Many studies have been performed on sealing capacity of faults.However

most of the previous studies characterize sealing capacity based on the normal stress on faults

without considering the timing of compaction and diagenesis of fault.In the study

rock compaction strength is defined and used

in combination with Shale Gouge Ratio (SGR)

to calculate the displacement pressure of faults.Then

the lateral sealing capacity of fault is quantitatively evaluated according to the differential replacement pressure between fault rock and reservoir.Finally

the method is applied to the M oilfield.The results show that when SGR is less than 11

the fault rock has no sealing capacity; when it is over 40

the fault rock is strong in sealing capacity; while when it ranges between 11 and 40

the relationship between SGR and maximum oil column height that the fault rock could support can be characterized by a linear equation.