A laboratory study on fault slip caused by fluid injection directly versus indirectly into a fault: implications for induced seismicity in EGSs

Abstract

Enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) developed by hydraulic stimulation are promising for exploiting petrothermal heat by improving fluid pathways in low-permeable geothermal reservoir rocks. However, fluid injection into the subsurface can potentially cause large seismic events by reactivating pre-existing faults, which is a significant barrier to EGSs. The management of injection-induced seismicity is, therefore, essential for the success of EGSs. During the hydraulic stimulation of an EGS, fluid can be injected into a fault zone or into the rock matrix containing pre-existing faults adjacent to the injection well. The differences in hydromechanical responses between fluid injection into and adjacent to a fault have not been investigated in detail. Here, we performed triaxial fluid injection experiments involving injecting fluid directly and indirectly into a fault in granite rock samples to analyse the distinct hydromechanical responses and estimate the injection-induced seismicity in both cases. Our results suggest that in addition to directly injecting fluid into a critically stressed fault, injecting into nearly intact granite adjacent to the fault could also cause injection-induced seismic hazards owing to the high fluid pressure required to create new fractures in the granite matrix. It is, therefore, important to carefully identify pre-existing faults within tight reservoirs to avoid injecting fluid adjacent to them. Additionally, once prior unknown faults are delineated during hydraulic stimulation, appropriate shut-in strategies should be implemented immediately to mitigate seismic risks. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Induced seismicity in coupled subsurface systems’.