Analytical Solution to Assess the Induced Seismicity Potential of Faults in Pressurized and Depleted Reservoirs.

ABSTRACT: Displaced faults crossing the reservoir could significantly increase the induced earthquake frequency in geo-energy projects. Understanding and predicting the stress variation in such cases is essential to minimize the risk of induced seismicity. Here, we adopt the inclusion theory to develop an analytical solution for the stress response to pore pressure variations within the reservoir for both permeable and impermeable faults with offset ranging from zero to the reservoir thickness. By analyzing fault stability changes due to reservoir pressurization/depletion under different scenarios, we find that (1) the induced seismicity potential of impermeable faults is always larger than that of permeable faults under any initial and injection conditions-the maximum size of the fault undergoing f

SUBMITTER: Wu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9285632 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature