Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Mechanism of induced seismicity at the Geysers geothermal reservoir, California

Journal Article · · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

The Geysers reservoir is situated in a 60--80 km-wide right-lateral shear zone associated with the North American-Pacific plate boundary. A small fraction of the shear may be occurring as permanent aseismic creep, which is being converted to stick-slip movement in the Geysers reservoir due to steam production. Two mechanisms could be responsible for the induced seismicity: a large (>100 bars) increase in effective rock pressure; and an increase in the coefficient of friction. The first mechanism requires that the initial state of the reservoir be predominantly liquid-dominated. The second mechanism is a consequence of dehydration of the reservoir causing both the 'hardening' of clay and fault gouge, and the precipitation of silica.

Research Organization:
Geophysics Div., D.S.I.R., Private Bag, Taupo, New Zealand
OSTI ID:
6700985
Journal Information:
Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Vol. 9:6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English