Parametric analysis of the elastohydrodynamic lubrication efficiency on induced seismicity
- Cornelio, Chiara ORCID Laboratory of Experimental Rock Mechanics EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Violay, Marie ORCID Laboratory of Experimental Rock Mechanics EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- 2020-4-18
Published in:
- Geophysical Journal International. - Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2020, vol. 222, no. 1, p. 517-525
English
SUMMARY
During reservoir stimulations, the injection of fluids with variable viscosities can trigger seismicity. Several fault lubrication mechanisms have been invoked to explain the dynamic stress drop occurring during those seismic events. Here, we perform a parametric analysis of the elastohydrodynamic fault lubrication mechanism to assess its efficiency during fluid-induced earthquakes. The efficiency of the mechanism is measured with the dimensionless Sommerfeld number S. Accordingly, we analysed eight well-documented cases of induced seismicity associated with the injection of fluids whose viscosities range from 1 mPa s (water) to 100 mPa s (proppant). We collected information related to the in situ stress field, fault orientation and geometry, moment of magnitude and static stress drop of the events. These parameters allow us to analyse the variation in the Sommerfeld number. Our results show that the estimated dynamic friction on the fault during the event is compatible with the fault weakening predicted by the elastohydrodynamic lubrication theory, particularly for highly viscous fluids.
- Language
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- English
- Open access status
- green
- Identifiers
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- DOI 10.1093/gji/ggaa180
- ISSN 0956-540X
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/231627
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