Earthquakes Induced by Wastewater Disposal near Musreau Lake, Alberta, 2018–2020

Abstract

Although hydraulic fracturing-induced earthquakes have been widely reported in Alberta, Canada, only one seismic cluster (the Cordel Field) has thus far been linked to wastewater disposal (WD). In this study, we report a statistically significant spatiotemporal correlation between recent earthquakes and nearby WD wells near Musreau Lake—the second disposal-induced earthquake swarm in Alberta. This newly occurred swarm contains five events with local magnitudes ML>3 from January 2018 to March 2020, forming into three tightly spaced clusters. The refined locations and focal mechanisms suggest a ∼10 km long northwest–southeast-trending rupture along the northern Rocky Mountains that developed over time, during which both poroelastic effects and static stress transfer played key roles. Through a statistical analysis of all reported induced earthquake clusters in the western Canada sedimentary basin (WCSB), we propose a linear predictive relationship (i.e., the “Interpolated Strike Orientation” model) between fault rupture direction and fault distance to the Rocky Mountains. This observation-based model, which is supported by both the focal mechanisms of the natural earthquakes and the nearby northwest-striking geological faults, is a new and useful reference for future assessments of seismic hazard in the WCSB.

From Seismic Quiescence to Surged Activity After Decades of Wastewater Disposal: A Case Study in Central‐West Alberta, Canada

“…The Musreau Lake sequence could be a sign that the chronic stress accumulation has finally loaded the fault toward failure. Although it is deemed to be a direct response to the high‐rate injections from 2018 (Li et al., 2021; Weingarten et al., 2015), the cumulated injected fluid prior to 2018 may have considerably contributed to the build‐up of local stress, as the total injected volume before 2018 is comparable to that of between 2018 and 2020, i.e., 7.0 × 10 6 m 3 vs 10.6 × 10 6 m 3 (Figure ).…”

“…As of January 3, 2020, a total of 43 events (M L 1.3–3.9) are reported by the Alberta Geological Survey (AGS; labeled in chronological order in Table ). We denote the earthquake sequence as the Musreau Lake sequence (Li et al., 2021). Among five nearby disposal wells, four were in operation during the time period of active seismicity.…”

Injection-induced fault slip assessment in Montney Formation in Western Canada

“…In this study, we have used the injection-induced earthquake focal mechanisms recorded in WCSB to constrain the maximum principal stress magnitudes. The dataset includes 64 HF-induced earthquakes around Fort St John, and 39 wastewater-induced earthquakes near Musreau Lake, Alberta 35 .…”

“…Not all these earthquakes are within the Montney Formation; the colored circles outside of the area of the Montney Formation are natural tectonic earthquakes. The earthquakes around Fox Creek have resulted from HF in the Duvernay Formation and wastewater disposal near Musreau Lake (event ML 3.94) 35 . Grey thick lines are the main faults in the studied area.…”

Evolution of Short‐Term Seismic Hazard in Alberta, Canada, From Induced and Natural Earthquakes: 2011–2020

“…To date, the largest event recorded has a magnitude M = 3.94, which occurred in December 2019. Preliminary analysis suggests a strong correlation between seismicity and waste‐water disposal activities nearby (Li et al., 2021). The first waste‐water disposal wells started in July 2017; however, A remarkable increase in the injection rates occurred in mid‐2018.…”