Role of fluid injection on earthquake size in dynamic rupture
simulations on rough faults
Abstract
An outstanding question for induced seismicity is whether the volume of
injected fluid and/or the spatial extent of the resulting pore pressure
and stress perturbations limit rupture size. We simulate ruptures with
and without injection-induced pore pressure perturbations, using 2-D
dynamic rupture simulations on rough faults. Ruptures are not
necessarily limited by pressure perturbations when 1) background shear
stress is above a critical value, or 2) pore pressure is high. Both
conditions depend on fault roughness. Stress heterogeneity from fault
roughness primarily determines where ruptures stop; pore pressure has a
secondary effect. Ruptures may be limited by fluid volume or pressure
extent when background stress and fault roughness are low, and the
maximum pore pressure perturbation is less than 10% of the background
effective normal stress. Future work should combine our methodology with
simulation of the loading, injection, and nucleation phases to improve
understanding of injection-induced ruptures.