Abstract The present study attempts to qualify the impact of tectonic parameters on hydrocarbon production in reservoir models representing four clastic depositional environments. Eleven sectors from existing 3D reservoir models, representing fluvial, tidal, shallow marine and deep marine depositional settings, were re-sampled into a fixed-volume, unfaulted model grid. Each sample was permutated into 73 different faulted model configurations by using predefined combinations of fault patterns, maximum fault-throw, shale gouge ratio and shale smear factor. The resulting 803 models were run in a fluid flow simulator and results statistically analysed to identify changes in fluid flow response caused by changing model input parameters. Finally, outcomes for each of the four depositional environments were compared. Although an inadequate database and technical limitations with the input models restrict our ability to draw quantitative conclusions, a number of qualitative interpretations can be made. The four investigated stratigraphies respond differently to identical fault parameter settings. Thus, there is a clear link between the depositional model input and the impact that faults have on production parameters. This suggests that sedimentological factors have a significant influence on which and to what extent fault parameters affect petroleum production. Varying degrees of impact can be identified for each fault parameter in each of the four depositional model types. Within the limitation of this study, a qualitative assessment of these is formulated.