1. Global Review of Induced & Triggered Earthquakes
Gillian R. Foulger1, Miles Wilson1, Jon Gluyas1, Bruce R. Julian1 & Richard J. Davies2
1Durham University, U.K.
2Newcastle University, U.K.

2. Environments of induced seismicity
Surface operations
Adding mass
Removing mass
Extraction from the subsurface
Groundwater extraction
Mining
Hydrocarbons
Geothermal production (heat/fluids)
Injection into the subsurface
Liquid
Gas
Explosions
Nuclear
Chemical
Individual cases:
Established Speculative
Mine quakes, induction established, large mid-crust earthquakes – more speculative association with industrial activity
The German Continental Deep Drilling Program (in German Kontinentales Tiefbohrprogramm der Bundesrepublik Deutschland[1]), – KTB
McGarr et al. (2002)

3. Database: 715 cases

5. Lorca, Spain, 2011 MW 5.1, d = 3 km González et al. (2012)
Figure 1 j Location and kinematics of the Lorca earthquake. a, Southwest Spain seismicity (2000–2010), focal mechanisms (1970–2010), long-term GPS
velocity (2006–2011, grey) and coseismic vectors (red). Major mapped faults are labelled. b, Lorca city and Alto Guadalentin Basin. IGN mainshock focal
mechanisms (black), pre-shock (light grey) and largest aftershock (dark grey), and relocated seismic sequence13. The black stars are damage locations; the
red lines are faults11. The contour lines indicate 2 cm yr􀀀1 InSAR subsidence due to groundwater pumping14. Blue rectangle: fault surface projection. AMF,
Alhama de Murcia Fault. c, Groundwater depth evolution from different data sources (see Supplementary Information). d, InSAR (triangles) and
line-of-sight (LOS)-projected GPS ground-surface subsidence at LORC station. Shallow, ~ 3 km depth, Alhama de Murcia Fault
González et al. (2012)

6. Lorca, Spain 9 people killed, 100s injured

7. Amposta Depleted Oil Field, Spain
Injection of cushion gas for storage
Oct 2013 > 1,000 earthquakes up to M 4.3
Map of earthquakes compiled by the National Geographic Institute (IGN), used to create seismic hazard maps for Spain The map draws on historical records as well as recent data.
Figure 4: Time sequence of the induced earthquakes.
Figure 6: Map of improved earthquake locations. Events larger than M 4 are in red, those with M 3-4 are in blue, and those smaller than M 3 are in green.
The EIB will provide a total of EUR 500 million for the project.
Cost: ~ $2 billion

8. Mmax Gas Fields

9. Oil/Gas Reservoirs, California
1983 M 6.2 Coalinga
1985 M 6.1 Kettleman North Dome
1987 M 6.0 Whittier Narrows
All:
~ 10 km deep
under producing oil fields
uplifting anticlines
seismic deformation = required to restore isostatic equilibrium if backflow of water ignored
McGarr (1991)

10. The term “blind thrust” comes up a lot
Coalinga
94 injured, felt throughout half the State
Whittier Narrows
6 people killed

11. Oklahoma: Earthquakes & Injection
November 2011 M 5.7 Prague event
Walsh & Zoback (2015)

12. All Projects: Mmax vs. Volume

14. Last comments Rare phenomenon but predictability poor
We need a model for why earthquakes don’t occur
Fundamental nature of earthquakes
Earthquakes occur whether or not human operations
Firing squad problem: Which, of many contributory effects, was “responsible” for an earthquake?
Public perception
If a large earthquake occurs in a project area, the project may be blamed regardless
Potential show-stopper, so needs to be appropriately managed

15. That’s all folks