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En Echelon Faults Reactivated by Wastewater Disposal Near Musreau Lake, Alberta

Description: 

We use machine learning and cross-correlation techniques to enhance the earthquake detectability by two magnitude units for the earthquake sequence near Musreau Lake, Alberta, which is induced by wastewater disposal. This deep catalogue reveals a series of en echelon ~N-S oriented faults that are favorably oriented for reactivation as strike-slip events. These faults require only ~0.6 MPa overpressure for triggering to occur. A temporal increase in seismicity response is caused by sequential reactivation of these faults. Episodes of fault activity tend to have earthquakes progressing towards nearby injectors. Together, these findings suggest pore pressure diffusion as the triggering mechanism. Analysis of the “next record-breaking event”, a statistical model that forecasts the sequencing of earthquake magnitudes, suggests that the next largest event would be M_L ~4.3. The seismically illuminated length of the largest fault suggests potential magnitudes as large as Mw 5.3.

Session: Understanding and Managing Induced Seismicity

Type: Oral

Date: 4/19/2023

Presentation Time: 08:45 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Ryan Schultz

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Authors