Spatiotemporal Variations in Crustal Seismic Anisotropy Surrounding Induced Earthquakes Near Fox Creek, Alberta

Li, Tianyang; Gu, Yu Jeffrey; Wang, Zizhen; Wang, Ruijia; Chen, Yunfeng; Song, Tae Bok; Wang, Ruihe

doi:10.1029/2018gl081766

Cited by 24 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 69 publications

(93 reference statements)

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“…This temporal variation is potential evidence for a local change in the stress state following the occurrence of ML4, which cannot be solely explained by ruptures along the same fault. We conjecture that the local stress field was significantly altered by the cessation of injection, similar to the observed reduction in seismic anisotropy after the mainshock near Fox Creek (Li et al, 2019). The double‐fault or multi‐fault rupture associated with stress changes has been documented in case studies of earthquake induced by wastewater disposal in Oklahoma (Keranen et al, 2013) and geothermal production in South Korea (Kim et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…This oblique orientation is parallel to S Hmax . Similar observations have been documented during the HF operations, which are considered to result from the preferential movement of HF stimulation pressures along this axis (Li et al, 2019; Schultz & Wang, 2020; H. Zhang, Eaton, et al, 2019). The time sequence of the events from our catalog suggests continued effects of the preexisting upper‐crustal structure on the occurrences of smaller‐magnitude induced earthquakes after the initial rupture of ML4.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

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Sequential Fault Reactivation and Secondary Triggering in the March 2019 Red Deer Induced Earthquake Swarm

Wang

et al. 2020

Geophysical Research Letters

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Using data from nodal geophones and broadband seismometers, this study investigates the seismicity near Red Deer, Alberta, a region with increasing cases of hydraulic fracturing (HF)-induced earthquakes. A cluster of 417 events was detected, and their spatial distribution and focal mechanisms reveal a NE trending rupture area with two strike-slip fault planes. Reactivation of preexisting faults by pore pressure diffusion is likely responsible for the occurrence of the earthquake sequence following the M L 4.18 mainshock. The temporal sequence of reactivated fault orientations suggests apparent changes in the local stress field following the mainshock, which is also responsible for a remotely triggered cluster observed 1 month after the mainshock. This secondary triggering process enhances our understanding of the trailing effect of HF-induced seismicity. Plain Language Summary Since 2018, the Red Deer region in Alberta, Canada, has experienced an increasing number of earthquakes, most of which are associated with nearby hydraulic fracturing operations. In this study, we analyze data from a dense array of seismic sensors and regional seismometers to detect and locate events surrounding a hydraulic fracturing site near Red Deer from 4 March to 10 April 2019. The spatial distribution of the earthquakes defines a complex fault system that was activated at two different times. The results in this study signify stress changes in the shallow crust in connection with the 4.18 magnitude earthquake on 4 March 2019. Modifications to the regional stress regime are relatively long-lived, as suggested by the continued occurrences of smaller earthquakes 1 month after the mainshock.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Sequential Fault Reactivation and Secondary Triggering in the March 2019 Red Deer Induced Earthquake Swarm

Wang

et al. 2020

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…Moment tensor analysis indicates that minor non‐double‐couple source components of induced events could be linked to tensile fracture growth, multiple intersecting fractures, dilatant jogs created at the overlapping areas of multiple fractures, or nonplanar preexisting faults (R. Wang et al, 2018; Zhang et al, 2016). Studies on these events have been diverse, covering topics related to crustal anisotropy (T. Li, Gu, et al, 2019), stress drop (Clerc et al, 2016; Holmgren et al, 2019, 2020), ground motions (Atkinson & Assatourians, 2017; Kaski & Atkinson, 2017; Rodríguez‐Pradilla & Eaton, 2019), and site amplification (Farrugia et al, 2017, 2018). Ongoing analysis of these events has included incorporating them in processed ground motion databases, for use in earthquake hazard studies (Assatourians & Atkinson, 2020).…”

Section: Summary Of Documented Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydraulic Fracturing‐Induced Seismicity

Schultz

Skoumal

Brudzinski

et al. 2020

Reviews of Geophysics

256

176

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Hydraulic fracturing (HF) is a technique that is used for extracting petroleum resources from impermeable host rocks. In this process, fluid injected under high pressure causes fractures to propagate. This technique has been transformative for the hydrocarbon industry, unlocking otherwise stranded resources; however, environmental concerns make HF controversial. One concern is HF‐induced seismicity, since fluids driven under high pressure also have the potential to reactivate faults. Controversy has inevitably followed these HF‐induced earthquakes, with economic and human losses from ground shaking at one extreme and moratoriums on resource development at the other. Here, we review the state of knowledge of this category of induced seismicity. We first cover essential background information on HF along with an overview of published induced earthquake cases to date. Expanding on this, we synthesize the common themes and interpret the origin of these commonalities, which include recurrent earthquake swarms, proximity to well bore, rapid response to stimulation, and a paucity of reported cases. Next, we discuss the unanswered questions that naturally arise from these commonalities, leading to potential research themes: consistent recognition of cases, proposed triggering mechanisms, geologically susceptible conditions, identification of operational controls, effective mitigation efforts, and science‐informed regulatory management. HF‐induced seismicity provides a unique opportunity to better understand and manage earthquake rupture processes; overall, understanding HF‐induced earthquakes is important in order to avoid extreme reactions in either direction.

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“…These studies consistently document a NE‐SW fast orientation approximately parallel to the direction of absolute plate motion (see Figure ), suggesting large‐scale deformation within a potentially coupled lithosphere‐asthenosphere system. At crustal depths, azimuthal anisotropy and the associated stress directions have been inferred from borehole breakout (Reiter et al, 2014) and time‐dependent splitting parameters of direct S waves (Li et al, ). These crustal and sedimentary observations consistently exhibit a dominant NE‐SW trend, approximately aligned with the orientation of the maximum compression axis determined from focal mechanisms of recent induced earthquakes (Wang et al, ; ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shear Velocity and Radial Anisotropy beneath Southwestern Canada: Evidence for Crustal Extension and Thick‐Skinned Tectonics

Wang

Chen

2020

JGR Solid Earth

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Deformation‐associated craton assembly and Cordilleran orogenesis played major roles during the crustal formation beneath the western margin of North America. To improve the understanding of the deformation history in this region, we investigate the crustal shear velocity and anisotropy by analyzing fundamental mode Rayleigh and Love waves from ambient seismic noise. Continuous recordings from 118 regional broadband stations reveal lateral variations in both velocity and anisotropy with strong spatial affinities to major geological domains. Strong variations in radial anisotropy, which dips westward and extends to at least midcrustal depths, suggest a “thick‐skinned” foreland thrust‐and‐fold belt beneath the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Our regional data also suggest increased horizontal shear velocities beneath the southern Canadian Cordillera, particularly near the Omineca Belt, which may have resulted from strong zonal deformation within the Cordilleran crust. This anisotropic anomaly migrates southward, and its spatial extent agrees well with the normal fault distribution to the west of the Rocky Mountain Trench. Our observations offer new evidence for the Eocene extension of the orogenic hinterland during the trans‐tensional motion of the Cordillera to the North American craton.

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Spatiotemporal Variations in Crustal Seismic Anisotropy Surrounding Induced Earthquakes Near Fox Creek, Alberta

Cited by 24 publications

References 69 publications

Sequential Fault Reactivation and Secondary Triggering in the March 2019 Red Deer Induced Earthquake Swarm

Sequential Fault Reactivation and Secondary Triggering in the March 2019 Red Deer Induced Earthquake Swarm

Hydraulic Fracturing‐Induced Seismicity

Shear Velocity and Radial Anisotropy beneath Southwestern Canada: Evidence for Crustal Extension and Thick‐Skinned Tectonics

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