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Fluid-induced aseismic slip may explain the non-self-similar source scaling of the induced earthquake sequence near the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, Texas
  • SeongJu Jeong,
  • Xinyu Tan,
  • Semechah K. Y. Lui
SeongJu Jeong
University of Toronto

Corresponding Author:seongju.jeong@utoronto.ca

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Xinyu Tan
University of Toronto
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Semechah K. Y. Lui
University of Toronto
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Abstract

Numerous studies have reported the occurrence of aseismic slips or slow slip events along faults induced by fluid injection. However, the underlying physical mechanism and its impact on induced seismicity remain unclear. In this study, we develop a numerical model that incorporates rate-and-state friction fault and fluid injection to simulate the coupled processes of pore pressure diffusion, aseismic slip, and dynamic rupture. We establish a field-scale model to emulate the induced seismicity near the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, Texas, where events with lower stress drops have been observed. Our numerical calculations reveal that the diffusion of fluid pressure induces aseismic slips and advances or delays seismic ruptures. Furthermore, the stress drops associated with aseismic slips indicate lower values (< 1 MPa), which may explain the observed variation in stress drops near the Airport. Simulations encompassing diverse injection operations and fault frictional parameters show that the interplay between the amount of pore pressure perturbations and stress states during the interseismic period influences the initiation, quantity, recurrence intervals, and source parameters of aseismic slips. However, the scaling relationship of moment (M0) with ruptured domain (r0) for all simulated events follows an unusual trend, M0∝r04.3, similar to M0∝r04.7 observed in the Airport sequence. Based on the consistent scaling, we hypothesize that the lower stress drop events in the Airport may be less dynamic ruptures, similar to aseismic slips as illustrated in our simulations.
24 Aug 2023Submitted to ESS Open Archive
11 Sep 2023Published in ESS Open Archive