loading page

Nucleation and arrest of fluid-induced aseismic slip
  • Antoine B. Jacquey,
  • Robert C. Viesca
Antoine B. Jacquey
Tufts University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Robert C. Viesca
Tufts University
Author Profile

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.
17 Dec 2022Submitted to ESS Open Archive
27 Dec 2022Published in ESS Open Archive
28 Feb 2023Published in Geophysical Research Letters volume 50 issue 4. 10.1029/2022GL101228