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Undocumented Cases of Induced Seismicity in Oklahoma and Texas

Description: 

Identifying the causal factors behind elevated seismicity rates in areas with multiple overlapping oil and gas activities has always been a challenging issue. Often enough the dominant causal factor masks cases triggered by secondary operations. Using the framework presented in Grigoratos et al. (2020; 2022) our analysis hindcasts seismicity rates on spatial grid using either Hydraulic Fracturing (HF) or Salt Water Disposal (SWD) data as input and compares them against the null hypothesis of solely tectonic loading. In the end, each block is assigned a p-value, indicating the statistical confidence of its causal link with either HF or SWD operations. Here, we present results for the Eagle Ford (EF) play in Texas and parts of Oklahoma (OK). Our results confirm previous studies that linked most of the seismicity in the EF and OK with HF and SWD, respectively. That said, we also identified clusters of seismicity triggered by HF in OK that spatially overlap with areas affected by SWD, as well as clusters triggered by SWD in the EF that spatially overlap with areas affected by HF. Finally, we also found that at least one cluster of earthquakes in the western part of EF play, along the border with Mexico, is related only to SWD. Our analysis highlights that overlapping oil and gas activities might trigger seismicity at different depth intervals, without the latter necessarily being in hydraulic communication.

Session: Induced Earthquakes: Source Characteristics, Mechanisms, Stress Field Modeling and Hazards - I

Type: Oral

Date: 5/1/2024

Presentation Time: 08:30 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Alexandros

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Authors