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Statistical analysis of static and dynamic predictors for seismic b-value variations in the Groningen gas field

Kraaijpoel, D.A. (author), Esteves Martins, J.C. (author), Osinga, S. (author), Vogelaar, B.B.S.A. (author), Breunese, J.N. (author)

We perform statistical analyses on spatiotemporal patterns in the magnitude distribution of induced earthquakes in the Groningen natural gas field. The seismic catalogue contains 336 earthquakes with (local) magnitudes above , observed in the period between 1 January 1995 and 1 January 2022. An exploratory moving-window analysis of maximum...

article 2022

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Effects of fault transmissivity on the potential of fault reactivation and induced seismicity: Implications for understanding induced seismicity at Pohang EGS

Wassing, B.B.T. (author), Gan, Q. (author), Candela, T. (author), Fokker, P.A. (author)

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) involve hydraulic stimulation of the permeability of deep low-permeable rock formations. This causes the reactivation and opening of pre-existing natural fracture networks and the formation of new fractures. During hydraulic stimulation, injection pressures at the bottom of the injection well can reach...

article 2021

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Time-dependent Seismic Footprint of Thermal Loading for Geothermal Activities in Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs

Wassing, B.B.T. (author), Candela, T.G.G. (author), Osinga, S. (author), Peters, E. (author), Buijze, L. (author), Fokker, P.A. (author), van Wees, J.D.A.M. (author)

This paper describes and deploys a workflow to assess the evolution of seismicity associated to injection of cold fluids close to a fault. We employ a coupled numerical thermo-hydro-mechanical simulator to simulate the evolution of pressures, temperatures and stress on the fault. Adopting rate-and-state seismicity theory we assess induced...

article 2021

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Quantification of induced seismicity potential of geothermal operations. Analytical and numerical model approaches

Buijze, L. (author), Fokker, P.A. (author), Wassing, B.B.T. (author)

The Dutch National Climate Agreement sets the goal to adapt before 2030 1.5 million homes which are now heated by natural gas, into buildings heated by sustainable heat. To this end, a growth of the use of sustainable heat sources needs to be realized. Geothermal energy is considered an important future heat source, with an expected supply of 15...

report 2021

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Simulation of induced seismic ground motions using coupled geomechanical and seismic wave propagation models

Paap, B. (author), Kraaijpoel, D. (author), Wassing, B. (author), van Wees, J.D. (author)

Numerical simulations of seismic wave propagation usually rely on a simple source modelconsisting of an idealized point location and a moment tensor. In general, this is a validapproximation when the source dimensions are small relative to the distance of points at whichthe seismic wave motions are to be evaluated. Otherwise, a more realistic...

article 2020

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First field application of cyclic soft stimulation at the Pohang Enhanced Geothermal System site in Korea

Hofmann, H. (author), Zimmermann, G. (author), Farkas, M. (author), Huenges, E. (author), Zang, A. (author), Leonhardt, M. (author), Kwiatek, G. (author), Martinez-Garzon, P. (author), Bohnhoff, M. (author), Min, K.B. (author), Fokker, P. (author), Westaway, R. (author), Bethmann, F. (author), Meier, P. (author), Yoon, K.S. (author), Choi, J.W. (author), Lee, T.J. (author), Kim, K.Y. (author)

Large-magnitude fluid-injection induced seismic events are a potential risk for geothermal energy developments worldwide. One potential risk mitigation measure is the application of cyclic injection schemes. After validation at small (laboratory) and meso (mine) scale, the concept has now been applied for the first time at field scale at the...

article 2019

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3-D mechanical analysis of complex reservoirs: A novel mesh-free approach

van Wees, J.D. (author), Pluymaekers, M. (author), Osinga, S. (author), Fokker, P. (author), van Thienen-Visser, K. (author), Orlic, B. (author), Wassing, B. (author), Hegen, D. (author), Candela, T. (author)

Building geomechanical models for induced seismicity in complex reservoirs poses a major challenge, in particular if many faults need to be included. We developed a novel way of calculating induced stress changes and associated seismic moment response for structurally complex reservoirs with tens to hundreds of faults. Our specific target was to...

article 2019

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Wave propagation modelling of induced earthquakes at the Groningen gas production site

Paap, B. (author), Kraaijpoel, D. (author), Bakker, M. (author), Gharti, H.N. (author)

Gas extraction from the Groningen natural gas field, situated in the Netherlands, frequently induces earthquakes in the reservoir that cause damage to buildings, and pose a safety hazard and a nuisance to the local population. Due to the dependence of the national heating infrastructure on Groningen gas, the short-term mitigation measures are...

article 2018

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Reservoir creep and induced seismicity: Inferences from geomechanical modeling of gas depletion in the Groningen field

van Wees, J.D. (author), Osinga, S. (author), van Thienen-Visser, K. (author), Fokker, P.A. (author)

The Groningen gas field in the Netherlands experienced an immediate reduction in seismic events in the year following a massive cut in production. This reduction is inconsistent with existingmodels of seismicity predictions adopting compaction strains as proxy, since reservoir creep would then result in a more gradual reduction of seismic events...

article 2018

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Mitigating induced seismicity around depleted gas fields based on geomechanical modeling

ter Heege, J. (author), Osinga, S. (author), Wassing, B. (author), Candela, T. (author), Orlic, B. (author), Buijze, L. (author), Chitu, A. (author)

Mitigation of induced seismicity associated with large-scale energy production from subsurface resources requires models beyond the current state of the art. In countries with long histories of conventional gas production, such as the Netherlands, issues are mainly associated with depletion-induced seismicity caused by fault reactivation due to...

article 2018

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The impact of viscoelastic caprock on fault reactivation and fault rupture in producing gas fields

Wassing, B.B.T. (author), Buijze, L. (author), Ter Heege, J.H. (author), Orlic, B. (author), Osinga, S. (author)

conference paper 2017

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Statistical evidence on the effect of production changes on induced seismicity

Sijacic, D. (author), Pijpers, F. (author), Nepveu, M. (author), van Thienen-Visser, K. (author)

Depletion of the Groningen gas field has induced earthquakes, although the north of the Netherlands is a tectonically inactive region. Increased seismic activity raised public concern which led the government to initiate a number of studies with the aim of understanding the cause(s) of the earthquakes. If the relationship between production and...

article 2017

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Fault reactivation mechanisms and dynamic rupture modelling of depletion-induced seismic events in a Rotliegend gas reservoir

Buijze, L. (author), van den Boogert, P.A.J. (author), Wassing, B.B.T. (author), Orlic, B. (author), ten Veen, J.H. (author)

Understanding the mechanisms and key parameters controlling depletion-induced seismicity is key for seismic hazard analyses and the design of mitigation measures. In this paper a methodology is presented to model in 2D the static stress development on faults offsetting depleting reservoir compartments, reactivation of the fault, nucleation of...

article 2017

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Geomechanical models for induced seismicity in the Netherlands: inferences from simplified analytical, finite element and rupture model approaches

Wees, J.D.A.M. (author), Fokker, P.A. (author), van Thienen-Visser, K. (author), Wassing, B.B.T. (author), Osinga, S. (author), Orlic, B. (author), Ghouri, S.A. (author), Buijze, L. (author), Pluymaekers, M.P.D. (author)

In the Netherlands, over 190 gas fields of varying size have been exploited, and 15% of these have shown seismicity. The prime cause for seismicity due to gas depletion is stress changes caused by pressure depletion and by differential compaction. The observed onset of induced seismicity due to gas depletion in the Netherlands occurs after a...

article 2017

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Detailed seismic modeling of induced seismicity at the Groningen gas field

Paap, B.F. (author), Steeghs, T.P.H. (author), Kraaijpoel, D.A. (author)

We present the results of a detailed seismic modeling study of induced seismicity observed at the Groningen gas field, situated in the North-eastern part of the Netherlands. Seismic simulations are valuable to support the interpretation of observed earthquake waveforms recordings and to increase the understanding of the underlying source...

conference paper 2016

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Statistics of seismic event at Groningen field

Nepveu, M. (author), van Thienen-Visser, K. (author), Sijacic, D. (author)

Depletion of gas fields, even in a tectonically inactive area can induce earthquakes.

article 2016

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Rock mechanics for deep subsurface geo-energy production and storage

Orlic, B. (author)

conference paper 2016

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Th gme 05: Modeling of fault reactivation and fault slip in producing gas fields

Wassing, B.B.T. (author)

Current methods which are used for seismic hazard analyses of production induced seismicity in The Netherlands are generally based on either empirical relations which link compaction strain and seismic release or simple relations between available fault area and seismic moment release. Physics based understanding of the impact of streb evolution...

conference paper 2015

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Summary of the EU project GEISER on induced seismicity in geothermal engineering

Bruhn, D.F. (author), Águstsson, K. (author), Zang, A. (author), Rachez, X. (author), Wiemer, S. (author), Van Wees, J.D. (author), Calcagno, P. (author), Huenges, E. (author)

GEISER was a European project on understanding and mitigation of induced seismicty in geothermal operations. The project involved several European research institutions as well as industry and was funded by the European Commission within FP7. GEISER addressed a better understanding of the key parameters that control induced seismicity in...

conference paper 2014

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Geomechanics response and induced seismicity during gas field depletion in the Netherlands

van Wees, J.D.A.M. (author), Buijze, L. (author), van Thienen-Visser, K. (author), Nepveu, M. (author), Wassing, B.B.T. (author), Orlic, B. (author), Fokker, P.A. (author)

In this paper we present a review ofcontrolling geological, tectonic and engineering factors lor induced seismic¡ty associated to gas depletion in the Netherlands and we place experiences from extensive Dutch geomechanical studies in the past decade in the contex[ ofgeneric models for induced seismicity. Netherlands is in a mature gas production...

article 2014