Seismicity Rate Surge on Faults after Shut–in: Poroelastic Response to Fluid Injection
Abstract
Injection of large amounts of fluid into the subsurface alters the states of pore pressure and stress in the formation, potentially inducing earthquakes. Increase in the seismicity rate after shut–in is often observed at fluid–injection operation sites, but mechanistic study of the rate surge has not been investigated thoroughly. Considering full poroelastic coupling of pore pressure and stress, the earthquake occurrence after shut–in can be driven by two mechanisms: (1) post shut–in diffusion of pore pressure into distant faults and (2) poroelastic stressing caused by fluid injection. Interactions of these mechanisms can depend on fault geometry, hydraulic and mechanical properties of the formation, and injection operation. In this work, a 2D aerial view of the target reservoir intersected by strike–slip basement faults is used to evaluate the impact of injection–induced pressure buildup on seismicity rate surge. A series of sensitivity tests are performed by considering the variation in (1) permeability of the fault zone, (2) locations and the number of faults with respect to the injector, and (3) well operations with time–dependent injection rates. Lower permeability faults have higher seismicity rates than more permeable faults after shut–in due to delayed diffusion and poroelastic stressing. Hydraulic barriers, depending on their relativemore »
- Authors:
-
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security (CFSES); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1465191
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-2018-4360J
Journal ID: ISSN 0037-1106; 663908
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 108; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 0037-1106
- Publisher:
- Seismological Society of America
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 58 GEOSCIENCES
Citation Formats
Chang, K. W., Yoon, H., and Martinez, M. J. Seismicity Rate Surge on Faults after Shut–in: Poroelastic Response to Fluid Injection. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1785/0120180054.
Chang, K. W., Yoon, H., & Martinez, M. J. Seismicity Rate Surge on Faults after Shut–in: Poroelastic Response to Fluid Injection. United States. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120180054
Chang, K. W., Yoon, H., and Martinez, M. J. Tue .
"Seismicity Rate Surge on Faults after Shut–in: Poroelastic Response to Fluid Injection". United States. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120180054. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1465191.
@article{osti_1465191,
title = {Seismicity Rate Surge on Faults after Shut–in: Poroelastic Response to Fluid Injection},
author = {Chang, K. W. and Yoon, H. and Martinez, M. J.},
abstractNote = {Injection of large amounts of fluid into the subsurface alters the states of pore pressure and stress in the formation, potentially inducing earthquakes. Increase in the seismicity rate after shut–in is often observed at fluid–injection operation sites, but mechanistic study of the rate surge has not been investigated thoroughly. Considering full poroelastic coupling of pore pressure and stress, the earthquake occurrence after shut–in can be driven by two mechanisms: (1) post shut–in diffusion of pore pressure into distant faults and (2) poroelastic stressing caused by fluid injection. Interactions of these mechanisms can depend on fault geometry, hydraulic and mechanical properties of the formation, and injection operation. In this work, a 2D aerial view of the target reservoir intersected by strike–slip basement faults is used to evaluate the impact of injection–induced pressure buildup on seismicity rate surge. A series of sensitivity tests are performed by considering the variation in (1) permeability of the fault zone, (2) locations and the number of faults with respect to the injector, and (3) well operations with time–dependent injection rates. Lower permeability faults have higher seismicity rates than more permeable faults after shut–in due to delayed diffusion and poroelastic stressing. Hydraulic barriers, depending on their relative location to injection, can either stabilize or weaken a conductive fault via poroelastic stresses. In conclusion, gradual reduction of the injection rate minimizes the coulomb stress change and the least seismicity rates are predicted due to slower relaxation of coupling–induced compression as well as pore–pressure dissipation.},
doi = {10.1785/0120180054},
journal = {Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America},
number = 4,
volume = 108,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 26 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Tue Jun 26 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
Hydraulic Fracture Injection Strategy Influences the Probability of Earthquakes in the Eagle Ford Shale Play of South Texas
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- Fasola, Shannon L.; Brudzinski, Michael R.; Skoumal, Robert J.
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Effect of the Injection Scenario on the Rate and Magnitude Content of Injection‐Induced Seismicity: Case of a Heterogeneous Fault
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- Almakari, Michelle; Dublanchet, Pierre; Chauris, Hervé
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 124, Issue 8
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- Westaway, Rob; Burnside, Neil M.
- Geofluids, Vol. 2019