Site Characterization for the First

Nuclear Power Plant In the Kingdom

Fault Capability at the Prefered NPP Site
(Khor Duweihin)
Assist.Prof.Dr. Atilla Arda ÖZACAR
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Lütfi SÜZEN

SSHAC-3 Workshop 1
 Terminology
Capable fault
According to IAEA SSG-9 [1], “a ‘capable fault’ is a fault that has a
significant potential for displacement at or near the ground
surface......................capable faults are only those active faults that can
produce a significant and permanent deformation at or near the surface”

Time interval for the assessment of fault capability

“.....considered capable if the following conditions apply: (a) If it
shows evidence of past movement or movements ......In less active
areas, it is likely that much longer periods (e.g. Pliocene–
Quaternary, i.e. the present) are appropriate.”

Following IAEA SSG-9, last 5 Ma (back to Pliocene) is

selected for the assessment of fault capability at the
candidate NPP sites in eastern Saudi Arabia.
2
Site Vicinity (5 km radius)

• Electrical Resistivity
• Seismic Refraction
• Seismic Reflection
• Microgravity
• Geotechnical tests
• Borehole logs
• Borehole geophysics
(PS, Density, Caliper, HRAT)

3
Stratigraphy
Pleistocene
(1.8 Ma)

Rock units
dating back
to 5 Ma is
not
present!!

4
Surface Deformation Associated to Gypsum

5
Joints

6
 Bedding
Field Measurements HRAT Measurements

Horizontal beds

7
Integrated
Sections

8
Seismic Reflection Profiles

9
Seismic Reflection Profiles

10
Seismic Reflection Profiles

11
Seismic Reflection Profiles

12
Seismic Reflection Profiles

13
Seismic Reflection Profiles

14
Seismic Reflection Profiles

15
Seismic Reflection Profiles

16
ARAMCO Reflection Profiles

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ARAMCO Reflection Profiles

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E-W Profiles

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N-S Profiles

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 Proposed Nisah-Sahba Fault
lineament interpreted as fault passing next to the NPP site thus most
critical tectonic structure in terms of capable fault & fault displacement

Weijermars (1998)
Proposed Nisah-Sahba Fault: Rate of Motion
7 km offset within 200.000-400.000 year
(8 km in the text?) (no age data?)
Estimated Motion Rate = 17.5 mm/yr – 35 mm/yr

Pınar et al.
(2019)

Weijermars
(1998)

22
SSHAC-3 Workshop 1
Regional Investigations
Quaternary gravel display
sharp color change at the
Jaub lineament

23
Regional Investigations

Satellite image and

landscape photo taken
at one of the proposed
lineaments displaying
Mesa landforms formed
by horizontal bedded
Tertiary units. 24
 Lineations & Drainage

Drainage network aligns

well with lineaments

Jameson and Strohmenger (2012)

25
 Proposed Nisah-Sahba Fault: Location

Proposed trajectory of Nisah-Sahba Fault

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do not follow photo lineaments !
Proposed Nisah-Sahba Fault: Location Uncertainity

27
Topography

28
Identified Photo Lineaments

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 Close-up Satellite Images of Lineaments

C
D
B

Linear
appearance is
mostly lost

30
Near Regional Area

Geological mapping is
conducted at 1/50.000 scale

No surface evidence of
Nisah-Sahba Fault is
identified

31
 Surface
Faulting
Only a mezoscopic
fault is identified at
the NW edge of the
near regional area

32
 Geology & Lineaments

Mapped
boundaries
coincide with
photo lineaments
suggesting the
lithologic change
as the source
33
Reflection Profiles Taken Across Photo Lineaments

Clear undisturbed flat interfaces

indicating absence of faulting

10a

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Reflection Profiles Taken
Across Photo Lineaments
11b

11a
Low signal to noise ratio; 11
unfortunately not suitable
for interpretation

35
Deep Structure Mainly N-S oriented basement structural trends

Stewart (2016)
Structural Trends at Ghawar

after Al-Shamrani (2007)

Pollastro (2003)
37
SSHAC-3 Workshop 1
Extension
Dhruma-Nisah Segment
Hancock & Kadhi (1978)

GPS

Lmst of Hanifa Formation displaced 4.5m

by a normal fault close to the northern
boundary of the Dhruma graben. 38
 Conclusions
➢ Site vicinity investigations that include geological mapping,
surface geophysical surveys and borehole logging indicated no
capable fault on land within the site vicinity (r=5km)
➢ In near regional area (r=25 km), surface geological mapping and
analysis of satellite images revealed no evidence for surface faulting
on land and suggested lithologic changes as the source of photo
lineaments but it is not conclusive since subsurface control is
restricted to couple of shallow seismic reflection profiles, some of
which are noisy, and published interpretations of basement
structural trends.
➢ Acquiring deeper high resolution seismic reflection data cutting
proposed Nisah-Sahba Fault (mostly likely ARAMCO already has it)
and dense GPS and Seismic Monitoring campains are recommended.
39
40
Eastern Najd Fault

Perincek et al. (2006)

41