Hydraulic-fracturing induced seismicity in Alberta, Canada: Analysis and interpretation using dense local arrays

Unconventional oil and gas development is associated with anthropogenic earthquake activity worldwide. In particular, hydraulic fracturing, which involves the injection of high-pressure fluids into the subsurface, has been observed to trigger induced seismicity in some areas. The Duvernay Formation in Alberta is a target of hydraulic fracturing and has experienced induced earthquakes up to magnitude 4.2. To study hydraulic fracturing-induced seismicity in greater detail, a local dense array of sensors was used to collect four weeks of passive seismic data over a 4-well pad. In this thesis, this dataset is processed and interpreted using a variety of techniques. Supplementary information, such as waveform data from broadband seismometers and an accelerometer that were co-located with the dense geophone array, is also used to aid the interpretation. In some cases, it is found that the magnitude-frequency distribution obtained from the monitored seismicity deviates from the expected power-law form associated with the Gutenberg-Richter relationship. In particular, the largest earthquakes, greater than Mw 3.0, are larger than statistically expected given the observed seismicity. Spectral analysis of a subset of events reveals complex source spectra. For example, some of the events show evidence of a double corner frequency and a source time function with multiple peaks. A detailed analysis of the timing of events relative to the hydraulic fracturing stages reveals that natural fracture networks within the Ireton Shale, overlying the target Duvernay Formation, provided permeable conduits for an expanding region of elevated pore pressure. Using simple diffusive modelling, it is shown that these fracture networks allowed pore pressure to perturb fault systems at distances of over 1 km, consistent with observations of fault activation during treatment. In two datasets that are used in this thesis, shear-wave splitting analysis of microseismic waveforms provides evidence for stress rotation near the largest faults. Integration of these investigations provides a basis for a new working model for induced seismicity in the Fox Creek, Alberta, area.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geoscience

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Science

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Igonin, Nadine

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Eaton, David

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Lauer, Rachel
• Lawton, Donald

• Microseismic
• Earthquake
• Hydraulic fracturing
• Induced seismicity

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/38820

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/113356