Hydraulic fracturing induced seismicity in western Canada: insights from focal mechanism and swarm analysis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruijia Wang* ◽  
Yu Jeffrey Gu ◽  
Miao Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Focal Mechanism ◽  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Western Canada

2000-2020: Two Decades of Evolution of Hydraulic Fracturing-Induced Seismicity in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Germán Rodríguez-Pradilla ◽  
David Eaton ◽  
Melanie Popp
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Sedimentary Basin ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Critical Parameters ◽  
Seismic Events ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Maximum Magnitude ◽  
Western Canada Sedimentary Basin ◽  
Canada Sedimentary Basin

Abstract The goal of this work is to calibrate a regional predictive model for maximum magnitude of seismic activity associated with hydraulic-fracturing in low-permeability formations in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB). Hydraulic fracturing data (i.e. total injected volume, injection rate, and pressure) were compiled from more than 40,000 hydraulic-fractured wells in the WCSB. These wells were drilled into more than 100 different formations over a 20-year period (January 1st, 2000 and January 1st, 2020). The total injected volume per unit area was calculated utilizing an area of 0.2° in longitude by 0.1° in latitude (or approximately 13x11km, somewhat larger than a standard township of 6x6 miles). This volume was then used to correlate with reported seismicity in the same unit areas. Collectively, within the 143 km2 area considered in this study, a correlation between the total injected volume and the maximum magnitude of seismic events was observed. Results are similar to the maximum-magnitude forecasting model proposed by A. McGarr (JGR, 2014) for seismic events induced by wastewater injection wells in central US. The McGarr method is also based on the total injected fluid per well (or per multiple nearby wells located in the same unit area). However, in some areas in the WCSB, lower injected fluid volumes than the McGarr model predicts were needed to induce seismic events of magnitude 3.0 or higher, although with a similar linear relation. The result of this work is the calculation of a calibration parameter for the McGarr model to better predict the magnitudes of seismic events associated with the injected volumes of hydraulic fracturing. This model can be used to predict induced seismicity in future unconventional hydraulic fracturing treatments and prevent large-magnitude seismic events from occurring. The rich dataset available from the WCSB allowed us to carry out a robust analysis of the influence of critical parameters (such as the total injected fluid) in the maximum magnitude of seismic events associated with the hydraulic-fracturing stimulation of unconventional wells. This analysis could be replicated for any other sedimentary basin with unconventional wells by compiling similar stimulation and earthquake data as in this study.

Hydraulic Fracturing and Seismicity in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin

2016 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 631-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail M. Atkinson ◽  
David W. Eaton ◽  
Hadi Ghofrani ◽  
Dan Walker ◽  
Burns Cheadle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Sedimentary Basin ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Western Canada Sedimentary Basin ◽  
Canada Sedimentary Basin

scholarly journals Fatigue hydraulic fracturing by cyclic reservoir treatment enhances permeability and reduces induced seismicity

2013 ◽  
Vol 195 (2) ◽  
pp. 1282-1287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arno Zang ◽  
Jeoung Seok Yoon ◽  
Ove Stephansson ◽  
Oliver Heidbach
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Induced Seismicity

Induced Seismicity in Western Canada Linked to Tectonic Strain Rate: Implications for Regional Seismic Hazard

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Honn Kao ◽  
Roy Hyndman ◽  
Yan Jiang ◽  
Ryan Visser ◽  
Brindley Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Strain Rate ◽  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Western Canada

Hybrid focal mechanism determination: constraining focal mechanisms of injection induced seismicity using in situ stress data

2018 ◽  
Vol 215 (2) ◽  
pp. 1427-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Mukuhira ◽  
K Fuse ◽  
M Naoi ◽  
MC Fehler ◽  
H Moriya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focal Mechanism ◽  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
In Situ Stress ◽  
Focal Mechanisms

Comprehensive Characterization and Mitigation of Hydraulic Fracturing-Induced Seismicity in Fox Creek, Alberta

SPE Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Gang Hui ◽  
Shengnan Chen ◽  
Zhangxin Chen ◽  
Fei Gu ◽  
Mathab Ghoroori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Pore Pressure ◽  
Hydraulic Fracture ◽  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Mitigation Strategy ◽  
Moment Magnitude ◽  
Induced Earthquakes ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Comprehensive Characterization

Summary The relationships among formation properties, fracturing operations, and induced earthquakes nucleated at distinctive moments and positions remain unclear. In this study, a complete data set on formations, seismicity, and fracturing treatments is collected in Fox Creek, Alberta, Canada. The data set is then used to characterize the induced seismicity and evaluate its susceptibility toward fracturing stimulations via integration of geology, geomechanics, and hydrology. Five mechanisms are identified to account for spatiotemporal activation of the nearby faults in Fox Creek, where all major events [with a moment magnitude (Mw) greater than 2.5] are caused by the increase in pore pressure and poroelastic stress during the fracturing operation. In addition, an integrated geological index (IGI) and a combined geomechanical index (CGI) are first proposed to indicate seismicity susceptibility, which is consistent with the spatial distribution of induced earthquakes. Finally, mitigation strategy results suggest that enlarging a hydraulic fracture-fault distance and decreasing a fracturing job size can reduce the risk of potential seismic activities.

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