Determining the maximum overburden along thrust faults using a porosity versus effective confining pressure curve

► Stress history is preserved in the compaction curves of sediments. ► The maximum overburden above the reverse fault is greater than the present vertical stress. ► The thickness of the eroded strata is 2482 m based on compaction curves measured in the laboratory. ► The thickness of the eroded strata is 2773 m based on a conventional regional method. ► The eroded strata were successfully estimated by our laboratory-based local method.