Portable broadband seismographs for continuous microseismic monitoring and aftershock studies

该提案要求提供资金，用于购买5台数字地震仪和一台完全加固的外地膝上型计算机。与最近用我的启动资金购买的设备相结合，所要求的设备将为5个完整的、高度便携的宽带地震仪台站提供必要的组件。该设备将用于加拿大西部的创新地震学研究，包括：（1）地下流体注入的超低频连续微震监测;（2）落基山脉山麓地震活动群的特征;（3）未来重大地震后的余震研究。第一项应用与加拿大西部“致密”（不渗透）储层水力压裂刺激的微地震监测有关，这是石油和天然气工业使用的一项技术，在过去几年中呈指数增长。它还将用于研究二氧化碳注入地质封存，在水力压裂处理中观察到的高频微震事件并不常见;因此，超低频观测可能是计划中的大规模碳捕获和封存项目的潜在改变游戏规则的监测技术。第二个研究部分将调查从深层储层提取碳氢化合物可能引发的地震活动的性质，这可用于CCS的风险分析。第三个研究部分将提供关于地震破裂特征的宝贵资料，并将其应用于灾害分析。这些拟议的研究是紧迫的，没有拟议的设备就无法进行。此外，通过这种设备实现的体验式学习成果对于HQP培训至关重要。

This proposal requests funds to purchase 5 digital seismograph units and a fully rugged field laptop computer. In combination with equipment that has recently been purchased using my startup funds, the requested equipment will provide the components necessary for 5 complete, highly portable broadband seismograph stations. This equipment will be used for innovative seismological research in western Canada, including: 1) ultra-low frequency continuous microseismic monitoring of subsurface fluid injection; 2) characterization of seismicity clusters in the Rocky Mountain foothills; and 3) aftershock studies following significant future earthquakes. The first application is linked to microseismic monitoring of hydraulic-fracture stimulation of "tight" (impermeable) reservoirs in western Canada, a technique used by the oil-and-gas industry and that has seen exponential growth in the past few years. It will also be applied for studies of CO2 injection for geological sequestration, for which high-frequency microseismic events observed in hydraulic fracture treatments are uncommon; ultra-low frequency observations could thus represent a potentially game-changing monitoring technology for planned large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. The second research component will investigate the nature of seismic activity that may be triggered by extraction of hydrocarbons from deep reservoirs, which has application to risk analysis for CCS. The third research component will provide valuable information about rupture characteristics of earthquakes, with application to hazard analysis. These proposed research studies are urgent and cannot be undertaken without the proposed equipment. In addition, experiential learning outcomes enabled by this equipment is critical for HQP training.