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.

地震有各种大小、深度和震级。其中绝大多数都是沿着主要板块边界蒸发的，主要是对构造力的反应。然而，与工业活动有关的板内地震（也称为“诱发地震”）的数量越来越多，频率和规模越来越大。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地层的多级水力压裂作业有关，最明显的是在加拿大西部沉积盆地（WCSB）。在未来的5年里，我建议的研究计划将集中在监测和分析的地震活动在WCSB。它将把联合收割机无源现场部署与基于实验室的地震活动性分析相结合，特别是过去5年中在WCSB诱发的地震。将在目标地区部署一个临时地震接收器网络，这将大大增加数据覆盖面，并有可能照亮活跃流体注入地区的地下断层。这项工作将由一个全面的实验室计划来补充，该计划包括：1）实时确定关键的震源特征，如诱发地震的位置、深度、震级和机制; 2）地面运动的三维模拟; 3）沉积物、地壳和上地幔的综合结构分析; 4）断层滑动和地面速度的时间敏感性变化。该建议的结果将揭示地下断层及其在主要注入作业周围的关键性。震源参数、历史/速率和地面运动的及时确定对于理解诱发地震的起源至关重要。与过去6年一样，我们集团将继续与能源监管机构密切合作，并直接为未来与能源相关的行业实践的法规或政策做出贡献。我将培养2名硕士和2名博士。学生，以及每年1个夏季本科研究助理。研究项目将是独立的，但连接。我的研究计划的重点将形成加拿大西部地震风险的长期研究的核心。该计划将支持专门从事野外和定量地球物理学关键方面的地球科学家的培训。在过去的6年里，几乎所有在我的研究项目中完成培训的学生目前都在世界领先的大学，能源监管机构或主要的石油天然气勘探公司担任永久或半永久职位。总的来说，我在未来5年的研究计划将显着提高我们的理解，我们的能力，监测，诱发地震在WCSB。这些成果可在不久的将来对环境和能源相关政策产生积极和直接的影响。