Fault activation and induced seismicity in geological carbon storage – Lessons learned from recent modeling studies
OPEN ACCESS
Loading...
Author / Producer
Date
2016-12
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
OPEN ACCESS
Data
Abstract
In the light of current concerns related to induced seismicity associated with geological carbon sequestration (GCS), this paper summarizes lessons learned from recent modeling studies on fault activation, induced seismicity, and potential for leakage associated with deep underground carbon dioxide (CO2) injection. Model simulations demonstrate that seismic events large enough to be felt by humans require brittle fault properties and continuous fault permeability allowing pressure to be distributed over a large fault patch to be ruptured at once. Heterogeneous fault properties, which are commonly encountered in faults intersecting multilayered shale/sandstone sequences, effectively reduce the likelihood of inducing felt seismicity and also effectively impede upward CO2 leakage. A number of simulations show that even a sizable seismic event that could be felt may not be capable of opening a new flow path across the entire thickness of an overlying caprock and it is very unlikely to cross a system of multiple overlying caprock units. Site-specific model simulations of the In Salah CO2 storage demonstration site showed that deep fractured zone responses and associated microseismicity occurred in the brittle fractured sandstone reservoir, but at a very substantial reservoir overpressure close to the magnitude of the least principal stress. We conclude by emphasizing the importance of site investigation to characterize rock properties and if at all possible to avoid brittle rock such as proximity of crystalline basement or sites in hard and brittle sedimentary sequences that are more prone to injection-induced seismicity and permanent damage.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Volume
8 (6)
Pages / Article No.
789 - 804
Publisher
Elsevier
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Carbon dioxide (CO2) injection; Fault rupture; Induced seismicity; Ground motion; Leakage; Modeling
Organisational unit
02818 - Schweiz. Erdbebendienst (SED) / Swiss Seismological Service (SED)
Notes
Funding
160555 - To induce or not to induce: an open problem. Study on injection-induced seismicity for GeoEnergy applications, from lab to field scale (SNF)