![Page 1: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Shemin GeDepartment of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado
Fluid Induced Seismicity ReservoirFluid ExtractionFracking
Wastewater Injection
References:
Matthew Weingarten, Shemin Ge, Jonathan Godt, Barbara Bekins, Justine Rubinstein 2015, High-rate injection is associated with the increase in U.S.mid-continent seismicity, Science, 19 June 348(6241), 1336-1340.
Keranen, Kathleen, Matthew Weingarten, Geoffrey A. Abers, Barbara Bekins, Shemin Ge. 2014. Sharp increase since 2008 induced by massive wastewater injection. Science. 25 July, 345(6195), 448-451
![Page 2: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
To extract oil/gas from these tight shales, wastewater is produced at various stages
![Page 3: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Wastewater disposal
1. flowback water from fracking
2. produced water during production
[after Rubinstein and Mahani, 2015]
Fracking Production Wastewater Disposal
Enhanced Oil Recovery
Crystalline basement Crystalline basement Crystalline basement Crystalline basement
~ 40% of the wastewater is disposed by deep well injection
![Page 4: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Rocky Mountain Arsenal, 1960’s
Denver
DIA
Rocky Mountain Arsenal
[Healy et al.,1968]
Temporal Correlation
![Page 5: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Photo credit: Ellsworth
Why are some injection sites more prone to seismicity than others?
![Page 6: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Injection Wells
188,570 34 states
106,070 active: 27,102 Salt water disposal 78,968 Enhanced oil recovery
![Page 7: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Related?
Injection Wells
188,570 34 states
EarthquakesM > 0.01973 - 2015
Advanced National Seismic System
earthquake catalog
![Page 8: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Spatial and Temporal Association Criteria
5 km
10 kmuncertainty
• Spatial Criterionearthquake within 15 km of an injection well is considered to be spatially associated with that well
• Temporal Criterionwell is injecting at the time of the earthquake
Epicenter
Injection well
![Page 9: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Active and Spatiotemporally Associated Injection wells
18,757 associated ~ 10% of all wells
~85% in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas
![Page 10: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Earthquakes associated with injection through time…..
![Page 11: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
associated
not associated
![Page 12: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
associated
not associated
![Page 13: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
associated
not associated
![Page 14: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
associated
![Page 15: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Increased seismicity started
associated
![Page 16: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Increased seismicity continued
associated
![Page 17: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Increased seismicity continued
associated
![Page 18: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Increased seismicity continued
associated
![Page 19: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Associated Earthquakes, 1973 - 2015
Non-associated earthquakes stayed at 10 – 25/year
Associated earthquakes rose: tens
early 2010s> 650 2015
a few 1970s
Increased seismicity in recent years in U.S. mid-continent is associated with injection wells
![Page 20: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Causation
Spatiotemporal correlations
![Page 21: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Pore pressure dynamics
a key link
Wastewater Injection Induced earthquakes
![Page 22: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
![Page 23: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
µστ −=S
S < 0, Shear stress < Frictional resistance, stable
Coulomb stress:
S > 0, Shear stress > Frictional resistance, unstable
S = 0, Shear stress ~ Frictional resistance, critically stressed
[e.g., Lin and Stein, 2004]
Coulomb stress(Byerlee 1978,..)
τ :stress Shear
µσ:resistance Frictional
![Page 24: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Pore Pressure Influences Coulomb stress
beer can experiment (Hubbert and Rubey, 1959)
room temperature
freezer chilled∆S = ∆τ - μ(∆σ - ∆P)
∆S = ∆τ - μ∆σneed a steeper anglelarger friction resistance
need a gentle slope smaller friction resistance
![Page 25: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Coulomb stress change
ΔS < 0, stable
ΔS > 0, unstable slip
ΔS = 0, in equilibrium
Pore pressure increases always lead to larger ΔS
∆S = ∆τ - μ∆σ + μ∆P
Pore pressure is the variable that changes with timeP = f(x, y, z, t, injection rate, hydraulic diffusivity)
![Page 26: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Pore pressure physics(how it influences stress on faults)
Pore pressure modeling(application to central Oklahoma)
The seismicity rate in OK is comparable to that in CA
![Page 27: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Dewatering production and disposal
![Page 28: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Modeled pressure increases over a large area, 10s km
![Page 29: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Pore pressure increase and earthquake depth are consistent
• Arbuckle and upper basement• 2-5 km depth
![Page 30: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
earthquakes occur when pressure reaches ~0.07 MPa
How much did pore pressure rise at time & location of each earthquake?
![Page 31: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Wells in SE OKC contribute a large fraction of pore pressure increase
Combined influence
SE OKC wellsNE wells
Pres
sure
hea
d ch
ange
(m)
Time2006 2008 2010 20122004
![Page 32: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Injection Rate Cumulative Volume
No such a trend for cumulative volume
% of wells associated with earthquakes increases with injection rate
![Page 33: Fluid Induced Seismicity · 2018. 1. 17. · Shemin Ge. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado. Fluid Induced Seismicity . Fracking. Fluid Extraction. Reservoir](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022071403/60f72790bf0aeb0e0e59b370/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
The recent increase in seismicity is associated with wastewater injection
High-rate injections are more likely to be associated with earthquakes
Summary
High rate injection – major contributing factor for generating higher pore pressure