Improving the monitoring and analysis of induced earthquakes

地震的大小、深度和震级各不相同。它们中的绝大多数沿着主要板块边界蒸发，主要是对构造力的反应。然而，越来越多的与工业活动有关的板块内地震（也称为“诱发地震”）正在以越来越高的频率和规模被报道。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，尤其是在加拿大西部沉积盆地（WCSB）。******在接下来的5年里，我提出的研究计划将集中在WCSB地震活动的监测和分析上。它将把被动震源现场部署与基于实验室的地震活动分析相结合，特别是在WCSB过去5年的诱发地震。临时地震接收器网络将部署在目标区域，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。这项工作将由一个全面的实验室项目补充，包括1)实时确定关键震源特征，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)断层滑动和地面速度的时间敏感变化。这一建议的结果将为主要注入作业周围的地下断层及其临界性提供新的线索。及时确定震源参数、历史/速率和地面运动对于理解诱发地震的起源至关重要。正如过去6年的情况一样，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名硕士和2名博士，以及1名暑期本科生研究助理。研究项目将是独立但又相互联系的。我的研究项目的重点将成为加拿大西部地震风险长期研究的核心。该计划将支持培训专门从事野外和定量地球物理学关键方面的地球科学家。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一流大学、能源监管机构或主要油气勘探公司担任永久性或半永久性职位。总的来说，我在未来5年的研究计划将大大提高我们对WCSB诱发地震的认识和监测能力。其结果可能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。

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.