The exploitation of both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons may lead to still not well-known environmental consequences such as ground deformation and induced/triggered seismicity. Identifying and characterizing these effects is fundamental for prevention or mitigation purposes, especially when they impact populated areas. Two case studies of such effects on hydrocarbon-producing basins in Argentina, the Neuquén and the Golfo de San Jorge, are presented in this work. The intense hydrocarbon production activities in recent years and their potential link with the occurrence of two earthquakes of magnitude 4.9 and 5 near the operating well fields is assessed. A joint analysis of satellite radar interferometry and records of fluid injection and extraction demonstrate that, between 2017 and 2020, vertical ground displacements occurred in both study areas over active well fields that might indicate a correlation to hydrocarbon production activities. Coseismic deformation models of the two earthquakes constrain source depths to less than 2 km. The absence of seismicity before the beginning of the hydrocarbon activities in both areas, and the occurrence of the two largest and shallow earthquakes in the vicinity of the active well fields just after intensive production periods, points towards the potential association between both phenomena.
Abstract. Safety and environmental aspects are crucial beyond production goals in the hydropower industry. By monitoring landslides associated with the construction of a hydropower dam in the Santa Cruz River in Argentine Patagonia, this paper contributes to the assessment of the project structural integrity of the construction and safety risks. Ground deformation is monitored using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite data and the persistent scatterer interferometry technique, and it is contrasted with optical imagery, geological and technical reports, and fieldwork. The results include maps of accumulated deformation and deformation time series for the locations of the anchorages of the dam, providing a new and independent dataset to assess the integrity of the construction.
Abstract. In the dam industry, safety and environmental aspects are crucial beyond production goals. By monitoring landslides associated with the construction of a hydro-power dam in the Santa Cruz River in the Argentine Patagonia, this paper contributes to the assessment of the project safety. Ground deformation is monitored using SAR satellite data and the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry technique, and contrasted with optical imagery, geological and technical reports and fieldwork. The results include maps of accumulated deformation and deformation time series for the locations of the anchorages of the dam, providing a new and independent dataset to assess the dam work integrity.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.