Article

Poroelastic stress relaxation, slip stress transfer and friction weakening controlled post-injection seismicity at the Basel Enhanced Geothermal System

Public Deposited
https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/articles/ww72bd28k
Abstract
  • Induced seismicity is a limiting factor for the development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). Its causal mechanisms are not fully understood, especially those of post-injection seismicity. To better understand the mechanisms that induced seismicity in the controversial case of the Basel EGS (Switzerland), we perform coupled hydro-mechanical simulation of the plastic response of a discrete pre-existing fault network built on the basis of the monitored seismicity. Simulation results show that the faults located in the vicinity of the injection well fail during injection mainly triggered by pore pressure buildup. Poroelastic stressing, which may be stabilizing or destabilizing depending on the fault orientation, reaches further than pressure diffusion, having a greater effect on distant faults. After injection stops, poroelastic stress relaxation leads to the immediate rupture of previously stabilized faults. Shear-slip stress transfer, which also contributes to post-injection reactivation of distant faults, is enhanced in faults with slip-induced friction weakening.

     

Creator
Date Issued
  • 2023
Academic Affiliation
Journal Title
Journal Issue/Number
  • 1
Journal Volume
  • 4
Last Modified
  • 2025-05-29
Resource Type
Rights Statement
License
DOI
ISSN
  • 2662-4435
Language

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