Deep geothermal-induced seismicity: controlling factors and hazard mitigation measures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca De Santis ◽  
Emmanuelle Klein ◽  
Alain Thoraval
Keyword(s):  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Direct Consequence ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Seismic Events ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Spatio Temporal

<p>As many industrial activities impacting the underground, deep geothermal projects can be associated with the occurrence of induced seismic events. This seismicity is sometimes a direct consequence of stimulation operations needed to enhance the permeability of geothermal reservoirs, but, in other cases, it can also occur in different phases of geothermal projects, as during wells shut-in, after injection operations, or during the production phase, which generally implies lower flow rates and injection pressures. The intensity of this seismicity, in terms of magnitudes of seismic events, can be extremely variable, from microseismic events (M < 2), not felt at the surface, to large earthquakes (M > 5) that pose a serious risk to neighboring populations and may lead to the abandon of geothermal projects. In this context, it is of paramount importance to: i) better characterize and understand the interactions between natural and anthropogenic factors which may lead to geothermal-induced seismicity and ii) evaluate currently applied approaches to handle and minimize associated risks.</p><p>The objective of this work is to establish a state of the art about deep geothermal-induced seismicity, by describing factors that have a bearing on the generation of seismic events, as well as by discussing existing means to handle their occurrence. Based on a worldwide review of geothermal projects, we created a large database describing each selected case study in terms of geological properties and tectonic setting, operational parameters and type of geothermal systems, as well as spatio-temporal characteristics of the observed induced seismicity. Collected data are analyzed in order to better understand possible cause-effect relationships between induced seismicity and geothermal operations with the aim of identifying the most important preexisting and anthropogenic factors, as well as their interactions, which may have a key role on the occurrence of seismic activity.       </p>

scholarly journals Review of induced seismicity in geothermal systems worldwide and implications for geothermal systems in the Netherlands

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loes Buijze ◽  
Lonneke van Bijsterveldt ◽  
Holger Cremer ◽  
Bob Paap ◽  
Hans Veldkamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Seismic Events ◽  
Geothermal Systems ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Tectonically Active ◽  
Study Review

Abstract Geothermal energy is a viable alternative to gas for the heating of buildings, industrial areas and greenhouses, and can thus play an important role in making the transition to sustainable energy in the Netherlands. Heat is currently produced from the Dutch subsurface through circulation of water between two wells in deep (1.5–3 km) geothermal formations with temperature of up to ∼100 °C. As the number of these so-called doublets is expected to increase significantly over the next decades, and targeted depths and temperatures increase, it is important to assess potential show-stoppers related to geothermal operations. One of these potential hazards is the possibility of the occurrence of felt seismic events, which could potentially damage infrastructure and housing, and affect public support. Such events have been observed in several geothermal systems in other countries. Here we review the occurrence (or the lack) of felt seismic events in geothermal systems worldwide and identify key factors influencing the occurrence and magnitude of these events. Based on this review, we project the findings for seismicity in geothermal systems to typical geothermal formations and future geothermal developments in the Netherlands. The case study review shows that doublets that circulate fluids through relatively shallow, porous, sedimentary aquifers far from the crystalline basement are unlikely to generate felt seismic events. On the other hand, stimulations or circulations in or near competent, fractured, basement rocks and production and reinjection operations in high-temperature geothermal fields are more prone to induce felt events, occasionally with magnitudes of M > 5.0. Many of these operations are situated in tectonically active areas, and stress and temperature changes may be large. The presence of large, optimally oriented and critically stressed faults increases the potential for induced seismicity. The insights from the case study review suggest that the potential for the occurrence of M > 2.0 seismicity for geothermal operations in several of the sandstone target formations in the Netherlands is low, especially if faults can be avoided. The potential for induced seismicity may be moderate for operations in faulted carbonate rocks. Induced seismicity always remains a complex and site-specific process with large unknowns, and can never be excluded entirely. However, assessing the potential for inducing felt seismic events can be improved by considering the relevant (site-specific) geological and operational key factors discussed in this article.

Nonlinear diffusion-based interpretation of induced microseismicity: A Barnett Shale hydraulic fracturing case study

Geophysics ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. B211-B226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Hummel ◽  
Serge A. Shapiro
Keyword(s):  
Pore Pressure ◽  
Pressure Dependence ◽  
Nonlinear Diffusion ◽  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Pressure Field ◽  
Barnett Shale ◽  
Permeability Evolution ◽  
Temporal Features ◽  
Spatio Temporal

For the successful development and operation of hydrocarbon or geothermal reservoirs, knowledge of the hydraulic transport is of crucial importance. Because fundamental physical processes of borehole fluid injections are still insufficiently understood, gathering information about transport properties of rocks under field conditions is quite difficult. However, a substantial contribution in determining the permeability evolution can be obtained by understanding the distribution of induced seismicity in space and time. We have analyzed spatio-temporal characteristics of seismicity recorded during a hydraulic fracturing treatment in the Barnett Shale. In this study, we show that the fluid-rock interaction is nonlinear. To explain corresponding spatio-temporal features of induced seismicity, we considered pore pressure diffusion based on a power-law pressure dependence of permeability. A scaling approach was used to transform clouds of hypocenters of events obtained in a hydraulically anisotropic nonlinear medium into a cloud which would be obtained in an equivalent isotropic but still nonlinear medium. For this, we used a concept of a factorized anisotropic pressure dependence of permeability and found that it is in agreement with the microseismic data under consideration. We used a numerical modeling approach to generate synthetic seismicity by solving nonlinear diffusion equations. The pore-pressure field obtained from flow rates was calibrated with the pore-pressure field computed for injection pressures. This yielded an estimate of the uniaxial storage coefficient and permitted us to compute the permeability evolution inside the fracture stimulated reservoir. Following our modeling, we generated synthetic seismicity whose spatio-temporal features are similar to the ones observed in the case study. This indicates that a nonlinear diffusion with a pressure-dependent permeability seems to provide a reasonable model of the hydraulic-fracture stimulation under consideration. A power-law pressure dependence of stimulated permeability may be a more general characteristic for shales.

scholarly journals Analysis of the 2016–2018 fluid-injection induced seismicity in the High Agri Valley (Southern Italy) from improved detections using template matching

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Stabile ◽  
Josef Vlček ◽  
Milosz Wcisło ◽  
Vincenzo Serlenga
Keyword(s):  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Template Matching ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Damage Zone ◽  
Fluid Injection ◽  
Seismic Events ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Seismic Catalogue ◽  
Single Station ◽  
Completeness Magnitude

AbstractImproving the capability of seismic network to detect weak seismic events is one of the timeless challenges in seismology: the greater is the number of detected and locatable seismic events, the greater insights on the mechanisms responsible for seismic activation may be gained. Here we implement and apply a single-station template matching algorithm to detect events belonging to the fluid-injection induced seismicity cluster located in the High Agri Valley, Southern Italy, using the continuous seismic data stream of the closest station of the INSIEME network. To take into account the diversity of waveforms, albeit belonging to the same seismic cluster, eight different master templates were adopted. Afterwards, using all the stations of the network, we provide a seismic catalogue consisting of 196 located earthquakes, in the magnitude range − 1.2 ≤ Ml ≤ 1.2, with a completeness magnitude Mc = − 0.5 ± 0.1. This rich seismic catalogue allows us to describe the damage zone of a SW dipping fault, characterized by a variety of fractures critically stressed in the dip range between ~ 45° and ~ 75°. The time-evolution of seismicity clearly shows seismic swarm distribution characteristics with many events of similar magnitude, and the seismicity well correlates with injection operational parameters (i.e. injected volumes and injection pressures).

Varied Responses to Human-Induced Seismicity in the City of Azle, Texas

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sarmistha R. Majumdar
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Prior History ◽  
Small Community ◽  
Regulatory Policies ◽  
The Status

Fracking has helped to usher in an era of energy abundance in the United States. This advanced drilling procedure has helped the nation to attain the status of the largest producer of crude oil and natural gas in the world, but some of its negative externalities, such as human-induced seismicity, can no longer be ignored. The occurrence of earthquakes in communities located at proximity to disposal wells with no prior history of seismicity has shocked residents and have caused damages to properties. It has evoked individuals’ resentment against the practice of injection of fracking’s wastewater under pressure into underground disposal wells. Though the oil and gas companies have denied the existence of a link between such a practice and earthquakes and the local and state governments have delayed their responses to the unforeseen seismic events, the issue has gained in prominence among researchers, affected community residents, and the media. This case study has offered a glimpse into the varied responses of stakeholders to human-induced seismicity in a small city in the state of Texas. It is evident from this case study that although individuals’ complaints and protests from a small community may not be successful in bringing about statewide changes in regulatory policies on disposal of fracking’s wastewater, they can add to the public pressure on the state government to do something to address the problem in a state that supports fracking.

Case study and event analysis for mitigation of unpredictable volcanic hazard

Impact ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (3) ◽  
pp. 26-28
Author(s):  
Tsukasa Ohba
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Graduate School ◽  
Volcanic Hazard ◽  
Hazard Mitigation ◽  
Scientific Discipline ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Event Analysis ◽  
Traditional Methods ◽  
Risk Communities

Volcanology is an extremely important scientific discipline. Shedding light on how and why volcanoes erupt, how eruptions can be predicted and their impact on humans and the environment is crucial to public safety, economies and businesses. Understanding volcanoes means eruptions can be anticipated and at-risk communities can be forewarned, enabling them to implement mitigation measures. Professor Tsukasa Ohba is a scientist based at the Graduate School of International Resource Studies, Akita University, Japan, and specialises in volcanology and petrology. Ohba and his team are focusing on volcanic phenomena including: phreatic eruptions (a steam-driven eruption driven by the heat from magma interacting with water); lahar (volcanic mudflow); and monogenetic basalt eruptions (which consist of a group of small monogenetic volcanoes, each of which erupts only once). The researchers are working to understand the mechanisms of these phenomena using Petrology. Petrology is one of the traditional methods in volcanology but has not been applied to disastrous eruptions before. The teams research will contribute to volcanic hazard mitigation.

Spatio-temporal approach for identification of critical conservation areas: a case study with two pine species from a threatened temperate forest in Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 1863-1883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustín Molina Sánchez ◽  
Patricia Delgado ◽  
Antonio González-Rodríguez ◽  
Clementina González ◽  
A. Francisco Gómez-Tagle Rojas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temperate Forest ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Pine Species

scholarly journals A comparison of multiple neighborhood matrix specifications for spatio-temporal model fitting: a case study on COVID-19 data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Álvaro Briz-Redón ◽  
Adina Iftimi ◽  
Juan Francisco Correcher ◽  
Jose De Andrés ◽  
Manuel Lozano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Model Fitting ◽  
Temporal Model ◽  
Spatio Temporal

scholarly journals Spatio-temporal analysis of COVID-19 incidence rate using GIS: a case study—Tehran metropolitan, Iran

GeoJournal ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Nasiri ◽  
S. Akbarpour ◽  
AR. Zali ◽  
N. Khodakarami ◽  
MH. Boochani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Incidence Rate ◽  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
Spatio Temporal

scholarly journals A Conflict between Traditional Flood Measures and Maintaining River Ecosystems? A Case Study Based upon the River Lærdal, Norway

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 1884
Author(s):  
Ana Juárez ◽  
Knut Alfredsen ◽  
Morten Stickler ◽  
Ana Adeva-Bustos ◽  
Rodrigo Suárez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
River Channel ◽  
Flood Mitigation ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
River Ecosystems ◽  
Hydraulic Models

Floods are among the most damaging of natural disasters, and flood events are expected to increase in magnitude and frequency with the effects of climate change and changes in land use. As a consequence, much focus has been placed on the engineering of structural flood mitigation measures in rivers. Traditional flood protection measures, such as levees and dredging of the river channel, threaten floodplains and river ecosystems, but during the last decade, sustainable reconciliation of freshwater ecosystems has increased. However, we still find many areas where these traditional measures are proposed, and it is challenging to find tools for evaluation of different measures and quantification of the possible impacts. In this paper, we focus on the river Lærdal in Norway to (i) present the dilemma between traditional flood measures and maintaining river ecosystems and (ii) quantify the efficiency and impact of different solutions based on 2D hydraulic models, remote sensing data, economics, and landscape metrics. Our results show that flood measures may be in serious conflict with environmental protection and legislation to preserve biodiversity and key nature types.

scholarly journals Multi-Criteria, Co-Evolutionary Charging Behavior: An Agent-Based Simulation of Urban Electromobility

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Lennart Adenaw ◽  
Markus Lienkamp
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
City Planning ◽  
User Behavior ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Simulation Framework ◽  
Agent Based Simulation ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Charging Station ◽  
Spatio Temporal

In order to electrify the transport sector, scores of charging stations are needed to incentivize people to buy electric vehicles. In urban areas with a high charging demand and little space, decision-makers are in need of planning tools that enable them to efficiently allocate financial and organizational resources to the promotion of electromobility. As with many other city planning tasks, simulations foster successful decision-making. This article presents a novel agent-based simulation framework for urban electromobility aimed at the analysis of charging station utilization and user behavior. The approach presented here employs a novel co-evolutionary learning model for adaptive charging behavior. The simulation framework is tested and verified by means of a case study conducted in the city of Munich. The case study shows that the presented approach realistically reproduces charging behavior and spatio-temporal charger utilization.

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