Bibliographic Citation
| Document | For copies of Journal Articles, please contact the Publisher or your local public or university library and refer to the information in the Resource Relation field. For copies of other documents, please see the Availability, Publisher, Research Organization, Resource Relation and/or Author (affiliation information) fields and/or Document Availability. |
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| Title | In situ study of the physical mechanisms controlling induced seismicity at Monticello Reservoir, South Carolina |
| Creator/Author | Zoback, M.D. ; Hickman, S. |
| Publication Date | 1982 Aug 10 |
| OSTI Identifier | OSTI ID: 5912789 |
| Other Number(s) | Journal ID: CODEN: JGREA |
| Resource Type | Journal Article |
| Resource Relation | Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States); Journal Volume: 87:B8 |
| Research Org | U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025 |
| Subject | 58 GEOSCIENCES; 13 HYDRO ENERGY; SOUTH CAROLINA; WATER RESERVOIRS; FRACTURE MECHANICS; GEOLOGIC FAULTS; HYPOCENTERS; PERMEABILITY; PRESSURE DEPENDENCE; RISK ASSESSMENT; SEISMICITY; STRESS ANALYSIS; FEDERAL REGION IV; GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES; MECHANICS; NORTH AMERICA; SURFACE WATERS; USA |
| Description/Abstract | In two -1.1-km-deep wells the magnitudes of the principal in situ stresses, pore pressure permeability and the distribution of faults, fractures, and joints were measured directly in the hypocentral zones of earthquakes induced by impoundment of Monticello Reservoir, South Carolina. Analysis of these data suggests that the earthquakes were caused by an increase in subsurface pore pressure sufficiently large to trigger reverse-type fault motion on preexisting fault planes in a zone of relatively large shear stresses near the surface. The measurements indicated (1) near-critical pore pressure at depth relative to preimpoundment conditions, (3) the existence of fault planes in situ with orientations similar to those determined from composite focal plane mechanisms, and (4) in situ hydraulic diffusivities that agree well with the size of the seismically active area and time over which fluid flow would be expected to migrate into the zone of seismicity. Our physical model of the seismicity suggests that infrequent future earthquakes will occur at Monticello Reservoir as a result of eventual pore fluid diffusion into isolated zones of low permeability. Future seismic activity at Monticello Reservoir is expected to be limited in magnitude by the small dimensions of the seismogenic zones. |
| Country of Publication | United States |
| Language | English |
| Format | Medium: X; Size: Pages: 6959-6974 |
| System Entry Date | 2008 Feb 07 |
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Last Updated: 11/19/2009