Coping with earthquakes induced by fluid injection

McGarr, A.; Bekins, Barbara A.; Burkardt, Nina; Dewey, James W.; Earle, Paul S.; Ellsworth, William L.; Ge, Shemin; Hickman, Stephen H.; Holland, A. A.; Majer, Ernest L.; Rubinstein, Justin L.; Sheehan, A. F.

doi:10.1126/science.aaa0494

Cited by 198 publications

(114 citation statements)

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“…The potential for anthropogenic activities to trigger earthquakes has been widely acknowledged by the scientific community [31][32][33][34]. In particular, the generation mechanisms and magnitudes of anthropogenic earthquakes depend on several factors, such as the volume of the injected or extracted fluids, the extent of the perturbation [35], the geometry and orientation of the fault planes, the hydraulic connection between the injection and extraction zones and the fault planes [14], the magnitude of the tectonic stress field, and the distance between anthropogenic activities and earthquake source.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Did Anthropogenic Activities Trigger the 3 April 2017 Mw 6.5 Botswana Earthquake?

et al. 2017

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Abstract:On 3 April 2017, a M w 6.5 earthquake occurred in Botswana, representing the secondstrongest earthquake registered since 1949. Such an intraplate event occurred in a low seismic hazard area and was suspected to be an artificial earthquake induced by nearby anthropogenic activities (gas extraction). The possible relation between anthropogenic activities and the earthquake occurrence has been qualitatively investigated. We estimated the geometric and kinematic characteristics of the causative fault from the modeling of Sentinel-1 InSAR interferograms. Our best-fit solution for the main shock is represented by a normal fault located at a depth greater than 20 km, dipping 65 • northeast, with a right-lateral component, and a mean slip of 2.7 m. The retrieved fault geometry and mechanism are incompatible with the hypothetical stress perturbation caused by the anthropogenic activities performed in the area. Therefore, the 3 April 2017 Botswana earthquake can be classified as a natural intraplate earthquake.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Did Anthropogenic Activities Trigger the 3 April 2017 Mw 6.5 Botswana Earthquake?

et al. 2017

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“…It is well established that flow through natural or hydraulically induced fractures is of particular importance to the production of oil, natural gas, water, and geothermal energy, and understanding crack flow is vital in connection with waste fluid disposal by deep injection, CO 2 , and natural gas storage underground, and in radioactive wastes containment (Davies et al, 2013;Green et al, 1988;McGarr, 2014;Wilson et al, 2015). Its importance has long been recognized in connection with the hazard of induced earthquakes (Fang et al, 2017;Guglielmi et al, 2015;Healy et al, 1968;McGarr et al, 2015;Rubinstein & Mahani, 2015). Townend and Zoback (2000) recognized the importance of cracks in permitting sufficient fluid interconnectivity in otherwise low matrix permeability rocks such that a hydrostatic fluid pressure distribution can be maintained at least to midcrustal depths, in order to satisfy the constraints of in situ stress determinations in deep boreholes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Normal and Shear Stress on the Hydraulic Transmissivity of Thin Cracks in a Tight Quartz Sandstone, a Granite, and a Shale

Rutter

Mecklenburgh

2018

JGR Solid Earth

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Transmissivity of fluids along fractures in rocks is reduced by increasing normal stress acting across them, demonstrated here through gas flow experiments on Bowland shale, and oil flow experiments on Pennant sandstone and Westerly granite. Additionally, the effect of imposing shear stress at constant normal stress was determined, until frictional sliding started. In all cases, increasing shear stress causes an accelerating reduction of transmissivity by 1 to 3 orders of magnitude as slip initiated, as a result of the formation of wear products that block fluid pathways. Only in the case of granite, and to a lesser extent in the sandstone, was there a minor amount of initial increase of transmissivity prior to the onset of slip. These results cast into doubt the commonly applied presumption that cracks with high resolved shear stresses are the most conductive. In the shale, crack transmissivity is commensurate with matrix permeability, such that shales are expected always to be good seals. For the sandstone and granite, unsheared crack transmissivity was respectively 2 and 2.5 orders of magnitude greater than matrix permeability. For these rocks crack transmissivity can dominate fluid flow in the upper crust, potentially enough to permit maintenance of a hydrostatic fluid pressure gradient in a normal (extensional) faulting regime.

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“…However, the AER is in charge of monitoring these events through the Regional Alberta Observatory for Earthquakes Studies Network. Research into induced seismicity from oil field operations has found that fracking has created predominantly micro-earthquakes (too small to be felt) but there has been evidence of larger events where damage has occurred [37].…”

Section: Induced Seismicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Effects of Environmental Policy on Shale Gas Production: The Case of Alberta, Canada

Langer¹,

Carl²,

Walsh³

2017

GEP

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The increase in natural gas production in North America resulting from the implementation of new technologies related to the fracturing (fracking) of natural gas-bearing shale reservoirs has enhanced the security of supply and lowered energy costs in the continent. Yet the environmental impact associated with shale gas development has raised concerns and debate among energy and environmental policy makers as to how best to address these concerns. As Canada's largest producer of natural gas, the Province of Alberta is an example of a jurisdiction with numerous regulations for dealing with such environmental risks. This paper applies the CO/RE model of Konschnik and Bolingin examining Alberta's environmental regulatory framework and the impact; it will have on further shale gas production in the province. Aside from the identification of risks associated with increased seismicity, the results of this examination suggest that the current regulatory environment does not appear to have any adverse effect on current and future shale gas production within the province. Furthermore, Alberta's environmental regulation has influenced shale gas producers to pursue innovation in technology and engineering practice and has helped establish a collaborative approach to mitigating environmental risk.

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Coping with earthquakes induced by fluid injection

Abstract: Hazard may be reduced by managing injection activities

Cited by 198 publications

References 18 publications

Did Anthropogenic Activities Trigger the 3 April 2017 Mw 6.5 Botswana Earthquake?

Did Anthropogenic Activities Trigger the 3 April 2017 Mw 6.5 Botswana Earthquake?

Influence of Normal and Shear Stress on the Hydraulic Transmissivity of Thin Cracks in a Tight Quartz Sandstone, a Granite, and a Shale

Examining the Effects of Environmental Policy on Shale Gas Production: The Case of Alberta, Canada

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