Abstract
Microseismicity associated with fluid pressurization in the subsurface
occurs during fluid injection but can also be triggered after injection
shut-in. Understanding the extent and duration of the post-injection
microseismicity is critical to limit the risk of fluid-induced
seismicity and insure the safe utilization of the subsurface. Using
theoretical and numerical techniques, we investigated how aseismic slip
on a fault plane evolves and stops after a fluid pressurization event.
We found that the locking mechanisms controlling the arrest of aseismic
slip highly depend on the initial fault stress criticality and the
pressurization duration. The absolute arrest time of fault aseismic slip
after injection shut-in is proportional to the pressurization duration
and increases significantly with the initial fault stress criticality.
Given that microseismicity can be triggered by aseismic slip, these
results provide insights into the mechanics controlling the arrest of
microseismicity after fluid pressurization as a milestone towards
induced seismicity mitigation strategies.