Rock Properties Derived From Continuous Pressure Monitoring in the Arbuckle Group of Oklahoma

Perilla-Castillo, Paula J.; Murray, Kyle E.; Kroll, K.; Walker, Ella L.

doi:10.1130/abs/2017sc-289487

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The permeable Arbuckle sandstone–carbonate formation in Oklahoma possibly has different hydraulic diffusivities within the geologically distinct CO and WO regions (32). Studies have indicated a diffusivity of 1–2 m 2 /s for CO (2, 9, 33, 34) and 2–7 m 2 /s for WO (35–37). We chose diffusivities of 1.5 and 4.0 m 2 /s for CO and WO, respectively.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pore-pressure diffusion, enhanced by poroelastic stresses, controls induced seismicity in Oklahoma

Zhai

Shirzaei

Manga

et al. 2019

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

118

130

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Induced seismicity linked to geothermal resource exploitation, hydraulic fracturing, and wastewater disposal is evolving into a global issue because of the increasing energy demand. Moderate to large induced earthquakes, causing widespread hazards, are often related to fluid injection into deep permeable formations that are hydraulically connected to the underlying crystalline basement. Using injection data combined with a physics-based linear poroelastic model and rate-and-state friction law, we compute the changes in crustal stress and seismicity rate in Oklahoma. This model can be used to assess earthquake potential on specific fault segments. The regional magnitude–time distribution of the observed magnitude (M) 3+ earthquakes during 2008–2017 is reproducible and is the same for the 2 optimal, conjugate fault orientations suggested for Oklahoma. At the regional scale, the timing of predicted seismicity rate, as opposed to its pattern and amplitude, is insensitive to hydrogeological and nucleation parameters in Oklahoma. Poroelastic stress changes alone have a small effect on the seismic hazard. However, their addition to pore-pressure changes can increase the seismicity rate by 6-fold and 2-fold for central and western Oklahoma, respectively. The injection-rate reduction in 2016 mitigates the exceedance probability of M5.0 by 22% in western Oklahoma, while that of central Oklahoma remains unchanged. A hypothetical injection shut-in in April 2017 causes the earthquake probability to approach its background level by ∼2025. We conclude that stress perturbation on prestressed faults due to pore-pressure diffusion, enhanced by poroelastic effects, is the primary driver of the induced earthquakes in Oklahoma.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pore-pressure diffusion, enhanced by poroelastic stresses, controls induced seismicity in Oklahoma

Zhai

Shirzaei

Manga

et al. 2019

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

118

130

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Each layer is characterized by five hydrogeological parameters shown in Table S1. The associated parameter values are constrained based on rock properties (Perilla-Castillo, 2017;Wang, 2000), seismic velocity (Chen, 2016;Christensen, 1996), and seismicity migration (Peterie et al, 2018). The relative distance between injection depth and the basement interface is a crucial factor controlling induced seismicity (Hincks et al, 2018) and is calculated using Arbuckle well log, depth, and isopach information (Campbell & Weber, 2006;Franseen et al, 2004;Franseen & Byrnes, 2012).…”

Section: Hydromechanical Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated Seismic Hazard in Kansas Due to High‐Volume Injections in Oklahoma

Zhai

Shirzaei

Manga

2020

Geophysical Research Letters

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Induced seismicity has expanded into south‐central Kansas, an area with rare damaging natural earthquakes, leading to the second‐highest seismicity rate in the central United States after Oklahoma. Here we assess the mechanical effects of large‐scale injection in the combined area of western Oklahoma and southern Kansas during 2010–2018 and its link to the observed seismicity using physics‐based hydromechanical and seismicity rate models. Such models link injection operations to seismic hazards and allow solving for the spatially variable distribution of background seismic productivity that yields an acceptable match between the observed and modeled seismicity. We show that injection in Oklahoma amplifies the total Coulomb stress change and seismicity rate by 1.5‐fold and threefold, respectively, in south‐central Kansas. This cross‐border interaction modulates the annual earthquake probability in Kansas. We conclude that the issue of induced seismicity is not a local problem due to the far‐reaching effects of fluid diffusion.

show abstract

Oklahoma’s coordinated response to more than a decade of elevated seismicity

Murray¹,

Brooks²,

Walter

et al. 2023

Recent Seismicity in the Southern Midcontinent, USA: Scientific, Regulatory, and Industry Responses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the period between 1961 and 2008, Oklahoma, USA, averaged about two M ≥3.0 earthquakes per year, with no damage to any built infrastructure. A substantial increase in seismic activity was first observed in 2009, when there were 20 M ≥3.0 earthquakes, and activity peaked in 2015, when over 900 M ≥3.0 earthquakes occurred. Because of the unprecedented increase in seismic activity, the governor’s office of Oklahoma formed a Coordinating Council of researchers, regulators, industry, and other stakeholders in 2015. The Coordinating Council was led by the Secretary of Energy and Environment and charged with understanding and attempting to mitigate (that is, reduce, if not eliminate) induced seismicity and potential impacts. Major outcomes of the coordinated efforts included delineation of an area of interest (AOI) for seismicity in Oklahoma, modifications to underground injection control (UIC) well completion depths and injection rates into UIC wells in the AOI, development of the Oklahoma Well and Seismic Monitoring (OWSM) application used for regulatory oversight and action, modified well completion protocols, a more robust seismic network, and numerous scientific investigations and publications. Because of concerted efforts between regulators and industry, disposal into the Arbuckle Group, the primary zone for wastewater disposal, in the AOI was reduced by more than 50% though oil production continued to increase. Seismic activity decreased over a 6 yr period with 619, 302, 195, 65, 39, and 29 M ≥3.0 earthquakes occurring in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. At the time of latest updates to this chapter (16 October 2022), there have been 12 M ≥3.0 earthquakes and one M ≥4.0 earthquake, so the projected total of M ≥3.0 earthquakes in 2022 is 17. Using these metrics, the coordinated efforts of Oklahoma stakeholders appear to have successfully reduced seismicity with respect to frequency and number in the range of minor but often felt (M 3.0–3.9), light (M 4.0–4.9), and moderate (M 5.0–5.9) earthquakes. So, the Oklahoma case provides examples of how stakeholder action diminished seismic hazards and how similar actions could be used to reduce induced seismicity in other areas where injections occur.

show abstract

Rock Properties Derived From Continuous Pressure Monitoring in the Arbuckle Group of Oklahoma

Abstract: Objectives Analyze effects of solid earth tides and atmospheric pressure on water level fluctuations observed in inactive SWD wells. Compute reservoir parameters and elastic properties of rocks from tidal strain and tidal gravitational potential.2

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Pore-pressure diffusion, enhanced by poroelastic stresses, controls induced seismicity in Oklahoma

Pore-pressure diffusion, enhanced by poroelastic stresses, controls induced seismicity in Oklahoma

Elevated Seismic Hazard in Kansas Due to High‐Volume Injections in Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s coordinated response to more than a decade of elevated seismicity

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About