Earthqakes and fluid injection
Conference
·
· Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5666913
Earthquakes have been clearly linked to subsurface fluid injection in 2 places--near Denver at the Rocky Mt. Arsenal's waste-disposal well, and at the Rangely oil field in NW Colorado. The theory linking fluid pressure to earthquakes is based on the effective stress concept, i.e., that increases of pore pressure reduce the effective normal stress across existing or potential fracture surfaces. In both cases, evidence exists for substantial tectonic shearing stresses in the reservoir rock prior to injection. Although the initial shear stress was below the critical value necessary to cause failure, fluid injection relieved a fraction of the frictional resistance to shear fracture, and earthquakes resulted. The Rangely experience suggests that seismic activity due to waterflooding in oil fields may be controlled without seriously disrupting production of oil.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey
- OSTI ID:
- 5666913
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-711233-
- Conference Information:
- Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 55:11
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Denver area earthquakes and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal disposal well
Potential for triggering of earthquakes by stimulation of dry rock geothermal fields
Earthquake triggering by fluid injection at Rangely, Colorado
Journal Article
·
Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1965
· Mt. Geol.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6805542
Potential for triggering of earthquakes by stimulation of dry rock geothermal fields
Technical Report
·
Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1976
·
OSTI ID:7293210
Earthquake triggering by fluid injection at Rangely, Colorado
Conference
·
Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1971
· Proc. Int. Soc. Rock Mech. and Int. Ass. Eng. Geol. Percolation Through Fissured Rock Symp.; ()
·
OSTI ID:5101234
Related Subjects
02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
58 GEOSCIENCES
580201 -- Geophysics-- Seismology & Tectonics-- (1980-1989)
COLORADO
EARTHQUAKES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUID INJECTION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
INJECTION WELLS
MANAGEMENT
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
SEISMIC EFFECTS
SEISMIC EVENTS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WELLS
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
58 GEOSCIENCES
580201 -- Geophysics-- Seismology & Tectonics-- (1980-1989)
COLORADO
EARTHQUAKES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUID INJECTION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
INJECTION WELLS
MANAGEMENT
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
SEISMIC EFFECTS
SEISMIC EVENTS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WELLS