Abstract
The injection of fluid into a rock mass results in variations of effective stresses that sometimes generate induced seismicity. These effective stress field variations depend on the diffusion process, which depends, in turn, on the magnitude of the pore pressure variation relative to the total stress. Four diffusion mechanisms are distinguished: diffusion through a poroelastic rock mass, and diffusion in preferential directions controlled either by slip along preexisting fractures, or by the development of fresh shear zones, or by hydraulic fracturing. More importantly, in some instances, this diffusion process also generates non-seismic motions that, in turn, influence the seismic activity, in particular when injection stops.
Résumé
L'injection d’un fluide dans une masse rocheuse entraine des variations de contraintes effectives qui produisent parfois une séismicité induite. Ces variations du champ de contraintes effectives dépendent des processus de diffusion, qui dépendent à leur tour, de l’ordre de grandeur de la variation de la pression de pore par rapport à la contrainte totale. Quatre mécanismes de diffusion sont distingués: diffusion à travers une masse rocheuse poroélastique, et diffusion selon des directions préférentielles contrôlées soit par glissement le long de fractures préexistantes, soit par développement de nouvelles zones de cisaillement, soit par fracturation hydraulique. De manière plus importante, dans certains cas, ce processus de diffusion génère aussi des mouvements non sismiques qui, à leur tour, influencent l’activité sismique, en particulier lorsque l’injection s’arrête.
Resumen
La inyección de fluido en una masa rocosa provoca variaciones de las tensiones efectivas que algunas veces genera sismicidad inducida. Estas variaciones del campo de las tensiones efectivas dependen de los procesos de difusión, que depende, a su vez, de la magnitud de las variaciones de la presión de poros relativa a la tensión total. Se distinguieron cuatro mecanismos de difusión: difusión a través de una masa de roca poroelástica, y difusión en direcciones preferenciales controladas, tanto sea por deslizamientos a lo largo de fracturas persistentes, o por el desarrollo de zonas nuevas de cizalla, o por fracturación hidráulica. Más importante aún, en algunas instancias, este proceso de difusión también genera movimientos no sísmicos que, a su vez, influyen en la actividad sísmica, en particular la inyección se detiene.
摘要
岩石中的流体注入导致有效压力的变化,有时会诱发地震活动。有效压力的变化取决于扩散过程,而扩散过程反过来又取决于孔隙压力相对于总压力的变化大小。本文区分出四个扩散机制:通过多孔介质的扩散,由沿着先前存在的断裂滑动或者新鲜节理面的发育,或者水压致裂控制的方向优先扩散。更重要的是,比如扩散过程还会引起非地震行为,反过来影响地震活动,尤其是在注入停止后。
Resumo
A injeção de fluido num maciço rochoso origina variações da tensão efetiva que, por vezes, dão origem a sismicidade induzida. Estas variações do campo de estado de tensão dependem do processo de difusão, que por sua vez depende da grandeza da variação da pressão porosa em relação à tensão total. Distinguem-se quatro mecanismos de difusão: difusão através do maciço rochoso poroelástico, difusão em direções preferenciais, controlada quer pelo deslizamento em fraturas preexistentes, quer pelo desenvolvimento de novas zonas de cisalhamento, ou ainda por fraturação hidráulica. Mais importante ainda, em alguns casos, este processo de difusão gera também movimentações assísmicas, que, por sua vez, influenciam a atividade sísmica, em particular quando a injeção é interrompida.
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Acknowledgements
Sincere thanks go to Prof. Auli Niemi and Chin Fu Tsang for organizing the deep hydrogeology workshop in Upsala in September 2011 and for inspiring me in writing this article.
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Cornet, F.H. The relationship between seismic and aseismic motions induced by forced fluid injections. Hydrogeol J 20, 1463–1466 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0901-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0901-z