Objective The three-dimensional refinement and characterization of faults in shale reservoirs are closely associated with the investigation of shale reservoir accumulation and preservation conditions and play a critical role in revealing the mechanisms governing engineering casing deformation. Methods This study presented a method for precise fault geometric characterization through fine-scale reconstruction and analysis of fault data points, with the following key components: 1) fault plane equation fitting using singular value decomposition (SVD), which was evaluated by the R-squared coefficient of determination; 2) geometric parameter calculations, including fault dip angle, dip direction, and relief degree (RDFS), which was defined as the average distance from scattered points to the fitted plane; 3) boundary determination through the Graham scan and Alpha Shape algorithms for convex and non-convex boundaries, respectively, with the Alpha Shape algorithm being recommended for more precise boundary delineation; 4) dimensional characterization using minimum bounding rectangles to quantify fault length, width, and height. The integrated methodology enabled comprehensive geometric analysis of 3D fault surfaces and provided robust technical support for shale gas exploration and development in the southern Sichuan Basin. Results and discussions In the shale gas development area of the southern Sichuan Basin, a total of 86 faults were identified and were primarily categorized into two dominant groups, with one set dipping southeast (SE) and the other northwest (NW). These faults predominantly exhibited moderate-to-low dip angles, while high-angle faults were relatively scarce. Four major faults adjacent to shale gas production zones demonstrated distinct geometric evolution, as they initiated from gently dipping detachment layers at the shale base, traversed through reservoir formations with progressively increasing dip angles, and ultimately developed steeply dipping segments within the Permian Maokou Formation. The geometric characteristics revealed an inverse correlation between fault scale and dip angle. Larger-scale faults typically displayed gentler dips with lower angles and greater curvature, whereas smaller-scale faults tended to exhibit steeper dips with higher angles and smoother geometries. Regional fault lengths reached up to 42.84 km, although most measured less than 10 km. Both fault length and fault area distributions followed power-law patterns with long-tail characteristics. Vertically, faults generally extended approximately 2 km, while horizontal spans ranged from a typical 2 km to a maximum of 5 km. This distribution pattern reflected the self-similarity and multi-scale characteristics of fault systems and indicated scale-invariant growth mechanisms during tectonic deformation. The observed geometric relationships provided critical constraints for understanding fault connectivity and fluid migration pathways in shale reservoirs. Conclusions The reconstruction results of the planar fault are beneficial for optimizing horizontal well technology in shale gas operations. These results also contribute to a clearer understanding of fault slip behavior and the mechanisms of crustal deformation and are significant for predicting future fault activity and its developmental trends. In addition, the findings support an improved understanding of fault development patterns across different spatial scales.
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