Improving the monitoring and analysis of induced earthquakes

改进诱发地震的监测和分析

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-06093
• 负责人: Gu, Yu
• 金额: $ 3.42万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=652566
• 关键词: Improving; monitoring; analysis; induced; earthquakes

Earthquakes come in all sizes, depths and magnitudes. The vast majority of them transpire along major plate boundaries, largely in response to tectonic forces. However, a growing number of intra-plate earthquakes in connection with industrial activities (also known as ‘induced earthquakes') are being reported at increasing frequencies and sizes. Some of these induced events are triggered by wastewater disposal, while others have been linked to multistage hydraulic fracturing operations on shale gas formation, most notably in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB).******In the next 5 years, my proposed research program will focus on the monitoring and analysis of seismicity in the WCSB. It will combine passive-source field deployments with laboratory-based analyses of seismicity, especially induced earthquakes in the past 5 years, in the WCSB. A temporary network of seismic receivers will be deployed in targeted areas, which will greatly increase the data coverage and potentially illuminate the subsurface faults in regions of active fluid injection. This effort will be complemented by a comprehensive laboratory program involving 1) real-time determination of critical source characteristics such as location, depth, magnitude and mechanism of induced earthquakes, 2) 3D simulations of ground motion, 3) integrated structural analyses of the sediment, crust and upper mantle, and 4) time-sensitive changes in fault slip and ground velocity. The outcomes of this proposal will shed new light on the subsurface faults and their criticality surrounding major injection operations. The timely determination of source parameters, history/rates and ground motions will be crucial for the understanding of the origin(s) of induced earthquakes. As has been the case in the past 6 years, our group will continue to work closely with the energy regulators and directly contribute to future regulations or policies on energy-related industrial practices.******I will be training 2 M.Sc. and 2 Ph.D. students, as well as 1 summer undergraduate research assistant each year. Research projects will be independent yet connected. The focus of my research program will form the nucleus for long-term studies of seismic risks in western Canada. This program will support the training of geoscientists specializing in critical aspects of field and quantitative geophysics. Nearly all students who completed their training in my research program in the past 6 years are currently holding permanent or semi-permanent positions at world-leading universities, energy regulatory agencies or major oil-gas exploration companies. Overall, my research program in the next 5 years will significantly improve our understanding of, and our ability to monitor, induced earthquakes in the WCSB. The outcomes could make a positive and direct impact on environmental and energy-related policies in the near future.

地震的规模、深度和震级各不相同，其中大部分发生在主要板块边界，主要是由于构造力的作用，然而，与工业活动有关的板块内地震（也称为“诱发地震”）越来越多。 ）的报道频率和规模不断增加，其中一些诱发事件是由废水处理引发的，而另一些则与页岩气形成的多级水力压裂作业有关，最引人注目的是加拿大西部沉积盆地。 （WCSB）。******在未来 5 年中，我提出的研究计划将重点关注 WCSB 的地震活动监测和分析，它将被动源现场部署与基于实验室的地震活动分析相结合。 WCSB 将在目标区域部署临时地震接收器网络，这将大大增加数据覆盖范围，并有可能照亮活跃流体注入区域的地下断层。经过综合实验室计划 1) 实时确定关键震源特征，如位置、深度、震级和涉及诱发地震的机制，2) 地面运动的 3D 模拟，3) 沉积物、地壳和上地幔的综合结构分析，以及4）断层滑移和地面速度的时间敏感变化将揭示地下断层及其围绕主要注入作业的重要性，及时确定源参数、历史/速率和地面运动至关重要。为正如过去 6 年的情况一样，我们小组将继续与能源监管机构密切合作，并直接为未来能源相关工业实践的法规或政策做出贡献。** ****我每年将培养 2 名硕士生和 2 名博士生，以及 1 名暑期本科研究助理，研究项目将是我的研究项目的核心。该计划用于加拿大西部地震风险的长期研究。将支持专门从事现场和定量地球物理学关键方面的地球科学家的培训 几乎所有在过去六年中完成我的研究项目培训的学生目前都在世界领先的大学、能源监管机构中担任永久或半永久职位。总体而言，我未来 5 年的研究计划将显着提高我们对 WCSB 诱发地震的了解和监测能力，其结果可能会对环境和能源产生积极和直接的影响。相关政策不久的将来。