School of Earth and Environment
Untitled Document

Rob Knipe Prof Rob Knipe

Director: Rock Deformation Research ; Professor of Structural Geology

Telephone number: +44(0) 113 34 35208
Email address: knipe@rdr.leeds.ac.uk
Room: RDR - ES/SCR

Rock Deformation Research

Research Interests

Professor Rob Knipe, Director of Fault Seal the Rock Deformation Research Group is concerned with the identification and quantification of deformation processes associated with tectonic events. A recipient of Geological Society awards for his work on deformation processes at fault zones his current research interests, in collaboration with a significant number of hydrocarbon exploration and production companies, includes; permeability barriers and fault sealing; interaction between fluid flow, deformation and mineralisation and the characterisation and evolution of fracture and fault populations.

Publications

  • Jolley, SJ; Stuart, GW; Freeman, SR; Knipe, RJ; Kershaw, D; McAllister, E; Barnicoat, AC; Tucker, R (2007) Progressive evolution of a late orogenic thrust system, from duplex development to extensional reactivation and disruption: Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa, In: Ries; A; Butler; R; Graham; eds, R (Ed) Deformation of the Continental Crust: The legacy of Mike Coward, Geological Society of London Special Publication , 272, Bath: Geological Society of London, pp.543-569. doi:10.1144/GSL.SP.2007.272.01.28
  • Fisher, QJ; Harris, SD; Casey, M; Knipe, RJ (2007) Influence of grain size and geothermal gradient on the ductile-to-brittle transition in arenaceous sedimentary rocks: implications for fault structure and fluid flow, Special Publication Geological Society of London, 289, pp.105-121. doi:10.1144/SP289.7
  • Odling, NE; Harris, SD; Vazsi, A; Knipe, RJ (2005) Properties of fault damage zones in siliciclastic rocks: a modelling approach, In: Shaw, RP (Ed) Understanding the Micro to Macro behaviour of rock-fluid systems, Geological Society of London Special Publication , The Geological Society, pp.43-59.
  • Baas, JH; McCaffrey, WD; Knipe, RJ (2005) The Deep-Water Architecture Knowledge Base: towards an objective comparison of deep-marine sedimentary systems, Petroleum Geoscience, 11, pp.309-320.
  • Porter, JR; McAllister, E; Fisher, QJ; Knipe, RJ; Condliffe, DM; Kay, MA; Stylianides, G; Sinclair, IK (2005) Impact of fault damage zones on reservoir performance in the Hibernia Oilfield (Jeanne d'Arc Basin, Newfoundland): an analysis of structural petrophysical and dynamic well-test data, In: Hiscott, R; Pulham, A (Ed) Petroleum Resources and Reservoirs of the Grand Banks, Eastern Canadian Margin, Geological Association of Canada Special Paper , 43, Geological Association of Canada, pp.129-142.
  • Porter, JR; McAllister, E; Fisher, QJ; Knipe, RJ; Condliffe, DM; Kay, MA; Stylianides, G; Sinclair, IK (2004) Impact of fault damage zones on reservoir performance in the Hibernia Oilfield (Jeanne d'Arc Basin, Newfoundland): An analysis of structural, petrophysical and dynamic well-test data, In: Hiscott, R; Pulham, A (Ed) Petroleum resources and reservoirs of the great banks, Eastern Canadian Margin, GAC Special Paper , 43, Geological Association of Canada, pp.129-142.
  • Jones, G; Williams, LS; Knipe, RJ (2004) Structural evolution of a complex 3D fault array in the Cretaceous and Tertiary of the Porcupine Basin, offshore Ireland, In: Davies; J, R; Cartwright; A, J; Stewart; A, S; Lappin; M; Underhill; R, J (Ed) 3D seismic technology: application to the exploration of sedimentary basins, Geological Society of London Memoirs , 29, London: Geological Society, pp.117-132.
  • Jolley, SJ; Freeman, SR; Barnicoat, AC; Phillips, GM; Knipe, RJ; Pather, A; Fox, NPC; Strydom, D; Birch, MTG; Henderson, IHC; Rowland, TW (2004) Structural controls on Witwatersrand gold mineralisation, Journal of Structural Geology, 26, pp.10671086. doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2003.11.011
  • Odling, NE; Harris, SD; Knipe, RJ (2004) Permeability scaling properties of fault damage zones in siliclastic rocks, Journal of Structural Geology, 26, pp.1727-1747. doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2004.02.005
  • Fisher, QJ; Casey, M; Harris, SD; Knipe, RJ (2003) Fluid-flow properties of faults in sandstone: The importance of temperature history, Geology, 31, pp.965-968. doi:10.1130/G19823.1
  • Sperrevik, S; Gillespie, P; Fisher, QJ; Halvorsen, T; Knipe, RJ (2002) Empirical estimation of fault rock properties, In: Koestler, AG; Hunsdale, R (Ed) Hydrocarbon seal quantification: papers presented at the Norwegian Petroleum Society Conference, 16-18 October 2000, Stavanger, Norway, Norsk Petroleumsforening Special Publication , Elsevier, pp.109-125.
  • Harris, SD; McAllister, E; Knipe, RJ; Odling, NE (2002) Predicting the three-dimensional population characteristics of fault zones: a study using stochastic models, Journal of Structural Geology, 25, pp.1281-1299. doi:10.1016/S0191-8141(02)00158-X
  • Fisher, QJ; Knipe, RJ (2001) The permeability of faults within siliciclastic petroleum reservoirs of the North Sea and Norwegian Continental Shelf, Marine and Petroleum Geology, 18, pp.1063-1081. doi:10.1016/S0264-8172(01)00042-3
  • Fisher, QJ; Harris, SD; McAllister, E; Knipe, RJ; Bolton, AJ (2001) Hydrocarbon flow across sealing faults: theoretical constraints, Marine and Petroleum Geology, 18, pp.251-257. doi:10.1016/S0264-8172(00)00064-7
  • Fisher, QJ; Harris, SD; McAllister, E; Knipe, RJ; Bolton, AJ (2001) Hydrocarbon flow across faults by capillary leakage revisited, Marine and Petroleum Geology, 18, pp.251-257. doi:10.1016/S0264-8172(00)00064-7
  • Pecher, R; Harris, SD; Knipe, RJ; Elliott, L; Ingham, DB (2001) New formulation of the Green element method to obtain its second-order accuracy in 2D/3D, Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 25, pp.211-219. doi:10.1016/S0955-7997(01)00008-X
  • Peacock, DCP; Knipe, RJ; Sanderson, DJ (2000) Glossary of normal faults, Journal of Structural Geology, 22, pp.291-305.
  • Porter, JR; Knipe, RJ; Fisher, QJ; Farmer, AB; Allin, N; Jones, L; Palfrey, AJ; Garrett, SW; Lewis, G (2000) Deformation processes in the Britannia Field, UKCS, Petroleum Geoscience, 6, pp.241-254.
  • Dudley, G; Fox, R; Krantz, R; Lewis, S; Cerveny, P; Davies, R; Knipe, RJ; Coffield, D; Lockman, D (2000) Predicting fault-fluid behaviour and reducing development risks in the Prudhoe Bay Field, Alaska, AAPG Bulletin, 84, pp.866.
  • Fisher, QJ; Knipe, RJ; Worden, RH (2000) Microstructures of deformed and non-deformed sandstones from the North Sea: implications for the origins of quartz cement in sandstones, Quartz cementation in sandstones, 29, pp.129-146.
  • Lesnic, D; Elliott, L; Ingham, DB; Clennell, MB; Knipe, RJ (1999) The identification of the piecewise homogeneous thermal conductivity of conductors subjected to a heat flow test, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 42, pp.143-152.
  • Fisher, QJ; Casey, M; Clennell, MB; Knipe, RJ (1999) Mechanical compaction of deeply buried sandstones of the North Sea, Marine and Petroleum Geology, 16, pp.605-618.
  • Harris, SD; Elliott, L; Knipe, RJ (1999) The Pulsed Migration of Hydrocarbons Across Inactive Faults, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 3, pp.151-175.
  • Jones, G; Fisher, QJ; Knipe, RJ (1998) Faulting and fault sealing and fluid flow in hydrocarbon reservoirs,Geological Society Special Publication , London: Geological Society.
  • Ottesen Elleveset, O; Knipe, RJ; Svava Olsen, T; Fisher, QJ; Jones, G (1998) Fault controlled communication in the Sleipner Vest Field, Norwegian Continental Shelf: detailed quantitative input for reservoir simulation and well planning, In: Jones; G; Fisher; J, Q; Knipe; J, R (Ed) Faulting and fault sealing and fluid flow in hydrocarbon reservoirs, Geological Society Special Publication , 147, London: Geological Society, pp.283-297.
  • Lesnic, D; Elliott, L; Ingham, DB; Knipe, RJ; Clennell, MB (1998) An inverse problem to determine the piecewise homogeneous hydraulic conductivity within rocks, In: Jones; G; Fisher; J, Q; Knipe; J, R (Ed) Faulting, Sealing and Fluid Flow in Hydrocarbon Reservoirs, Geological Society Special Publication , 147, London: Geological Society, pp.261-268.
  • Barnicoat, AC; Jolley, SJ; Knipe, RJ; Freeman, SR; Phillips, GM; McAllister, E (1998) Structural geology - what it can do for you, Exploration & Mining Geology, 1, pp.12-14.
  • Knipe, RJ; Jones, G; Fisher, QJ (1998) Faulting, fault sealing and fluid flow in hydrocarbon reservoirs: an introduction, In: Jones; G; Fisher; J, Q; Knipe; J, R (Ed) Faulting and fault sealing and fluid flow in hydrocarbon reservoirs, Geological Society Special Publication , 147, London: Geological Society, pp.vii-xxi.
  • Fisher, QJ; Knipe, RJ (1998) Fault sealing processes in siliciclastic sediments, Faulting and fault sealing in hydrocarbon reservoirs, 147, pp.117-134.
  • Knai, TA; Knipe, RJ (1998) The impact of faults on fluid flow in the Heidrun Field, In: Jones, G; Fisher, QJ; Knipe, RJ (Ed) Faulting and fault sealing and fluid flow in hydrocarbon reservoirs, Geological Society Special Publication , 147, Geological Society of London, pp.269-282.
  • Peacock, DCP; Jones, G; Knipe, RJ; McAllister, E; Sanderson, DJ (1998) Large lateral ramps in the Eocene Valkyr shear zone: extensional ductile faulting controlled by plutonism in southern British Columbia: Discussion, Journal of Structural Geology, 20, pp.487-488.
  • Leveille, GP; Knipe, RJ; More, C; Ellis, D; Dudley, G; Jones, G; Fisher, QJ; Allinson, G (1997) Compartmentalisation of Rotliegendes gas reservoirs by sealing faults, Jupiter Fields Area, Southern North Sea, In: Ziegler; K; Turner; P; Daines; R, S (Ed) Petroleum geology of the Southern North Sea: future potential, Geological Society of London Special Publication , 123, Bath: Geological Society Publishing House, pp.87-104.
  • Lesnic, D; Elliott, L; Ingham, DB; Clennell, MB; Knipe, RJ (1997) A mathematical model and numerical investigation for determining the hydraulic conductivity of rocks, International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences, 34, pp.741-759.
  • Barnicoat, AC; Henderson, IHC; Knipe, RJ; Yardley, BWD; Napier, RW; Fox, NPC; Kenyon, AK; Muntingh, DJ; Strydom, D; Winkler, KS; Lawrence, SR; Cornford, C (1997) Hydrothermal gold mineralization in the Witwatersrand basin, Nature, 386, pp.820-824.
  • Knipe, RJ; Fisher, QJ; Jones, G; Clennell, MB; Farmer, AB; Harrison, A; Kidd, B; McAllister, E; Porter, JR; White, EA (1997) Fault seal analysis: successful methodologies, applications and future directions, In: Moller-Pederson, P; Koestler, AG (Ed) Hydrocarbon seals: importance for exploration and production, Norwegian Petroleum Society Special Publication , 7, Elsevier, pp.15-40.
  • Knipe, RJ (1997) Juxtaposition and seal diagrams to help analyze fault seals in hydrocarbon reservoirs, AAPG Bulletin, 81, pp.187-195.
  • Jones, G; Knipe, RJ (1996) Seismic attribute maps: application to structural interpretation and fault seal analysis in the North Sea Basin, First Break, 14, pp.449-461.
  • Fisher, QJ; Harris, SD; Casey, M; Knipe, RJ (Not yet published) The ductile-to-brittle transition in sandstone: the influence of burial rate, geothermal gradient and grain-size, In: (Ed) Geological Society of London Special Publication , .