Designing monitoring networks for local earthquakes

Journal Article · 28 January 2022 · Journal of Geophysics and Engineering

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jge/gxab075 · OSTI ID:1842566

Nolte, Keith A. ^[1]; Tsoflias, George P. ^[1]; Holubnyak, Yevhen ^[2]; Raney, Jennifer ^[2]; Wreath, Dana ^[3]

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1. The University of Kansas, Department of Geology, Ritchie Hall, 354B, 1414 Naismith Road, Lawrence, KS 66045-7613, USA
2. The University of Kansas, Kansas Geological Survey, 1930 Constant Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66047-3724, USA
3. Berexco, LLC, 2020 N Bramblewood Street, Wichita, KS 67206, USA

Abstract Seismic networks are essential for monitoring local earthquakes in connection to industrial activities, including wastewater injection and CO2 sequestration. Because these networks are typically deployed for short periods of time at specific sites, it is beneficial to develop best practices for efficient and effective installation and monitoring. Such standards are available for regional earthquake and microseismic monitoring, but not readily available for local scale (tens of kilometer scale) monitoring. Once the region of interest has been determined, the key parameters for establishing a network are available monitoring station locations, site noise, and site utility. Networks should be designed based on the project monitoring goals for earthquake magnitude and density. Herein, a network was established at the Patterson and Hartland Oil Fields in western Kansas in association with a US Department of Energy CarbonSAFE carbon capture and sequestration research project. We employed observations from an analog local network, the Wellington Earthquake Monitoring Network in south-central Kansas, to assess site noise and estimate earthquake detection thresholds for the Patterson and Hartland fields. Noise from oil production facilities was evaluated, concluding that oil lease sites are suitable for monitoring small local earthquakes (M1-M3). The network was designed to have a magnitude of completeness of M1 while using station locations on existing field operator leases. Fifteen months of continuous network operation demonstrates reliable and efficient local earthquake monitoring and provides best practices recommendations for similar operations.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: NONE; FE0029264
• OSTI ID: 1842566
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysics and Engineering Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 19; ISSN 1742-2132
• Publisher: Oxford University PressCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English