Causal mechanism of injection-induced earthquakes through the Mw 5.5 Pohang earthquake case study
Publication Title
Nature Communications
E-ISSN
20411723
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Causal mechanisms for fluid injection-induced earthquakes remain a challenge to identify. Past studies largely established spatiotemporal correlations. Here, we propose a multi-process causal mechanism for injection-induced earthquakes through a case study of the 2017 Mw 5.5 induced earthquake near Pohang Enhanced Geothermal System, Korea, where detailed hydraulic stimulation and on-site seismicity monitoring data provide an unprecedented opportunity. Pore pressure modeling reveals that pore pressure changes initiate seismicity on critically stressed faults and Coulomb static stress transfer modeling reveals that earthquake interactions promote continued seismicity, leading to larger events. On the basis of these results, we propose the following causal mechanism for induced seismicity: pore pressure increase and earthquake interactions lead to fault weakening and ultimately triggering larger earthquakes later in the process. We suggest that it is prudent that pore pressure change, initial seismicity locations, and Coulomb static stress transfer from seismicity earlier in the sequence are assessed in real-time.
Publication Date
12-1-2020
DOI
10.1038/s41467-020-16408-0
PubMed ID
32457321
Recommended Citation
Yeo, I. W.; Brown, Megan R.M.; Ge, S.; and Lee, K. K., "Causal mechanism of injection-induced earthquakes through the Mw 5.5 Pohang earthquake case study" (2020). NIU Bibliography. 644.
https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/niubib/644
Department
Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
