Improved Microseismicity Detection During Newberry EGS Stimulations

Templeton, Dennise

doi:10.15121/1148810

Title: Improved Microseismicity Detection During Newberry EGS Stimulations

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Abstract

Effective enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) require optimal fracture networks for efficient heat transfer between hot rock and fluid. Microseismic mapping is a key tool used to infer the subsurface fracture geometry. Traditional earthquake detection and location techniques are often employed to identify microearthquakes in geothermal regions. However, most commonly used algorithms may miss events if the seismic signal of an earthquake is small relative to the background noise level or if a microearthquake occurs within the coda of a larger event. Consequently, we have developed a set of algorithms that provide improved microearthquake detection. Our objective is to investigate the microseismicity at the DOE Newberry EGS site to better image the active regions of the underground fracture network during and immediately after the EGS stimulation. Detection of more microearthquakes during EGS stimulations will allow for better seismic delineation of the active regions of the underground fracture system. This improved knowledge of the reservoir network will improve our understanding of subsurface conditions, and allow improvement of the stimulation strategy that will optimize heat extraction and maximize economic return.

Authors:: Templeton, Dennise

Publication Date:: 2013-10-01

Other Number(s):: 249

DOE Contract Number:: FY13 AOP 25728

Research Org.:: USDOE Geothermal Data Repository (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Geothermal Technologies Program (EE-2C)

Collaborations:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Subject:: 15 Geothermal Energy

Keywords:: geothermal; EGS; seismicity; microseismicity; stimulation; fracture; reservoir; earthquakes; monitoring; microseismic; seismic; Newberry

Geolocation:: 43.71666667, -121.2333333

OSTI Identifier:: 1148810

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.15121/1148810

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Citation Formats


                    Templeton, Dennise. Improved Microseismicity Detection During Newberry EGS Stimulations.  United States: N. p., 2013. 
        Web.  doi:10.15121/1148810.

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                    Templeton, Dennise. Improved Microseismicity Detection During Newberry EGS Stimulations.  United States.  doi:https://doi.org/10.15121/1148810

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                    Templeton, Dennise. 2013.  
"Improved Microseismicity Detection During Newberry EGS Stimulations".  United States.  doi:https://doi.org/10.15121/1148810.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1148810. Pub date:Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013

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@article{osti_1148810,

  title        = {Improved Microseismicity Detection During Newberry EGS Stimulations},

  author       = {Templeton, Dennise},

  abstractNote = {Effective enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) require optimal fracture networks for efficient heat transfer between hot rock and fluid. Microseismic mapping is a key tool used to infer the subsurface fracture geometry. Traditional earthquake detection and location techniques are often employed to identify microearthquakes in geothermal regions. However, most commonly used algorithms may miss events if the seismic signal of an earthquake is small relative to the background noise level or if a microearthquake occurs within the coda of a larger event. Consequently, we have developed a set of algorithms that provide improved microearthquake detection. Our objective is to investigate the microseismicity at the DOE Newberry EGS site to better image the active regions of the underground fracture network during and immediately after the EGS stimulation. Detection of more microearthquakes during EGS stimulations will allow for better seismic delineation of the active regions of the underground fracture system. This improved knowledge of the reservoir network will improve our understanding of subsurface conditions, and allow improvement of the stimulation strategy that will optimize heat extraction and maximize economic return.},

  doi          = {10.15121/1148810},

  journal      = {},

  number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2013},

  month        = {10}

}

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.15121/1148810

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Improved Microseismicity Detection During Newberry EGS Stimulations

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