Induced seismicity

Smith, B., Beau., J. Stark, M. 2000. Induced seismicity in the Geysers field, California, USA. In Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2000, Kyushu-Tohoku, Japan, 28 May-10 June 2000, 2887-2892. 

There are a few other precautions specific to the type of survey used. The effects of the induced seismic waves used in seismic surveys should be carefully analyzed, for potentially harmful effects on wildlife and nearby human structures. Also, when conducting radiometric surveys, drilling fluids and drill cuttings not removed as samples should be disposed of properly. These materials should not be placed into surface waters. They should be placed in stable configurations, with embankments and diversions provided to prevent contamination of runoff water where necessary. 

Fehler, M., Jupe, A. and Asanuma, H. (2001). More Than Cloud New techniques for characterizing reservoir structure using induced seismicity. The Leading Edge, 324-328. 

Gaucher, E., Comet, F. H. and Bernard, P. (1998), Induced seismicity analysis for structure identification and stress field determination. Paper SPE 47324, Proc. SPEdSRM, Trondheim, Norway. 

This research uses observations of reservoir induced seismicity (RIS) at A u reservoir. NE Brazil, to investigate the spatial and temporal evolution of effective stress in the region and its relationship to fault permeability. A u reservoir was constructed in 1983 and has a capacity of 2.4 x lO m maintained by a 34 m high earth-filled dam constructed on Precambrian shield. Annual reservoir variation is 3-6 m which results in annual seismic activity due to a proposed mechanism of pore pressure diffusion (Ferreira et al. (1995), do Nascimento et al. (2003a)). Digital data at A u... 

To assess the hydrogeological feasibility of pressure diffusion as a mechanism for RIS at A u, it is first necessary to construct a numerical model of induced seismicity. Several previous authors including Roeloffs (1988) and Kaipna (2000) have modelled RIS employing a range of different... 

LI T, et al. 2007. A review of mining-induced seismicity in China. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 44(8) 1149-1171. 

Field tests which are most commonly employed in geotechnical earthquake engineering can be grouped into those that measure low-strain properties and those that measure properties at intermediate to high strains. Low-strain field tests t5q)ically induce seismic waves in the soil and seek to measure the velocities at which these waves propagate. Due to low strain amplitudes the measured shear wave velocity (V ) along with soil density (p) is used to compute low-strain shear modulus. 

Sellers EJ, Kataka MO, Linzer, LM (2003) Source parameters of acoustic emission events and scaling with mining-induced seismicity. J. Geophys. Res., 108,B9 2418-2430... 

Manthei G (2005) Characterization of Acoustic Emission Sources in a Rock Salt Specimen under Triaxial Load. Bttll Seis Soc Amer 95 1674-1700 Martin CD, Yoimg RP (1993) The effect of excavation-induced seismicity on the strength of Lac du Bormet granite. In Yoimg RP (ed) (1993) Proc 3 Symp Rockbiusts and Seismicity in Mines (RaSiM 3), Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 367-371... 

Masuda K, Nishizawa O, Kusunose K, Satoh T (1993) Laboratory Study of Effects of In Situ Stress State and Strength on Fluid-induced Seismicity. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech 30 1-10... 

Disposal of liquid hazardous waste has been undertaken by injection into deep weiis iocated in rock below freshwater aquifers, thereby ensuring that poiiution of groundwater suppiies does not occur. In such instances, the waste is generally injected into a permeable bed of rock several hundreds or even thousands of metres below the surface, which is confined by relatively impervious formations. However, even where geological conditions are favourable for deep well disposal, the space for waste disposal frequently is restricted and the potential injection zones are usually occupied by connate water. Accordingly, any potential formation into which waste can be injected must possess sufficient porosity, permeability, volume and confinement to guarantee safe injection. Also, the piezometric pressure in the injection zone influences the rate at which the reservoir can accept liquid waste. A further point to consider is that induced seismic activity has been associated with the disposal of fluids in deep wells (see the following text). 

De Bruyn, i.A. and Beii, F.G. 1997. Mining induced seismicity in South Africa an historicai survey. Proceedings internationai Symposium on Engineering Geoiogy and the Environment, Athens, Marinos. P. (Ed.), A.A. Baikema, Rotterdam, 3, 2321-2326. 

There is evidence that seismic surface ground waves can generate seiches in both closed and semi-closed basins. In particular, the Great 1755 Lisbon earthquake triggered remarkable seiches in a number of Scottish lochs, and in rivers and ponds throughout England, western Europe and Scandinavia. Similarly, the Alaska earthquake of 27 March 1964 = 9.2) induced seismic surface waves that took... 

Induced seismicity is currently the most discussed risk aspect of deep geothermal systems. Drilling through and pumping fluids under high-pressure into an underground formation layer under shear stress conditions can potentially induce seismicity by releasing the stress (e.g., DiPippo, 2012). 

In this study possible accident risks of deep geothermal systems are evaluated. Risks are quantified for blowout accidents and accidents related to the use of hazardous substances in both drilling and operational phases, which represent the main accident risks besides induced seismicity. The analysis showed that the accident risk of blowouts is significantly higher than the risk related to the use of hazardous substances. This is the case for all the considered risk indicators, i.e. fatality, injury and evacuee rates. Therefore, blowouts can be considered one of the main accident risks besides induced seismicity. In addition, based on these results, the drilling phase in deep geothermal systems exhibits higher risks compared to the operational phase. 

Seismic noise can be broken down into different types or sources of noise. These include wind-induced seismic noise, cultural seismic noise (noise generated by human activities), microseis-mic noise, moving-water-induced seismic noise, and tilt-induced noise (Fig. 3). Each of these noise sources will be briefly described. 

Improved models of glacially induced seismicity will allow better prediction of what may happen as glaciers and ice sheets decrease in the current global warming trend. The evidence for current crustal scale deglaciation related seismicity is scarce but it may increase in the next century, emphasizing the need for better seismic hazard estimates in the vicinity of thinning ice sheets. 

Effects to be expected at a site from an earthquake especially include vibrations induced in structures, systems, or components (SSC) through the civil structures of the plant. These vibrations could affect the plant safety functions directly, e.g., when the induced seismic loads would exceed the capacity of safety relevant equipment items. Indirect failure modes such as mechanical interaction, dropped loads, release of hazardous substances, seismic-induced fire or flooding, impairment of operator access, or unavailability of evacuation and access routes may also be of concern (see IAEA 2003a, 2.11). 

Low-strain field tests induce seismic waves in the soil and measure the velocities at which these waves propagate. The maximum shear modulus can be computed using the measured shear wave... 

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