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Hydraulic Fracturing Induced Seismicity in the Southern Sichuan Basin Due to Fluid Diffusion Inferred From Seismic and Injection Data Analysis
Author(s) -
Tan Yuyang,
Hu Jun,
Zhang Haijiang,
Chen Yukuan,
Qian Jiawei,
Wang Quanfeng,
Zha Huasheng,
Tang Pan,
Nie Zhou
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2019gl084885
Subject(s) - geology , hydraulic fracturing , induced seismicity , seismology , shale gas , oil shale , structural basin , petrology , geotechnical engineering , geomorphology , paleontology
In the southern Sichuan Basin, China, the recent increase in the seismic activity has been suspected to be related to hydraulic fracturing stimulation for producing the shale gas. In this study, we used the monitoring data from a local seismic network within the shale gas blocks to study the earthquakes near the shale gas production wells that have detailed injection data. Comparison of the timing of earthquakes and stimulation schedule of the studied well pads indicates an apparent correlation between the seismic activity and hydraulic fracturing. The results of seismic velocity tomography reveal that the reactivation of preexisting faults due to fluid diffusion is the primary cause of the observed earthquakes. Focal mechanism analysis combined with geomechanical modeling indicates that the increased pore pressures resulted from hydraulic fracturing are sufficient to trigger seismic slip on the faults.