Microseismicity illuminates open fractures in the shallow crust

Details Microseismicity illuminates open fractures in the shallow crust Microseismicity illuminates open fractures in the shallow crust

Jan 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011georl..3802402p&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 38, Issue 2, CiteID L02402

Physics

Geophysics

1

Physical Properties Of Rocks: Fracture And Flow, Structural Geology: Role Of Fluids, Hydrology: Hydrogeophysics, Tectonophysics: Dynamics And Mechanics Of Faulting (8004), Seismology: General Or Miscellaneous

Scientific paper

Successful delivery of geological carbon storage and/or radioactive waste disposal relies on the ability to predict the transport of waste stored/disposed of at depth, over 103 to 106 years. Field evidence shows that faults and fractures can act as focused pathways for contaminant migration. Hence, transport predictions require detailed characterization of fracture location, orientation and hydraulic properties. We show that microseismic monitoring can delineate the three-dimensional structure and hydraulic characteristics of flowing fractures at 2 to 3 km depth. Individual fracture planes are validated by independently derived composite focal mechanisms. Local field observations confirm the presence of open fractures with lengths and orientations matching the seismically-derived fracture planes. The temporal evolution of seismicity within individual fractures allows us to estimate depth-averaged transmissivity and in-plane fluid velocity distributions. Our results demonstrate the potential of microseismic monitoring to characterize flowing fractures, for non-invasive site investigation at CO2 and radioactive waste storage/disposal sites.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Microseismicity illuminates open fractures in the shallow crust does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Microseismicity illuminates open fractures in the shallow crust, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Microseismicity illuminates open fractures in the shallow crust will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1595243