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Monitoring Thermoelastic Effects from a Closed-Loop Geothermal System

Session: Mechanisms of Induced Seismicity: Pressure Diffusion, Elastic Stressing and Aseismic Slip III

Type: Oral

Date: 4/20/2021

Presentation Time: 03:30 PM Pacific

Description: 

Closed-loop geothermal systems, a type of advanced geothermal system (AGS), use drilling technology adapted from the oil and gas industry. These differ from conventional geothermal systems because there is no fluid exchange with the subsurface reservoir. Apart from thermoelastic effects due to cooling of the reservoir, this difference is expected to obviate induced-seismicity risks. We report initial results from 9 months of monitoring using a temporary seismograph array installed above a prototype closed-loop geothermal system in west-central Alberta, Canada. The seismograph array is designed to detect microearthquakes that may be associated with the expanding cooling front from the closed-loop system. Taken together with coverage provided by a regional seismograph network, this array also enhances monitoring of nearby, previously documented seismicity clusters that are associated with hydraulic fracturing in the Duvernay East Shale basin and gas production in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Ongoing analysis is underway using the open-source software REDPy.

Presenting Author: Kienan P. Marion

Student Presenter: Yes

Authors