Articles | Volume 11, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-909-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-909-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
20 May 2020
Research article |
| 20 May 2020
Potential influence of overpressurized gas on the induced seismicity in the St. Gallen deep geothermal project (Switzerland)
Dominik Zbinden
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Swiss Seismological Service, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Antonio Pio Rinaldi
Swiss Seismological Service, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Tobias Diehl
Swiss Seismological Service, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Stefan Wiemer
Swiss Seismological Service, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Related authors
No articles found.
Xiaodong Ma, Marian Hertrich, Florian Amann, Kai Bröker, Nima Gholizadeh Doonechaly, Valentin Gischig, Rebecca Hochreutener, Philipp Kästli, Hannes Krietsch, Michèle Marti, Barbara Nägeli, Morteza Nejati, Anne Obermann, Katrin Plenkers, Antonio P. Rinaldi, Alexis Shakas, Linus Villiger, Quinn Wenning, Alba Zappone, Falko Bethmann, Raymi Castilla, Francisco Seberto, Peter Meier, Thomas Driesner, Simon Loew, Hansruedi Maurer, Martin O. Saar, Stefan Wiemer, and Domenico Giardini
Solid Earth, 13, 301–322, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-301-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-301-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Questions on issues such as anthropogenic earthquakes and deep geothermal energy developments require a better understanding of the fractured rock. Experiments conducted at reduced scales but with higher-resolution observations can shed some light. To this end, the BedrettoLab was recently established in an existing tunnel in Ticino, Switzerland, with preliminary efforts to characterize realistic rock mass behavior at the hectometer scale.
Viktor J. Bruckman, Gregor Giebel, Christopher Juhlin, Sonja Martens, Antonio P. Rinaldi, and Michael Kühn
Adv. Geosci., 56, 13–18, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-56-13-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-56-13-2021, 2021
Alba Zappone, Antonio Pio Rinaldi, Melchior Grab, Quinn C. Wenning, Clément Roques, Claudio Madonna, Anne C. Obermann, Stefano M. Bernasconi, Matthias S. Brennwald, Rolf Kipfer, Florian Soom, Paul Cook, Yves Guglielmi, Christophe Nussbaum, Domenico Giardini, Marco Mazzotti, and Stefan Wiemer
Solid Earth, 12, 319–343, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-319-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-319-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The success of the geological storage of carbon dioxide is linked to the availability at depth of a capable reservoir and an impermeable caprock. The sealing capacity of the caprock is a key parameter for long-term CO2 containment. Faults crosscutting the caprock might represent preferential pathways for CO2 to escape. A decameter-scale experiment on injection in a fault, monitored by an integrated network of multiparamerter sensors, sheds light on the mobility of fluids within the fault.
Camilla Rossi, Francesco Grigoli, Simone Cesca, Sebastian Heimann, Paolo Gasperini, Vala Hjörleifsdóttir, Torsten Dahm, Christopher J. Bean, Stefan Wiemer, Luca Scarabello, Nima Nooshiri, John F. Clinton, Anne Obermann, Kristján Ágústsson, and Thorbjörg Ágústsdóttir
Adv. Geosci., 54, 129–136, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-54-129-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-54-129-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the microseismicity occurred at Hengill area, a complex tectonic and geothermal site, where the origin of earthquakes may be either natural or anthropogenic. We use a very dense broadband seismic monitoring network and apply full-waveform based method for location. Our results and first characterization identified different types of microseismic clusters, which might be associated to either production/injection or the tectonic activity of the geothermal area.
Sonja Martens, Maren Brehme, Viktor J. Bruckman, Christopher Juhlin, Johannes Miocic, Antonio P. Rinaldi, and Michael Kühn
Adv. Geosci., 54, 1–5, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-54-1-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-54-1-2020, 2020
Marco Broccardo, Arnaud Mignan, Francesco Grigoli, Dimitrios Karvounis, Antonio Pio Rinaldi, Laurentiu Danciu, Hannes Hofmann, Claus Milkereit, Torsten Dahm, Günter Zimmermann, Vala Hjörleifsdóttir, and Stefan Wiemer
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 1573–1593, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-20-1573-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-20-1573-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a first-of-its-kind pre-drilling probabilistic induced seismic risk analysis for the Geldinganes (Iceland) deep-hydraulic stimulation. The results of the assessment indicate that the individual risk within a radius of 2 km around the injection point is below the safety limits. However, the analysis is affected by a large variability due to the presence of pre-drilling deep uncertainties. This suggests the need for online risk updating during the stimulation.
Linus Villiger, Valentin Samuel Gischig, Joseph Doetsch, Hannes Krietsch, Nathan Oliver Dutler, Mohammadreza Jalali, Benoît Valley, Paul Antony Selvadurai, Arnaud Mignan, Katrin Plenkers, Domenico Giardini, Florian Amann, and Stefan Wiemer
Solid Earth, 11, 627–655, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-627-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-627-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Hydraulic stimulation summarizes fracture initiation and reactivation due to high-pressure fluid injection. Several borehole intervals covering intact rock and pre-existing fractures were targets for high-pressure fluid injections within a decameter-scale, crystalline rock volume. The observed induced seismicity strongly depends on the target geology. In addition, the severity of the induced seismicity per experiment counter correlates with the observed transmissivity enhancement.
Michèle Marti, Michael Stauffacher, and Stefan Wiemer
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2677–2700, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-19-2677-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-19-2677-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Maps are an established way to illustrate natural hazards and regularly used to communicate with non-experts. However, there is evidence that they are frequently misconceived. Using a real case, our study shows that applying or disregarding best practices in visualization, editing, and presentation significantly impacts the comprehensibility of seismic hazard information. We suggest scrutinizing current natural-hazard communication strategies and empirically testing new products.
Sonja Martens, Christopher Juhlin, Viktor J. Bruckman, Gregor Giebel, Thomas Nagel, Antonio P. Rinaldi, and Michael Kühn
Adv. Geosci., 49, 31–35, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-49-31-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-49-31-2019, 2019
Florian Amann, Valentin Gischig, Keith Evans, Joseph Doetsch, Reza Jalali, Benoît Valley, Hannes Krietsch, Nathan Dutler, Linus Villiger, Bernard Brixel, Maria Klepikova, Anniina Kittilä, Claudio Madonna, Stefan Wiemer, Martin O. Saar, Simon Loew, Thomas Driesner, Hansruedi Maurer, and Domenico Giardini
Solid Earth, 9, 115–137, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-115-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-115-2018, 2018
Valentin Samuel Gischig, Joseph Doetsch, Hansruedi Maurer, Hannes Krietsch, Florian Amann, Keith Frederick Evans, Morteza Nejati, Mohammadreza Jalali, Benoît Valley, Anne Christine Obermann, Stefan Wiemer, and Domenico Giardini
Solid Earth, 9, 39–61, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-39-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-39-2018, 2018
Related subject area
Subject area: Tectonic plate interactions, magma genesis, and lithosphere deformation at all scales | Editorial team: Seismics, seismology, paleoseismology, geoelectrics, and electromagnetics | Discipline: Seismology
Two subduction-related heterogeneities beneath the Eastern Alps and the Bohemian Massif imaged by high-resolution P-wave tomography
Basin inversion: reactivated rift structures in the central Ligurian Sea revealed using ocean bottom seismometers
Moho and uppermost mantle structure in the Alpine area from S-to-P converted waves
COVID-19 lockdown effects on the seismic recordings in Central America
Present-day geodynamics of the Western Alps: new insights from earthquake mechanisms
Seismicity and seismotectonics of the Albstadt Shear Zone in the northern Alpine foreland
Seismicity during and after stimulation of a 6.1 km deep enhanced geothermal system in Helsinki, Finland
Seismic gaps and intraplate seismicity around Rodrigues Ridge (Indian Ocean) from time domain array analysis
Rupture-dependent breakdown energy in fault models with thermo-hydro-mechanical processes
Seismicity characterization of oceanic earthquakes in the Mexican territory
Seismic waveform tomography of the central and eastern Mediterranean upper mantle
Influence of reservoir geology on seismic response during decameter-scale hydraulic stimulations in crystalline rock
Lithospheric and sublithospheric deformation under the Borborema Province of northeastern Brazil from receiver function harmonic stripping
Induced seismicity in geologic carbon storage
Moment magnitude estimates for central Anatolian earthquakes using coda waves
Event couple spectral ratio Q method for earthquake clusters: application to northwest Bohemia
Jaroslava Plomerová, Helena Žlebčíková, György Hetényi, Luděk Vecsey, Vladislav Babuška, and AlpArray-EASI and AlpArray working
groups
Solid Earth, 13, 251–270, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-251-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-251-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We present high-resolution tomography images of upper mantle structure beneath the E Alps and the adjacent Bohemian Massif. The northward-dipping lithosphere, imaged down to ∼200 km beneath the E Alps without signs of delamination, is probably formed by a mixture of a fragment of detached European plate and the Adriatic plate subductions. A detached high-velocity anomaly, sub-parallel to and distinct from the E Alps heterogeneity, is imaged at ∼100–200 km beneath the southern part of the BM.
Martin Thorwart, Anke Dannowski, Ingo Grevemeyer, Dietrich Lange, Heidrun Kopp, Florian Petersen, Wayne C. Crawford, Anne Paul, and the AlpArray Working Group
Solid Earth, 12, 2553–2571, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2553-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2553-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We analyse broadband ocean bottom seismometer data of the AlpArray OBS network in the Ligurian Basin. Two earthquake clusters with thrust faulting focal mechanisms indicate compression of the rift basin. The locations of seismicity suggest reactivation of pre-existing rift structures and strengthening of crust and uppermost mantle during rifting-related extension. Slightly different striking directions of faults may mimic the anti-clockwise rotation of the Corsica–Sardinia block.
Rainer Kind, Stefan M. Schmid, Xiaohui Yuan, Benjamin Heit, Thomas Meier, and the AlpArray and AlpArray-SWATH-D Working Groups
Solid Earth, 12, 2503–2521, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2503-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2503-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
A large amount of new seismic data from the greater Alpine area have been obtained within the AlpArray and SWATH-D projects. S-to-P converted seismic phases from the Moho and from the mantle lithosphere have been processed with a newly developed method. Examples of new observations are a rapid change in Moho depth at 13° E below the Tauern Window from 60 km in the west to 40 km in the east and a second Moho trough along the boundary of the Bohemian Massif towards the Western Carpathians.
Mario Arroyo-Solórzano, Diego Castro-Rojas, Frédérick Massin, Lepolt Linkimer, Ivonne Arroyo, and Robin Yani
Solid Earth, 12, 2127–2144, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2127-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2127-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We present the first seismic noise variation levels during COVID-19 in Central America using 10 seismometers. We study the impact of the seismic noise reduction on the detectability of earthquakes and on the felt reports. Our results show maximum values (~50 % decrease) at seismic stations near airports and densely inhabited cities. The decrease in seismic noise improved earthquake locations and reports. Seismic noise could also be useful to verify compliance with lockdown measures.
Marguerite Mathey, Christian Sue, Colin Pagani, Stéphane Baize, Andrea Walpersdorf, Thomas Bodin, Laurent Husson, Estelle Hannouz, and Bertrand Potin
Solid Earth, 12, 1661–1681, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1661-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1661-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This work features the highest-resolution seismic stress and strain fields available at the present time for the analysis of the active crustal deformation of the Western Alps. In this paper, we address a large dataset of newly computed focal mechanisms from a statistical standpoint, which allows us to suggest a joint control from far-field forces and from buoyancy forces on the present-day deformation of the Western Alps.
Sarah Mader, Joachim R. R. Ritter, Klaus Reicherter, and the AlpArray Working Group
Solid Earth, 12, 1389–1409, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1389-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1389-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The Albstadt Shear Zone, SW Germany, is an active rupture zone with sometimes damaging earthquakes but no visible surface structure. To identify its segmentations, geometry, faulting pattern and extension, we analyze the continuous earthquake activity in 2011–2018. We find a segmented N–S-oriented fault zone with mainly horizontal and minor vertical movement along mostly NNE- and some NNW-oriented rupture planes. The main horizontal stress is oriented NW and due to Alpine-related loading.
Maria Leonhardt, Grzegorz Kwiatek, Patricia Martínez-Garzón, Marco Bohnhoff, Tero Saarno, Pekka Heikkinen, and Georg Dresen
Solid Earth, 12, 581–594, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-581-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-581-2021, 2021
Manvendra Singh and Georg Rümpker
Solid Earth, 11, 2557–2568, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2557-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2557-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Using seismic array methods, 63 events were located in the Rodrigues–CIR region, not reported by any global network, most of them being off the ridge axis. The lack of seismicity along this section of the CIR, as observed from global data and this study, can possibly be attributed to the presence of partially molten mantle beneath Rodrigues Ridge. The results will be of interest for a broad range of geoscientists interested in the tectonic evolution of Indian Ocean and plume–crust interaction.
Valère Lambert and Nadia Lapusta
Solid Earth, 11, 2283–2302, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2283-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2283-2020, 2020
Quetzalcoatl Rodríguez-Pérez, Víctor Hugo Márquez-Ramírez, and Francisco Ramón Zúñiga
Solid Earth, 11, 791–806, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-791-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-791-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We analyzed reported oceanic earthquakes in Mexico. We used data from different agencies. By analyzing the occurrence of earthquakes, we can extract relevant information such as the level of seismic activity, the size of the earthquakes, hypocenter depths, etc. We also studied the focal mechanisms to classify the different types of earthquakes and calculated the stress in the region. The results will be useful to understand the physics of oceanic earthquakes.
Nienke Blom, Alexey Gokhberg, and Andreas Fichtner
Solid Earth, 11, 669–690, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-669-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-669-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We have developed a model of the Earth's structure in the upper 500 km beneath the central and eastern Mediterranean. Within this model, we can see parts of the African tectonic plate that have sunk underneath the European plate over the past tens of millions of years. This model was constructed using seismic waveform tomography by matching the seismograms from many earthquakes recorded at the surface to synthetic seismograms that were generated by simulating earthquake wave propagation.
Linus Villiger, Valentin Samuel Gischig, Joseph Doetsch, Hannes Krietsch, Nathan Oliver Dutler, Mohammadreza Jalali, Benoît Valley, Paul Antony Selvadurai, Arnaud Mignan, Katrin Plenkers, Domenico Giardini, Florian Amann, and Stefan Wiemer
Solid Earth, 11, 627–655, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-627-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-627-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Hydraulic stimulation summarizes fracture initiation and reactivation due to high-pressure fluid injection. Several borehole intervals covering intact rock and pre-existing fractures were targets for high-pressure fluid injections within a decameter-scale, crystalline rock volume. The observed induced seismicity strongly depends on the target geology. In addition, the severity of the induced seismicity per experiment counter correlates with the observed transmissivity enhancement.
Gaelle Lamarque and Jordi Julià
Solid Earth, 10, 893–905, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-893-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-893-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Our goal is to better understand the evolution of the Earth's outer shell in northeast Brazil. We analyze the propagation properties (anisotropy) of distant seismic waves in order to look for subsurface, large-scale deformation structures. Results show that structures visible at the surface can be traced down to ~100 km depth, that the imprint of the opening of the Atlantic Ocean can be detected along the coast and that the continental interior is anomalous due to a complex deformation history.
Víctor Vilarrasa, Jesus Carrera, Sebastià Olivella, Jonny Rutqvist, and Lyesse Laloui
Solid Earth, 10, 871–892, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-871-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-871-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
To meet the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit temperature increase below 2 ºC, geologic carbon storage (GCS) will be necessary at the gigatonne scale. But to successfully deploy GCS, seismicity induced by CO2 injection should be controlled and maintained below a threshold that does not generate nuisances to the population. We conclude that felt induced seismicity can be minimized provided that a proper site characterization, monitoring and pressure management are performed.
Tuna Eken
Solid Earth, 10, 713–723, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-713-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-713-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Proper magnitude estimates for earthquakes can give insight into the seismic energy released at an earthquake source. This is, in fact, essential for better seismic hazard assessments in tectonically active regions. In the present work, I examine local earthquakes in central Anatolia to estimate their moment magnitudes. The main outcome of this study is an empirical relation that can provide a direct physical quantity of seismic energy in the study region.
Marius Kriegerowski, Simone Cesca, Matthias Ohrnberger, Torsten Dahm, and Frank Krüger
Solid Earth, 10, 317–328, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-317-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-317-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a method that allows to estimate the acoustic attenuation of seismic waves within regions with high earthquake source densities. Attenuation is of high interest as it allows to draw conclusions on the origin of seismic activity. We apply our method to north-west Bohemia, which is regularly affected by earthquake swarms during which thousands of earthquakes are registered within a few days. We find reduced attenuation within the active volume, which may indicate high fluid content.
Cited articles
Alber, M. and Backers, T.: Erforschung der Mechanismen und Simulation
hydraulisch induzierter Risse in geklüfteten Gesteinen für die Optimierung
des Aufschlusses geothermischer Lagerstätten, Abschlussbericht zum
Verbundprojekt, geomecon GmbH, Berlin, Germany, available at:
http://www.gmg.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/mam/content/ingenieurgeologie/schlussbericht_bmu_rub_geomecon_fkz0325279_a_b_public.pdf (last access: 15 May 2020),
2015. a, b, c, d, e, f, g
Altwegg, P., Schill, E., Abdelfettah, Y., Radogna, P.-V., and Mauri, G.: Toward
fracture porosity assessment by gravity forward modeling for geothermal
exploration (Sankt Gallen, Switzerland), Geothermics, 57, 26–38,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2015.05.006, 2015. a
Baisch, S., Rothert, E., Stang, H., Vörös, R., Koch, C., and
McMahon, A.: Continued geothermal reservoir stimulation experiments in the
cooper basin (Australia), Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am.,
105, 198–209, https://doi.org/10.1785/0120140208, 2015. a
Breede, K., Dzebisashvili, K., Liu, X., and Falcone, G.: A systematic review of
enhanced (or engineered) geothermal systems: past, present and future,
Geotherm. Energ., 1, 1–27, https://doi.org/10.1186/2195-9706-1-4, 2013. a
Catalli, F., Rinaldi, A. P., Gischig, V., Nespoli, M., and Wiemer, S.: The
importance of earthquake interactions for injection-induced seismicity:
Retrospective modeling of the Basel Enhanced Geothermal System, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 43, 4992–4999, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068932, 2016. a, b, c, d, e, f
Chang, K. and Segall, P.: Injection-induced seismicity on basement faults
including poroelastic stressing, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol.
Ea., 121, 2708–2726, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JB012561, 2016. a
Chelle-Michou, C., Do Couto, D., Moscariello, A., Renard, P., and Rusillon,
E.: Geothermal state of the deep Western Alpine Molasse Basin,
France-Switzerland, Geothermics, 67, 48–65,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2017.01.004, 2017. a, b, c
Corey, A. T.: The interrelation between gas and oil relative permeabilities,
Produc. Mon., 19, 38–41, 1954. a
Diehl, T., Clinton, J., Kraft, T., Husen, S., Plenkers, K., Guilhelm, A., Behr,
Y., Cauzzi, C., Kästli, P., Haslinger, F., Fäh, D., Michel, C.,
and Wiemer, S.: Earthquakes in Switzerland and surrounding regions during
2013, Swiss J. Geosci., 107, 359–375,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-014-0171-y, 2014. a
Diehl, T., Kraft, T., Kissling, E., and Wiemer, S.: The induced earthquake
sequence related to the St. Gallen deep geothermal project (Switzerland):
Fault reactivation and fluid interactions imaged by microseismicity, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 122, 7272–7290,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JB014473, 2017. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y
Edwards, B., Kraft, T., Cauzzi, C., Kästli, P., and Wiemer, S.: Seismic
monitoring and analysis of deep geothermal projects in st Gallen and Basel,
Switzerland, Geophys. J. Int., 201, 1022–1039,
https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggv059, 2015. a, b
Ellsworth, W. L.: Injection-induced earthquakes, Science, 341, 1225942,
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1225942, 2013. a
Ellsworth, W. L., Giardini, D., Townend, J., Ge, S., and Shimamoto, T.:
Triggering of the Pohang, Korea, Earthquake (Mw 5.5) by Enhanced Geothermal
System Stimulation, Seismol. Res. Lett., 90, 1844–1858,
https://doi.org/10.1785/0220190102,
2019. a
Evans, K. F., Zappone, A., Kraft, T., Deichmann, N., and Moia, F.: A survey of
the induced seismic responses to fluid injection in geothermal and CO2
reservoirs in Europe, Geothermics, 41, 30–54, 2012. a
Fäh, D., Giardini, D., Kästli, P., Deichmann, N., Gisler, M., Schwarz-Zanetti, G., Alvarez-Rubio, S., Sellami, S., Edwards, B., Allmann, B., Bethmann, F., Wössner, J., Gassner-Stamm, G., Fritsche, S., and Eberhard, D.: ECOS-09 earthquake catalogue of Switzerland
release 2011 report and database, Public catalogue, 17.4.2011, Swiss
Seismological Service ETH Zurich, Report SED/RISK/R/001/20110417, 2011. a
Faulkner, D. R., Jackson, C. A., Lunn, R. J., Schlische, R. W., Shipton, Z. K.,
Wibberley, C. A., and Withjack, M. O.: A review of recent developments
concerning the structure, mechanics and fluid flow properties of fault
zones, J. Struc. Geol., 32, 1557–1575,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2010.06.009, 2010. a
Finsterle, S. and Zhang, Y.: Solving iTOUGH2 simulation and optimization
problems using the PEST protocol, Environ. Model. Softw., 26,
959–968, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2011.02.008, 2011. a
Foulger, G. R., Wilson, M. P., Gluyas, J. G., Julian, B. R., and Davies, R. J.:
Global review of human-induced earthquakes, Earth-Sci. Rev., 178,
438–514, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2017.07.008, 2018. a, b, c
Galis, M., Ampuero, J. P., Mai, P. M., and Cappa, F.: Induced seismicity
provides insight into why earthquake ruptures stop, Sci. Adv., 3, eaap7528,
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aap7528, 2017. a, b
Ghassemi, A. and Tao, Q.: Thermo-poroelastic effects on reservoir seismicity
and permeability change, Geothermics, 63, 210–224,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2016.02.006, 2016. a
Giardini, D.: Geothermal quake risks must be faced, Nature, 462, 848–849,
https://doi.org/10.1038/462848a, 2009. a, b
Gischig, V. and Wiemer, S.: A stochastic model for induced seismicity based on
non-linear pressure diffusion and irreversible permeability enhancement,
Geophys. J. Int., 194, 1229–1249, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggt164,
2013. a, b, c
Gischig, V., Wiemer, S., and Alcolea, A.: Balancing reservoir creation and
seismic hazard in enhanced geothermal systems, Geophys. J.
Int., 198, 1585–1598, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggu221, 2014. a, b, c, d
Goebel, T. H. and Brodsky, E. E.: The spatial footprint of injection wells in
a global compilation of induced earthquake sequences, Science, 361,
899–904, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aat5449, 2018. a
Goertz-Allmann, B. P. and Wiemer, S.: Geomechanical modeling of induced
seismicity source parameters and implications for seismic hazard assessment,
Geophysics, 78, KS25–KS39, https://doi.org/10.1190/geo2012-0102.1, 2013. a, b
Grigoli, F., Cesca, S., Priolo, E., Rinaldi, A. P., Clinton, J. F., Stabile,
T. A., Dost, B., Fernandez, M. G., Wiemer, S., and Dahm, T.: Current
challenges in monitoring, discrimination, and management of induced
seismicity related to underground industrial activities: A European
perspective, Rev. Geophys., 55, 310–340,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2016RG000542, 2017. a
Grigoli, F., Cesca, S., Rinaldi, A., Manconi, A., López-Comino, J.,
Clinton, J., Westaway, R., Cauzzi, C., Dahm, T., and Wiemer, S.: The
November 2017 Mw 5.5 Pohang earthquake: A possible case of induced seismicity
in South Korea, Science, 360, 1003–1006, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aat2010,
2018. a, b
Hergert, T., Heidbach, O., Reiter, K., Giger, S. B., and Marschall, P.: Stress
field sensitivity analysis in a sedimentary sequence of the Alpine foreland,
northern Switzerland, Solid Earth, 6, 533–552, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-533-2015,
2015. a, b
Hirschberg, S., Wiemer, S., and Burgherr, P., eds.: Energy from the Earth: Deep
Geothermal as a Resource for the Future?, vdf Hochschulverlag, Zürich,
Switzerland, 1, 1–447, https://doi.org/10.3218/3655-8, 2015. a
Hopp, C., Sewell, S., Mroczek, S., Savage, M., and Townend, J.: Seismic
response to injection well stimulation in a high-temperature,
high-permeability reservoir, Geochem. Geophy. Geosy., 20, 2848–2871,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GC008243, 2019. a
Jeanne, P., Rutqvist, J., Rinaldi, A. P., Dobson, P. F., Walters, M., Hartline,
C., and Garcia, J.: Seismic and aseismic deformations and impact on
reservoir permeability: The case of EGS stimulation at The Geysers,
California, USA, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 120,
7863–7882, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JB012142, 2015. a
Jiang, G., Qiao, X., Wang, X., Lu, R., Liu, L., Yang, H., Su, Y., Song, L.,
Wang, B., and fong Wong, T.: GPS observed horizontal ground extension at the
Hutubi (China) underground gas storage facility and its application to
geomechanical modeling for induced seismicity, Earth Planet. Sc.
Lett., 530, 115943, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2019.115943,
2020. a
Kastrup, U., Zoback, M. L., Deichmann, N., Evans, K. F., Giardini, D., and
Michael, A. J.: Stress field variations in the Swiss Alps and the northern
Alpine foreland derived from inversion of fault plane solutions, J.
Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 109, 1–22, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JB002550,
2004. a
Kim, J., Tchelepi, H. A., and Juanes, R.: Rigorous coupling of geomechanics and
multiphase flow with strong capillarity, Soc. Petrol. Engin.
J., 18, 1123–1139, https://doi.org/10.2118/141268-PA, 2013. a, b
Kim, K. H., Ree, J. H., Kim, Y. H., Kim, S., Kang, S. Y., and Seo, W.:
Assessing whether the 2017 Mw 5.4 Pohang earthquake in South Korea was an
induced event, Science, 360, 1007–1009, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aat6081,
2018. a
King, G. and Devès, M.: Fault Interaction, Earthquake Stress Changes, and the
Evolution of Seismicity, Elsevier, 2nd Edn., 4, 243–271,
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53802-4.00077-4, 2015. a
King, G. C., Stein, R. S., and Lin, J.: Static stress changes and the
triggering of earthquakes, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am.,
84, 935–953, 1994. a
Király-Proag, E., Satriano, C., Bernard, P., and Wiemer, S.: Rupture
process of the Mw 3.3 earthquake in the St. Gallen 2013 geothermal reservoir,
Switzerland, Geophys. Res. Lett., 46, 7990–7999,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082911, 2019. a
Kraft, T., Mai, P. M., Wiemer, S., Deichmann, N., Ripperger, J., Kästli,
P., Bachmann, C., Fäh, D., Wössner, J., and Giardini, D.:
Enhanced geothermal systems: Mitigating risk in urban areas, EOS T. Am. Geophys. Un., 90,
273–274, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009EO320001, 2009. a
Kwiatek, G., Saarno, T., Ader, T., Bluemle, F., Bohnhoff, M., Chendorain, M.,
Dresen, G., Heikkinen, P., Kukkonen, I., Leary, P., Leonhardt, M., Malin, P.,
Martínez-Garzón, P., Passmore, K., Passmore, P., Valenzuela, S., and
Wollin, C.: Controlling fluid-induced seismicity during a 6.1-km-deep
geothermal stimulation in Finland, Sci. Adv., 5, eaav7224,
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aav7224, 2019. a, b
Lee, H. S. and Cho, T. F.: Hydraulic characteristics of rough fractures in
linear flow under normal and shear load, Rock Mech. Rock
Eng., 35, 299–318, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-002-0028-y, 2002. a
Lee, K.-K., Ellsworth, W. L., Giardini, D., Townend, J., Ge, S., Shimamoto, T.,
Yeo, I.-W., Kang, T.-S., Rhie, J., Sheen, D.-H., Chang, C., Woo, J.-U., and Langenbruch, C.: Managing
injection-induced seismic risks, Science, 364, 730–732,
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aax1878, 2019. a
Lyon, P. J., Boult, P. J., Hillis, R. R., and Mildren, S. D.: Sealing by shale
gouge and subsequent seal breach by reactivation: A case study of the Zema
Prospect, Otway Basin, AAPG Hedberg Series, 2nd Edn., 179–197, 2005. a
Marzocchi, W. and Sandri, L.: A review and new insights on the estimation of
the b-value and its uncertainty, Ann. Geophys., 46, 1271–1282, 2003. a
McGarr, A.: Maximum magnitude earthquakes induced by fluid injection, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 119, 1008–1019,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JB010597, 2014. a, b, c, d
Miller, S. A., Collettini, C., Chiaraluce, L., Cocco, M., Barchi, M., and Kaus,
B. J. P.: Aftershocks driven by a high-pressure CO2 source at depth,
Nature, 427, 724–727, 2004. a
Moeck, I. S., Bloch, T., Graf, R., Heuberger, S., Kuhn, P., Naef, H.,
Sonderegger, M., Uhlig, S., and Wolfgramm, M.: The St. Gallen project:
development of fault controlled geothermal systems in urban areas, in:
Proceedings World Geothermal Congress, Melbourne, Australia, 19–25 April,
2015. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k
Nasrifar, K. and Bolland, O.: Prediction of thermodynamic properties of natural
gas mixtures using 10 equations of state including a new cubic two-constant
equation of state, J. Petrol. Sci. Eng., 51,
253–266, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2006.01.004,
2006. a
Obermann, A., Kraft, T., Larose, E., and Wiemer, S.: Potential of ambient
seismic noise techniques to monitor the St. Gallen geothermal site (
Switzerland ), J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 120, 1–16,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JB011817, 2015. a, b
Pan, L., Oldenburg, C. M., Freifeld, B. M., and Jordan, P. D.: Modeling the
Aliso Canyon underground gas storage well blowout and kill operations using
the coupled well-reservoir simulator T2Well, J. Petrol. Sci.
Eng., 161, 158–174, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2017.11.066, 2018. a
Rinaldi, A., Rutqvist, J., Sonnenthal, E., and Cladouhos, T.: Coupled THM
modeling of hydroshearing stimulation in tight fractured volcanic rock,
Transport in Porous Media, 108, 131–150, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-014-0296-5,
2015. a
Rinaldi, A. P. and Rutqvist, J.: Joint opening or hydroshearing? Analyzing a
fracture zone stimulation at Fenton Hill, Geothermics, 77, 83–98,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2018.08.006, 2019. a
Rinaldi, A. P., Rutqvist, J., Finsterle, S., and Liu, H. H.: Inverse modeling
of ground surface uplift and pressure with iTOUGH-PEST and TOUGH-FLAC: The
case of CO2 injection at In Salah, Algeria, Comput. Geosci., 108,
98–109, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2016.10.009, 2017. a, b
Rutqvist, J.: Fractured rock stress-permeability relationships from in situ
data and effects of temperature and chemical-mechanical couplings, Geofluids, 15, 48–66, https://doi.org/10.1111/gfl.12089, 2015. a
Schechinger, B. and Kissling, E.: Energy from the Earth: Deep Geothermal as a
Resource for the Future?, chap. WP1, Resources, 25–50, https://doi.org/10.3218/3655-8, 2015. a
Shipton, Z. K., Soden, A. M., Kirkpatrick, J. D., Bright, A. M., and Lunn,
R. J.: How Thick is a Fault? Fault Displacement-Thickness Scaling Revisited,
American Geophysical Union (AGU), 170, 193–198, https://doi.org/10.1029/170GM19,
2006.
a
Terzaghi, K. V.: Die Berechnug der Durchlässigkeitsziffer des Tones aus dem
Verlauf der hydromechanischen Spannungserscheinungen, Sitzungsber. Akad.
Wiss. Wien., Math.-Naturwiss. Kl., Abt. 2A, 132, 125–138, 1923. a
van Genuchten, M. T.: A Closed-form Equation for Predicting the Hydraulic
Conductivity of Unsaturated Soils, Soil Sci. Soc. Am., 44, 892–898,
https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400050002x, 1980. a, b, c
van Thienen-Visser, K. and Breunese, J.: Induced seismicity of the
Groningen gas field: History and recent developments, Leading Edge,
34, 664–671, https://doi.org/10.1190/tle34060664.1, 2015. a
Witherspoon, P. A., Wang, J. S., Iwai, K., and Gale, J. E.: Validity of cubic
law for fluid flow in a deformable rock fracture, Water Resour. Res.,
16, 1016–1024, https://doi.org/10.1029/WR016i006p01016, 1980. a
Wolfgramm, M., Bloch, T., Bartels, J., Heuberger, S., Kuhn, P., Naef, H.,
Seibt, P., Sonderegger, M., Steiger, T., and Uhlig, S.: Reservoir-geological
characterization of a fractured limestone : Results obtained from the
geothermal well St. Gallen GT-1 (Switzerland), in: Proceedings World
Geothermal Congress, Melbourne, Australia, 19–25 April, 2015. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l
Yeck, W. L., Hayes, G. P., McNamara, D. E., Rubinstein, J. L., Barnhart, W. D.,
Earle, P. S., and Benz, H. M.: Oklahoma experiences largest earthquake
during ongoing regional wastewater injection hazard mitigation efforts,
Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, 711–717, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL071685, 2017. a
Zbinden, D.: Modeling output data used in publication “Potential influence of overpressurized gas on the induced seismicity in the St. Gallen deep geothermal project (Switzerland)”, ETH Zurich, https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000369225, 2019. a
Zbinden, D., Rinaldi, A. P., Urpi, L., and Wiemer, S.: On the physics-based
processes behind production-induced seismicity in natural gas fields, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 122, 3792–3812,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JB014003,
2017. a, b
Zbinden, D., Rinaldi, A. P., and Wiemer, S.: Modeling the effect of a gas
phase during injection-induced fault reactivation, in: TOUGH Symposium 2018, 1–4,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA, 2018. a
Zbinden, D., Rinaldi, A. P., Diehl, T., and Wiemer, S.: Hydromechanical
modeling of fault reactivation in the St. Gallen deep geothermal project
(Switzerland): Poroelasticity or hydraulic connection?, Geophys. Res.
Lett., 47, e2019GL085 201, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL085201, 2020. a, b, c, d, e, f, g
Zhou, P., Yang, H., Wang, B., and Zhuang, J.: Seismological Investigations of
Induced Earthquakes Near the Hutubi Underground Gas Storage Facility, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 124, 8753–8770,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB017360,
2019. a
Zoback, M. D.: Reservoir Geomechanics, 154–158, Cambridge University Press, New York,
2010. a
Short summary
The deep geothermal project in St. Gallen, Switzerland, aimed at generating electricity and heat. The fluid pumped into the underground caused hundreds of small earthquakes and one larger one felt by the local population. Here we use computer simulations to study the physical processes that led to the earthquakes. We find that gas present in the subsurface could have intensified the seismicity, which may have implications for future geothermal projects conducted in similar geological conditions.
The deep geothermal project in St. Gallen, Switzerland, aimed at generating electricity and...
