Induced microseismicity and tremor signatures illuminate different slip behaviours in a natural shale fault reactivated by a fluid pressure stimulation (Mont Terri)

De Barros, Louis; Guglielmi, Yves; Cappa, Frédéric; Nussbaum, Christophe; Birkholzer, Jens

doi:10.1093/gji/ggad231

Induced microseismicity and tremor signatures illuminate different slip behaviours in a natural shale fault reactivated by a fluid pressure stimulation (Mont Terri)

Journal Article · Wed Jun 07 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Geophysical Journal International

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggad231· OSTI ID:1986353

; Guglielmi, Yves; ; Nussbaum, Christophe; Birkholzer, Jens

SUMMARY

Fault slip induced by fluid perturbation in shale formations may only lead to a sparse seismicity. However, fault slip may strongly impact the integrity of shale formations that serve as caprocks for geological reservoirs holding buoyant fluids such as CO2, natural gas or hydrogen. A better understanding of the fluid reactivation processes of fault and the seismic triggering process is therefore critical for reservoir monitoring and fault stability. Here we analyse the seismic responses of a shale fault exposed to fluid pressurization during an in situ field-scale injection experiment at ∼340 m depth in the Mont Terri underground research laboratory (Switzerland). Two main types of seismic signals are observed as the fault was activated and started to slowly slip. After an aseismic phase, we observed tremor signatures and an increase in noise amplitude, which were directly associated with the slowly propagating fault slip in response to fluid injection. These signatures were later followed by micro-earthquakes that seem to occur further away from the fluid-pressurized area. We interpret these micro-earthquakes to be triggered by stress perturbations from the main slip growth. These two classes of seismic responses therefore highlight two different processes. Tremors seem to be a more direct observation for the fluid-induced slip propagation than micro-earthquakes. Even hidden in the noise, they precede earthquake failures, thus providing a useful tool for monitoring fluid leakage activated by slow deformation on low permeable shale faults, with applications for sealing integrity of caprocks.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 1986353

Journal Information:: Geophysical Journal International, Journal Name: Geophysical Journal International Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 235; ISSN 0956-540X

Publisher:: Oxford University PressCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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