-46.
http://www.biologiezentrum.at/biophp/arti_det.php?litnr=27349&artinr=86952

SCHEUCHER, L.E.A., VORTISCH, W. (2008): The Sumatra-Andaman Tsunami at Khuk Khak Beach (Khao Lak), southern Thailand: Tsunami deposits and geomorphological effects. – Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften 58, 245.

SCHEUCHER, L.E.A. (2009): Regenwald der Österreicher, Costa Rica. Geologischer Aufbau und Verwitterungsbildungen – Detailuntersuchungen südwestlich der Tropenstation La Gamba. – VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, Saarbrücken, 112 pp.
http://www.libri.de/shop/action/productDetails/8082972/lorenz_e_a_scheucher_regenwald_der_oesterreicher_costa_rica_3639117247.html

GASSER, D., GUSTERHUBER, J., KRISCHE, O., PUHR, B., SCHEUCHER, L., WAGNER, T., STÜWE, K. (2009): Geology of Styria: An overview. – Mitteilungen des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins für Steiermark 139, 5-36.
http://www.uni-graz.at/~nwvst/ArtikelGasseretal/Gasseretal2009_GeologyofStyria.pdf

SCHEUCHER, L.E.A., VORTISCH, W. (submitted): Sedimentological and geomorphological effects of the Sumatra-Andaman Tsunami in the area of Khao Lak, southern Thailand. – Environmental Earth Sciences.



Birgit Leitner

Titel: Danger of collapse: Investigation of a 3D shear wave velocity volume via passive and active Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW).
Supervisors: Richard D. Miller (Kansan Geological Survey), Karl Millahn (University of Leoben)

For an early detection of danger in collapse, surface waves are recorded in two sites of Hutchinson(KS):1. over a salt mining dissolution void and 2. over an uninfluenced area for comparison. The recording is carried out in each case by 5 to 5 lines with a total of 480 4.5Hz geophones. The recording of the surface waves results via passive and as support also via active MASW method. After processing the data the outcome is a 3D volume of Shear Wave velocity. The 3D volume will also be investigated with High Resolution Surface Wave Tomography. This project is carried out in cooperation with the Kansas Geological Survey (Richard D. Miller, Julian Ivanov, Jianghai Xia)



Anke Wölfler

Titel: The Genesis of tectonically and hydrothermally controlled industry mineral deposits: A geochemical and structural study
Supervisors: Walter Prochaska (University of Leoben), Freidhelm Henjes-Kunst (BGR), Harald Fritz (University of Graz)

The study aims to investigate the role of hydrothermal fluids in the formation of talc and magnesite deposits. These deposits occur in manifold geological and tectonical settings such as stockworks and veins within ultramafite hostrocks and monomineralic lenses within marine platform sediments. Along shear zones talc mineralizations may occur as a result of tectonical and hydrothermal activity. To understand the role of the fluids for the genesis of the mineralization, deposits in different geological and tectonical settings are investigated. A combined geological, petrological and geochronological approach is chosen to resolve the mechanism of mineralization within the different tectonic settings. Different phases of mineral formation are first distinguished by pertrological and structural field work and then dated by radiometric techniques. Fluid species and chemical environment during mineralisation is resolved by geochemical techniques and stable isotope studies.

Ref.
Wölfler, A., Prochaska, W., Henjes-Kunst, F. and Fritz, H. (2010): The Genesis of tectonically and hydrothermally controlled industry mineral deposits: A geochemical and structural study. Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 12, EGU 2010



Petronela Cretu

Titel: High resolution analysis of fault systems in 3D seismic reflection data.
Supervisor: Karl Millahn (University of Leoben)

This project involves analysing and subtracting information from 3D synthetic seismic data. The idea is to first have calculated the coherence of the entire data volume and the dip/azimuth, these being seismic reflection attributes. What these attributes reveal is mainly information about irregularities/discontinuities in a volume of rocks, i.e. where the bedding planes are not continuous: fractures, faults, folding, shearing, discontinuities of different depositional environments (such as channels, etc.). All these aspects have a direct impact on the reservoir quality through the effects on porosity, permeability and the compartmentalization of the reservoir, which mainly affects the fluid flow, the secondary and further recoveries and ultimately, reservoir performance.
A description of these discontinuities will be conducted, as much as it will be possible, by quantifying the coherence values obtained and analysing what kind and how much information can be subtracted regarding fractures and fault systems and the maximum resolution of these identifications. Fractures and faults can vary by nature, can be opened or not, can contribute as to enhance pore volume and permeability or, actually, lower them. Fault planes can be complex in shape, throw and heave, also they can be associated with other less ample/visible faults and/or fractures, resulted from the stress trend acting on the rock volume. These aspects will be considered and a comprehensive, as much as possible exhaustive description of such condition in rock volumes will be analysed.