Abstract
Observations that unequivocally link seismicity and wastewater injection are scarce. Here we show that wastewater injection in eastern Texas causes uplift, detectable in radar interferometric data up to >8 kilometers from the wells. Using measurements of uplift, reported injection data, and a poroelastic model, we computed the crustal strain and pore pressure.We infer that an increase of >1 megapascal in pore pressure in rocks with low compressibility triggers earthquakes, including the 4.8moment magnitude event that occurred on 17 May 2012, the largest earthquake recorded in eastern Texas. Seismic activity increased even while injection rates declined, owing to diffusion of pore pressure from earlier periods with higher injection ates. Induced seismicity potential is suppressed where tight confining formations prevent pore pressure from propagating into crystalline basement rocks.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1416-1419 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Science |
| Volume | 353 |
| Issue number | 6306 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 23 2016 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
- General
Cite this
Surface uplift and time-dependent seismic hazard due to fluid injection in eastern Texas. / Shirzaei, Manoochehr; Ellsworth, William L.; Tiampo, Kristy F.; González, Pablo J.; Manga, Michael.
In: Science, Vol. 353, No. 6306, 23.09.2016, p. 1416-1419.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Surface uplift and time-dependent seismic hazard due to fluid injection in eastern Texas
AU - Shirzaei, Manoochehr
AU - Ellsworth, William L.
AU - Tiampo, Kristy F.
AU - González, Pablo J.
AU - Manga, Michael
PY - 2016/9/23
Y1 - 2016/9/23
N2 - Observations that unequivocally link seismicity and wastewater injection are scarce. Here we show that wastewater injection in eastern Texas causes uplift, detectable in radar interferometric data up to >8 kilometers from the wells. Using measurements of uplift, reported injection data, and a poroelastic model, we computed the crustal strain and pore pressure.We infer that an increase of >1 megapascal in pore pressure in rocks with low compressibility triggers earthquakes, including the 4.8moment magnitude event that occurred on 17 May 2012, the largest earthquake recorded in eastern Texas. Seismic activity increased even while injection rates declined, owing to diffusion of pore pressure from earlier periods with higher injection ates. Induced seismicity potential is suppressed where tight confining formations prevent pore pressure from propagating into crystalline basement rocks.
AB - Observations that unequivocally link seismicity and wastewater injection are scarce. Here we show that wastewater injection in eastern Texas causes uplift, detectable in radar interferometric data up to >8 kilometers from the wells. Using measurements of uplift, reported injection data, and a poroelastic model, we computed the crustal strain and pore pressure.We infer that an increase of >1 megapascal in pore pressure in rocks with low compressibility triggers earthquakes, including the 4.8moment magnitude event that occurred on 17 May 2012, the largest earthquake recorded in eastern Texas. Seismic activity increased even while injection rates declined, owing to diffusion of pore pressure from earlier periods with higher injection ates. Induced seismicity potential is suppressed where tight confining formations prevent pore pressure from propagating into crystalline basement rocks.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84989853121&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84989853121&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1126/science.aag0262
DO - 10.1126/science.aag0262
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84989853121
VL - 353
SP - 1416
EP - 1419
JO - Science
JF - Science
SN - 0036-8075
IS - 6306
ER -