Induced aseismic slip and the onset of seismicity in displaced faults

We address aseismic fault slip and the onset of seismicity resulting from depletion-induced or injection-induced stresses in reservoirs with pre-existing vertical or inclined faults. Building on classic results, we discuss semi-analytical modelling techniques for fault slip including dislocation the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geologie en mijnbouw 2022-01, Vol.101, Article e13
Main Authors: Jansen, Jan-Dirk, Meulenbroek, Bernard
Format: Article
Language:eng ; dut ; fre ; ger
Subjects:
Chebyshev approximation
Computation
Computer simulation
Depletion
Eigenvalues
Fault lines
Faults
Friction
Geological faults
Integral equations
Integration
Mathematical analysis
Mathematical models
Modelling
Monte Carlo simulation
Nucleation
Numerical integration
Original Article
Polynomials
Reservoirs
Robustness (mathematics)
Seismic stability
Seismicity
Shear stress
Simulation
Singular integral equations
Slip
Stability analysis
Statistical methods
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Summary:We address aseismic fault slip and the onset of seismicity resulting from depletion-induced or injection-induced stresses in reservoirs with pre-existing vertical or inclined faults. Building on classic results, we discuss semi-analytical modelling techniques for fault slip including dislocation theory, Cauchy-type singular integral equations and the use of Chebyshev polynomials for their solution and an eigenvalue-based stability analysis. We consider slip patch development during depletion for faults with zero, constant static and slip-weakening friction, and our results confirm earlier findings based on numerical simulation, in particular the aseismic growth of two slip patches that may subsequently merge and/or become unstable resulting in nucleation of seismic slip. New findings include improved approximate expressions for the induced seismic moment per unit strike length and a description of the effect of coupling between the slip patches which affects both forward simulation and eigenvalue computation for high values of the ratio of fault throw to reservoir height. Our implementation based on analytical inversion and semi-analytical integration with Chebyshev polynomials is more efficient and more robust than our numerical integration approach. It is not yet well suited for Monte Carlo simulation, which typically requires sub-second simulation times, but with some further development that option seems to be within reach. Moreover, our results offer a possibility for embedded fault modelling in large-scale numerical simulation tools.
ISSN:0016-7746
1573-9708
DOI:10.1017/njg.2022.9