Geothermal production and reduced seismicity: Correlation and proposed mechanism

Cardiff, Michael; Lim, David; Patterson, J. R.; Akerley, John; Spielman, Paul; Lopeman, Janice; Walsh, Patrick; Singh, Ankit; Foxall, W.; Wang, Herbert F.; Lord, N. E.; Thurber, C. H.; Fratta, Dante; Mellors, R. J.; Davatzes, Nicholas C.; Feigl, K. L.

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2017.11.037

Cited by 28 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…For most systems no induced seismicity is reported, but local monitoring systems were only placed near a couple of geothermal fields. Several small events were measured during EGS stimulation at Desert Peak with M L up to 1.7 (Benato et al, 2016) and production and reinjection in Brady's field with M L up to 2.4 (Cardiff et al, 2018). At Brady, no seismic events were observed when pumping rates were high, but events were temporally correlated to times when production was halted.…”

Section: Convection-dominated Plays And/or Case Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of induced seismicity in geothermal systems worldwide and implications for geothermal systems in the Netherlands

Buijze

Bijsterveldt²,

Cremer³

et al. 2019

Netherlands Journal of Geosciences

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Geothermal energy is a viable alternative to gas for the heating of buildings, industrial areas and greenhouses, and can thus play an important role in making the transition to sustainable energy in the Netherlands. Heat is currently produced from the Dutch subsurface through circulation of water between two wells in deep (1.5–3 km) geothermal formations with temperature of up to ∼100 °C. As the number of these so-called doublets is expected to increase significantly over the next decades, and targeted depths and temperatures increase, it is important to assess potential show-stoppers related to geothermal operations. One of these potential hazards is the possibility of the occurrence of felt seismic events, which could potentially damage infrastructure and housing, and affect public support. Such events have been observed in several geothermal systems in other countries. Here we review the occurrence (or the lack) of felt seismic events in geothermal systems worldwide and identify key factors influencing the occurrence and magnitude of these events. Based on this review, we project the findings for seismicity in geothermal systems to typical geothermal formations and future geothermal developments in the Netherlands. The case study review shows that doublets that circulate fluids through relatively shallow, porous, sedimentary aquifers far from the crystalline basement are unlikely to generate felt seismic events. On the other hand, stimulations or circulations in or near competent, fractured, basement rocks and production and reinjection operations in high-temperature geothermal fields are more prone to induce felt events, occasionally with magnitudes of M > 5.0. Many of these operations are situated in tectonically active areas, and stress and temperature changes may be large. The presence of large, optimally oriented and critically stressed faults increases the potential for induced seismicity. The insights from the case study review suggest that the potential for the occurrence of M > 2.0 seismicity for geothermal operations in several of the sandstone target formations in the Netherlands is low, especially if faults can be avoided. The potential for induced seismicity may be moderate for operations in faulted carbonate rocks. Induced seismicity always remains a complex and site-specific process with large unknowns, and can never be excluded entirely. However, assessing the potential for inducing felt seismic events can be improved by considering the relevant (site-specific) geological and operational key factors discussed in this article.

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Section: Convection-dominated Plays And/or Case Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of induced seismicity in geothermal systems worldwide and implications for geothermal systems in the Netherlands

Buijze

Bijsterveldt²,

Cremer³

et al. 2019

Netherlands Journal of Geosciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…There, Cardiff et al [18] found evidence relating increased microseismic activity to periods of brief cessations in pumping at the site. Such behavior is explained by the adaptation of subsurface effective (normal) stress to long-term normal operations, such that "extraction of fluids inhibits fault slip by increasing the effective [normal] stress on faults; in contrast, brief pumping cessations represent times when effective stress is decreased below its long-term average, increasing the likelihood of microseismicity" [18]. Similar phenomena have been observed at the San Emidio geothermal field in Nevada as well [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geodetic Measurements and Numerical Models of Deformation at Coso Geothermal Field, California, USA, 2004–2016

et al. 2020

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We measure transient deformation at Coso geothermal field using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data acquired between 2004 and 2016 and relative positions estimated from global positioning system (GPS) to quantify relationships between deformation and pumping. We parameterize the reservoir as a cuboidal sink and solve for best-fitting reservoir dimensions and locations before and after 2010 in accordance with sustainability efforts implemented in late 2009 at the site. Time-series analysis is performed on volume changes estimated from pairs of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and daily GPS data. We identify decreasing pore-fluid pressure as the dominant mechanism driving the subsidence observed at Coso geothermal field. We also find a significant positive correlation between deformation and production rate.

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“…The area is characterized by several NNE‐striking normal faults which comprise one of the three major fault systems of the Great Basin region (Benoit et al, 1982; Faulds et al, 2003; Jolie et al, 2015); this major fault dips WNW (Faulds et al, 2003, 2010). Although a few minor seismic events have been recorded following the installation of a monitoring network in 2010, the largest recorded earthquake to date occurring within 10 km of Brady had a local magnitude of 2.2 (Cardiff et al, 2017; Foxall, 2014, 2016; Nathwani et al, 2011). Accordingly, we assume that these faults are seismically locked but hydraulically conductive during the time interval from 2003 to 2018.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Brady site itself is located within a 600‐m‐wide left fault step in the fault trace. This structure contains several N‐striking, en échelon faults acting as highly permeable conduits that channel fluids through the geothermal system (Ali et al, 2016; Cardiff et al, 2017; Feigl et al, 2019; Reinisch et al, 2018), as shown on the deformation map in Figure 1. Surface evidence of geothermal activity is visible at Brady as fumaroles, sinter, warm ground, and mud pots (Faulds et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Time‐Series Analysis of Volume Change at Brady Hot Springs, Nevada, USA, Using Geodetic Data From 2003–2018

et al. 2020

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Brady Hot Springs geothermal field has exhibited subsidence, as measured by interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR). Previous studies have examined both the temporal evolution of the deformation from 2004 through 2016 and the spatial extent of the deformation, directly relating the observed subsidence to volumetric changes below the surface. We extend the modeling at Brady to analyze a data set of interferometric pairs spanning from the end of 2003 through 2018. We examine spatial and temporal trends in the observed deformation by time-series analysis of each of the 1,656 cubic voxels in a parameterized elastic dislocation model to identify areas where the subsurface volume changes as a function of time. Joint time-series analysis of Global Positioning System and InSAR pairs confirm significant changes in rates of volume change during time intervals when well operations were varied. The rate of subsidence increases with increased injection, consistent with the identification of thermal contraction of the rock matrix as the dominant driving mechanism. Conversely, the modeled volume increases when pumping ceases, suggesting thermal expansion of the rock matrix.

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Geothermal production and reduced seismicity: Correlation and proposed mechanism

Cited by 28 publications

References 12 publications

Review of induced seismicity in geothermal systems worldwide and implications for geothermal systems in the Netherlands

Review of induced seismicity in geothermal systems worldwide and implications for geothermal systems in the Netherlands

Geodetic Measurements and Numerical Models of Deformation at Coso Geothermal Field, California, USA, 2004–2016

Time‐Series Analysis of Volume Change at Brady Hot Springs, Nevada, USA, Using Geodetic Data From 2003–2018

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