Earthquake related stresses at Rangely, Colorado

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 UTC 1973 · Proc. Symp. Rock Mech.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5131029

Haimson, B C

The investigation of the Rangely oil field has shown that artificially raised reservoir pressure in the neighborhood of a fault could initiate sliding and trigger earthquakes. The pore pressure along the fault at the site and depth where most earthquake foci were located has been monitored. Knowledge of the local stress configuration was needed, however, to confirm the type and direction of slip along the fault, establish the critical pore pressure necessary for an unstable equilibrium, and provide a basis for critical pore pressure estimates in future research of earthquake control. The hydraulic fracturing method was used to determine the in situ stresses in the vicinity of the fault at a depth of more than 6,000 ft below surface. A newly drilled and cased well was extended by diamond coring and an appropriate 12-ft interval of solid rock was selected. The interval was packed-off and pressurized until fracture. Additional pumping extended the artificial fissure away from the well. With some limitations, the method of hydraulic fracturing appears to be suitable for stress measurements along other active faults where critical pore pressures could thus be predicted and hopefully prevented. (12 refs.)

• Research Organization: Wisconsin Univ
• OSTI ID: 5131029
• Report Number(s): CONF-720602-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc. Symp. Rock Mech.; (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
58 GEOSCIENCES
580201* -- Geophysics-- Seismology & Tectonics-- (1980-1989)
COLORADO
COMMINUTION
EARTHQUAKES
ENGINEERING
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUID INJECTION
FRACTURING
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
POROSITY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESOURCES
SEISMIC EFFECTS
SEISMIC EVENTS
SEISMICITY
SEISMOLOGY
STRESSES
USA