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Title: The role of fault-zone architectural elements and basal altered zones on pore pressure propagation and induced seismicity

Journal Article · · Ground Water
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12818· OSTI ID:1467281
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [2]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  2. New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM (United States). Dept. of Earth and Environmental Science
  3. Utah State Univ., Logan, UT (United States). Dept. of Geology
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Here, we used hydrogeologic models to assess how fault-zone properties promote or inhibit the downward propagation of fluid overpressures from a basal reservoir injection well (150 m from fault zone, Q = 5000 m3/day) into the underlying crystalline basement rocks. We varied the permeability of the fault-zone architectural components and a crystalline basement weathered layer as part of a numerical sensitivity study. Realistic conduit-barrier style fault zones effectively transmit elevated pore pressures associated with four years of continuous injection to depths of ~2.5 km within the crystalline basement while compartmentalizing fluid flow within the injection reservoir. The presence of a laterally continuous, relatively low-permeability altered/weathered basement horizon (kaltered layer = 0.1 × kbasement) can limit the penetration depth of the pressure front to ~500 m. On the other hand, the presence of a discontinuous altered/weathered horizon that partially confines the injection reservoir without blocking the fault fluid conduit promotes downward propagation of pressures. Permeability enhancement via hydromechanical failure was found to increase the depth of early-time pressure front migration by a factor of 1.3 to 1.85. Dynamic permeability models may help explain seismicity at depths of >10 km such as is observed within the Permian Basin, NM.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USGS National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP); W.M. Keck Foundation
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396; 2015-0068; 989941
OSTI ID:
1467281
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-18-22111
Journal Information:
Ground Water, Vol. 57; ISSN 0017-467X
Publisher:
Wiley - NGWACopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 11 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Earthquake Swarms Triggered by Groundwater Extraction Near the Dead Sea Fault journal July 2019

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Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
Induced seismicity
hydrologic modeling
fault-zone architecture
crystalline basement faults
basal reservoirs
triggered seismicity
damage zone