Statistical parameters of seismicity induced by the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir, Central China

Zhang, Lifen; Lei, Xinglin; Liao, Wulin; Li, Jinggang; Yao, Yunsheng

doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2018.12.022

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Wu et al [19] based on the finite element method of linear elastic theory, established the three-dimensional finite element model of the head area of the Three Gorges Reservoir, simulated the changes of the total displacement field and the tectonic stress field of the northern section of the Xiannvshan fault after the impoundment, and believed that when the Three Gorges Reservoir was at the high-level impoundment (175 m), the three groups of main stress values in the deep part of the northern section of the Xiannvshan fault and Jiuwanxi fault increased sharply compared with those before the impoundment, the three groups of main stress values increased, and the shear stress and shear strain energy were easy to concentrate; it is easy to accelerate the instability of the northern segment of the Xiannvshan fault and induce the reservoir earthquake. Yao et al [20] and Zhang et al [21] believed that the earthquakes here are typical reservoir-induced earthquakes, which are closely related to water infiltration, pore pressure, and water level fluctuations. The majority of the micro and small earthquakes are caused by karst collapse, mine collapse, bank reformation, superficial unloading, and so on.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Influence of the Three Gorges Reservoir Impoundment on Xiannvshan Fault Activity

Jiayu,

Lili,

Yaowen

et al. 2023

Geofluids

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Since the initial impoundment and commissioning of the Three Gorges Reservoir in June 2003, seismic activity surrounding the reservoir region has undergone substantial changes. Leveraging geological and hydrogeological data from the Three Gorges Reservoir area, this study statistically analyzes the historical water level and earthquake catalog within the reservoir. By examining the correlation between reservoir water levels and earthquake frequency, the relationship between seismicity along the Xiannvshan fault and water level is analyzed. Additionally, the ArcGIS software is employed to evaluate the spatial pattern of earthquake epicenters during the filling of the Three Gorges Reservoir, with the goal of elucidating the impact of water impoundment at the Three Gorges on the activity along the Xiannvshan fault. The results demonstrate the following. (1) There is a complex process of “continuous loading, permeation and saturation, rebound and rebalancing” in the crust of the reservoir head area during the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, and the activity of the Xiannvshan fault is closely related to the reservoir water level. (2) At the 135 m impoundment stage, Xiannvshan fault activity is mainly affected by reservoir water level and is positively correlated with reservoir water level. At the 156 m impoundment stage, reservoir water load is still the main influencing factor of Xiannvshan fault activity, but the permeability of reservoir water is enhanced in this stage. (3) The earthquake epicenters near the northern section of the Xiannvshan fault are clustered during the 175 m experimental impoundment stage. During the continuous loading stage, the reservoir water load is still the main control factor of the Xiannvshan fault, and the seismic activity is significantly enhanced. From November 2010 to November 2013, during the permeation and saturation stage, the dominant factor of Xiannvshan fault activity changed from reservoir water load to reservoir water infiltration along the Xiannvshan fault. The period from 2013.11 to 2014.5 was a vertical rebound stage, and the infiltration effect of reservoir water had a more significant impact on Xiannvshan fault activities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Influence of the Three Gorges Reservoir Impoundment on Xiannvshan Fault Activity

Jiayu,

Lili,

Yaowen

et al. 2023

Geofluids

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“…Experimental water injection at depth at Rangely [Colorado, Raleigh et al, 1976] confirmed than fluids could trigger earthquakes. Since then, the artifical triggering of earthquakes has been ascertained in a large variety of human activities: hydrocarbon extraction [Wiprut and Zoback, 2000, Amos et al, 2014, Bourne et al, 2014, Van Wees et al, 2014, dam reservoir impoundment [Rastogi et al, 1997, Gupta, 2002, McGarr et al, 2002, Zhang et al, 2019, industrial waste water repository [Horton, 2012, Yeck et al, 2016, carbon dioxide storage projects [Zoback and Gorelick, 2012], and water injection in deep boreholes to produce geothermal energy [Deichmann and Giardini, 2009, Terakawa et al, 2012, McGarr et al, 2015. Fluidinjection-experiments at the KTB borehole in Germany have shown that even small pressure variations (<1 MPa) could trigger numerous microearthquakes at a depth of 9 km [Zoback and Harjes, 1997].…”

Section: Fluids and Man-made Earthquakesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fluids, faulting and earthquakes in the brittle crust: recent advances and new challenges

Fabbri,

Raimbourg,

Leclère

2024

Comptes Rendus. Géoscience

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Interactions between fluids and deformation are widespread in the brittle crust. As experimentally shown, a high pore fluid pressure p f can fracture intact rocks or reactivate pre-existing fractures. The preference of reactivation over the formation of a new fracture depends on the orientation of the pre-existing fracture with respect to the stress axes and on p f . In nature, the predominant reactivation of misoriented pre-existing faults rather than the formation of new faults with more favorable orientations suggests that pressurized fluids are present in the brittle crust. There is a large body of evidence indicating that supra-hydrostatic p f contributes to the reactivation of lowangle thrust faults or normal faults. Conversely, supra-hydrostatic p f values are less common along vertical or steeply dipping plate boundary transform faults or intra-continental strike-slip faults. If these faults are severely misoriented with respect to the ambient stress field, their reactivation may not be due to supra-hydrostatic p f but to other mechanisms such as shear-enhanced compaction or thermal pressurization. Supra-hydrostatic p f also plays a role in the nucleation or propagation of seismic ruptures in the continental or oceanic crust, and in subducting slabs in convergent margins, as reported for aftershocks, swarms, slow earthquakes, and to a lesser extent for major earthquakes. Lastly, increase or decrease of p f in depth due to human activities such as hydrocarbon extraction, dam impoundment, gas storage or geothermal energy production result in many cases in the inception or enhancement of seismic activiy, adding clues in favor of a relationship between fluids and earthquakes.

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“…To date, approximately 130 confirmed cases of RIS have been reported worldwide (Van Eijs et al, 2006;Basbous et al, 2022;Zheng et al, 2022). Despite most RIS events having low magnitudes, they can be highly destructive, causing damage to nearby dams and structures and even giving rise to secondary disasters like landslides and collapses, posing a threat to downstream safety (Che et al, 2009;Zhang et al, 2019). Consequently, RIS plays a crucial role not only in hydraulic and hydroelectric engineering research but also in the realms of seismology, regional structural stability, and environmental engineering geology research (Gaucher et al, 2015;Chang et al, 2022;Chen, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of 3-D velocity structure characteristics in Dadu river Houziyan reservoir area at different impoundment stages

Yang,

Cao,

et al. 2024

Front. Earth Sci.

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High-resolution three-dimensional VP, VS and VP/VS images in the Houziyan Reservoir Area were obtained by using Fast Marching Tomography Package (FMTOMO) with the travel time data from 6330 seismic events monitored by the Houziyan Reservoir Seismic Network. This analysis yielded the 3-D velocity structure, including longitudinal wave velocity (VP), shear wave velocity (VS), and the ratio of longitudinal and shear wave velocity (VP/VS) at different impoundment stages. The data changes at various impoundment times, depths of sections, and directions of profiles were analyzed to obtain these results. The final findings demonstrate the following results: 1) Through tomographic analysis, it was determined that the underground velocity structure in the Houziyan reservoir area was anisotropic before impoundment. 2) The area of high wave velocity increases in stage 1, stage 3, and stage 4. The area of low wave velocity increases in stage 2, especially in depth, indicating significant changes in the underground velocity structure at different impoundment stages. 3) Compared to the changes in underground velocity structures in other reservoirs after impoundment, the Houziyan reservoir exhibited a unique pattern. 4) In general, the underground velocity structure displayed an overall increasing trend after impoundment. However, it also exhibited instances of decreasing velocity, reflecting continuous dynamic adjustments to the underground velocity structure after impoundment. These conclusions highlight the impact of impoundment in the reservoir area on the underground velocity structure and provide scientific theoretical support for seismic risk assessment following impoundment in the reservoir area.

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Statistical parameters of seismicity induced by the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir, Central China

Cited by 17 publications

References 35 publications

Influence of the Three Gorges Reservoir Impoundment on Xiannvshan Fault Activity

Influence of the Three Gorges Reservoir Impoundment on Xiannvshan Fault Activity

Fluids, faulting and earthquakes in the brittle crust: recent advances and new challenges

Study of 3-D velocity structure characteristics in Dadu river Houziyan reservoir area at different impoundment stages

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