A process-based approach to understanding and managing triggered seismicity

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Earthquake Science
• Petroleum Engineering

Background:

• Human activities like fluid injection can trigger earthquakes by altering subsurface stress.
• Current regulatory frameworks for managing induced seismicity are often empirical and have limited success.
• Early research suggested fluid pressure cycling could control seismicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a multidisciplinary methodology for managing triggered seismicity.
• To utilize comprehensive subsurface data for calibrating geomechanical and earthquake source physics models.
• To validate predictive models against subsequent seismic observations.

Main Methods:

• Development and testing of a novel, multidisciplinary approach.
• Calibration of geomechanical and earthquake source physics models using detailed subsurface information.
• Validation of models through comparison with post-calibration seismic observations.

Main Results:

• Successful implementation of the methodology in the Val d'Agri oil field, southern Italy.
• Demonstrated effective management of triggered seismicity in a producing hydrocarbon field.
• The process-based method proved successful in controlling seismicity.

Conclusions:

• A process-based, data-driven methodology can successfully manage triggered seismicity.
• This approach offers a more robust alternative to empirical regulatory frameworks.
• The methodology has the potential for broader application in mitigating induced seismicity globally.