TY - JOUR A1 - Dresen, Georg A1 - Kwiatek, Grzegorz A1 - Goebel, Thomas A1 - Ben-Zion, Yehuda T1 - Seismic and aseismic preparatory processes before large stick-slip failure JF - Pure and applied geophysics N2 - Natural earthquakes often have very few observable foreshocks which significantly complicates tracking potential preparatory processes. To better characterize expected preparatory processes before failures, we study stick-slip events in a series of triaxial compression tests on faulted Westerly granite samples. We focus on the influence of fault roughness on the duration and magnitude of recordable precursors before large stick-slip failure. Rupture preparation in the experiments is detectable over long time scales and involves acoustic emission (AE) and aseismic deformation events. Preparatory fault slip is found to be accelerating during the entire pre-failure loading period, and is accompanied by increasing AE rates punctuated by distinct activity spikes associated with large slip events. Damage evolution across the fault zones and surrounding wall rocks is manifested by precursory decrease of seismic b-values and spatial correlation dimensions. Peaks in spatial event correlation suggest that large slip initiation occurs by failure of multiple asperities. Shear strain estimated from AE data represents only a small fraction (< 1%) of total shear strain accumulated during the preparation phase, implying that most precursory deformation is aseismic. The relative contribution of aseismic deformation is amplified by larger fault roughness. Similarly, seismic coupling is larger for smooth saw-cut faults compared to rough faults. The laboratory observations point towards a long-lasting and continuous preparation process leading to failure and large seismic events. The strain partitioning between aseismic and observable seismic signatures depends on fault structure and instrument resolution. KW - Earthquakes KW - rupture KW - stick–slip tests KW - seismic KW - aseismic Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-020-02605-x SN - 0033-4553 SN - 1420-9136 VL - 177 IS - 12 SP - 5741 EP - 5760 PB - Springer CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bentz, Stephan A1 - Kwiatek, Grzegorz A1 - Martinez-Garzon, Patricia A1 - Bohnhoff, Marco A1 - Dresen, Georg T1 - Seismic moment evolution during hydraulic stimulations JF - Geophysical research letters N2 - Analysis of past and present stimulation projects reveals that the temporal evolution and growth of maximum observed moment magnitudes may be linked directly to the injected fluid volume and hydraulic energy. Overall evolution of seismic moment seems independent of the tectonic stress regime and is most likely governed by reservoir specific parameters, such as the preexisting structural inventory. Data suggest that magnitudes can grow either in a stable way, indicating the constant propagation of self-arrested ruptures, or unbound, for which the maximum magnitude is only limited by the size of tectonic faults and fault connectivity. Transition between the two states may occur at any time during injection or not at all. Monitoring and traffic light systems used during stimulations need to account for the possibility of unstable rupture propagation from the very beginning of injection by observing the entire seismicity evolution in near-real time and at high resolution for an immediate reaction in injection strategy. Plain Language Summary Predicting and controlling the size of earthquakes caused by fluid injection is currently the major concern of many projects associated with geothermal energy production. Here, we analyze the magnitude and seismic moment evolution with injection parameters for prominent geothermal and scientific projects to date. Evolution of seismicity seems to be largely independent of the tectonic stress background and seemingly depends on reservoir specific characteristics. We find that the maximum observed magnitudes relate linearly to the injected volume or hydraulic energy. A linear relation suggests stable growth of induced ruptures, as predicted by current models, or rupture growth may no longer depend on the stimulated volume but on tectonics. A system may change between the two states during the course of fluid injection. Close-by and high-resolution monitoring of seismic and hydraulic parameters in near-real time may help identify these fundamental changes in ample time to change injection strategy and manage maximum magnitudes. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086185 SN - 0094-8276 SN - 1944-8007 VL - 47 IS - 5 PB - American Geophysical Union CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Lei A1 - Kwiatek, Grzegorz A1 - Rybacki, Erik A1 - Bonnelye, Audrey A1 - Bohnhoff, Marco A1 - Dresen, Georg T1 - Laboratory study on fluid-induced fault slip behavior: the role of fluid pressurization rate JF - Geophysical research letters : GRL N2 - Understanding the physical mechanisms governing fluid-induced fault slip is important for improved mitigation of seismic risks associated with large-scale fluid injection. We conducted fluid-induced fault slip experiments in the laboratory on critically stressed saw-cut sandstone samples with high permeability using different fluid pressurization rates. Our experimental results demonstrate that fault slip behavior is governed by fluid pressurization rate rather than injection pressure. Slow stick-slip episodes (peak slip velocity < 4 mu m/s) are induced by fast fluid injection rate, whereas fault creep with slip velocity < 0.4 mu m/s mainly occurs in response to slow fluid injection rate. Fluid-induced fault slip may remain mechanically stable for loading stiffness larger than fault stiffness. Independent of fault slip mode, we observed dynamic frictional weakening of the artificial fault at elevated pore pressure. Our observations highlight that varying fluid injection rates may assist in reducing potential seismic hazards of field-scale fluid injection projects.
Plain Language Summary Human-induced earthquakes from field-scale fluid injection projects including enhanced geothermal system and deep wastewater injection have been documented worldwide. Although it is clear that fluid pressure plays a crucial role in triggering fault slip, the physical mechanism behind induced seismicity still remains poorly understood. We performed laboratory tests, and here we present two fluid-induced slip experiments conducted on permeable Bentheim sandstone samples crosscut by a fault that is critically stressed. Fault slip is then triggered by pumping the water from the bottom end of the sample at different fluid injection rates. Our results show that fault slip is controlled by fluid pressure increase rate rather than by the absolute magnitude of fluid pressure. In contrast to episodes of relatively rapid but stable sliding events caused by a fast fluid injection rate, fault creep is observed during slow fluid injection. Strong weakening of the dynamic friction coefficient of the experimental fault is observed at elevated pore pressure, independent of fault slip mode. These results may provide a better understanding of the complex behavior of fluid-induced fault slip on the field scale. KW - fault slip KW - fluid injection KW - induced seismicity KW - fluid pressurization KW - rate KW - stick-slip KW - fault creep Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086627 SN - 0094-8276 SN - 1944-8007 VL - 47 IS - 6 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken, NJ ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Lei A1 - Kwiatek, Grzegorz A1 - Rybacki, Erik A1 - Bohnhoff, Marco A1 - Dresen, Georg T1 - Injection-induced seismic moment release and laboratory fault slip BT - implications for fluid-induced seismicity JF - Geophysical research letters N2 - Understanding the relation between injection-induced seismic moment release and operational parameters is crucial for early identification of possible seismic hazards associated with fluid-injection projects. We conducted laboratory fluid-injection experiments on permeable sandstone samples containing a critically stressed fault at different fluid pressurization rates. The observed fluid-induced fault deformation is dominantly aseismic. Fluid-induced stick-slip and fault creep reveal that total seismic moment release of acoustic emission (AE) events is related to total injected volume, independent of respective fault slip behavior. Seismic moment release rate of AE scales with measured fault slip velocity. For injection-induced fault slip in a homogeneous pressurized region, released moment shows a linear scaling with injected volume for stable slip (steady slip and fault creep), while we find a cubic relation for dynamic slip. Our results highlight that monitoring evolution of seismic moment release with injected volume in some cases may assist in discriminating between stable slip and unstable runaway ruptures. KW - induced seismicity KW - seismic moment release KW - fluid injection KW - stick slip KW - fault creep KW - acoustic emission Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089576 SN - 0094-8276 SN - 1944-8007 VL - 47 IS - 22 PB - American Geophysical Union CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Durand, Virginie A1 - Bentz, Stephan A1 - Kwiatek, Grzegorz A1 - Dresen, Georg A1 - Wollin, Christopher A1 - Heidbach, Oliver A1 - Martinez-Garzon, Patricia A1 - Cotton, Fabrice A1 - Nurlu, Murat A1 - Bohnhoff, Marco T1 - A two-scale preparation phase preceded an M-w 5.8 earthquake in the sea of marmara offshore Istanbul, Turkey JF - Seismological research letters N2 - We analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of seismicity during a sequence of moderate (an M-w 4.7 foreshock and M-w 5.8 mainshock) earthquakes occurring in September 2019 at the transition between a creeping and a locked segment of the North Anatolian fault in the central Sea of Marmara, northwest Turkey. To investigate in detail the seismicity evolution, we apply a matched-filter technique to continuous waveforms, thus reducing the magnitude threshold for detection. Sequences of foreshocks preceding the two largest events are clearly seen, exhibiting two different behaviors: a long-term activation of the seismicity along the entire fault segment and a short-term concentration around the epicenters of the large events. We suggest a two-scale preparation phase, with aseismic slip preparing the mainshock final rupture a few days before, and a cascade mechanism leading to the nucleation of the mainshock. Thus, our study shows a combination of seismic and aseismic slip during the foreshock sequence changing the strength of the fault, bringing it closer to failure. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1785/0220200110 SN - 0895-0695 SN - 1938-2057 VL - 91 IS - 6 SP - 3139 EP - 3147 CY - Boulder ER -