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Time-Space Evolution of the Groningen Gas Field in Terms of b-Value: Insights and Implications for Seismic Hazard

Description: 

The Groningen gas field, located in the north-east of Netherlands, is the Europe’s largest onshore gas field. It was discovered in 1959 and production started in 1963: continuous production leads to reservoir compaction and subsidence, gradually loading pre-existing fault and induced seismicity started about 30 years into the production. The seismic hazard and risk related to the induced seismicity is determined not only the rate of activity, but it is equally influenced by the relative size distribution of the seismicity, the b-value. I re-analyze the spatial and temporal evolution of the b-value in the field using an alternative approach to overcome magnitude in completeness heterogeneity and link it to the evolution of fault loading and subsidence. Spatial variations of b-values are found to vary between 0.61 and 1.3, with lowest observed values observed in the location of the 2012 Huizinge M3.6 earthquake. In the last 10 years, the mapped b-value are more homogeneous throughout the field.

The spatial and temporal evolution of the b-value in the field is shown in this study to be quite complex and systematically linked it to the evolution of fault loading, absolute compaction and the rate of compaction, an important finding that offers new insights into hazard reduction and mitigation strategies of extraction relation induced seismicity. Compaction rates below 2 mm/year are not correlated to seismicity above M 2.0 in the history of the field, suggesting that low volume production may be safer than previously assumed.

Session: Understanding and Managing Induced Seismicity [Poster]

Type: Poster

Date: 4/19/2023

Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Laura Gulia

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Authors