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Seismicity at the Castor gas reservoir driven by pore pressure diffusion and asperities loading

Author

Listed:
  • Simone Cesca

    (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences Potsdam)

  • Daniel Stich

    (Universidad de Granada
    Universidad de Granada)

  • Francesco Grigoli

    (University of Pisa
    Swiss Seismological Service, ETH Zurich)

  • Alessandro Vuan

    (National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS)

  • José Ángel López-Comino

    (Universidad de Granada
    Universidad de Granada
    University of Potsdam)

  • Peter Niemz

    (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences Potsdam
    University of Potsdam)

  • Estefanía Blanch

    (UPC Barcelona Tech
    Observatori de l’Ebre (OE), CSIC—Universitat Ramon Llull)

  • Torsten Dahm

    (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences Potsdam)

  • William L. Ellsworth

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

The 2013 seismic sequence at the Castor injection platform offshore Spain, including three earthquakes of magnitude 4.1, occurred during the initial filling of a planned Underground Gas Storage facility. The Castor sequence is one of the most important cases of induced seismicity in Europe and a rare example of seismicity induced by gas injection into a depleted oil field. Here we use advanced seismological techniques applied to an enhanced waveform dataset, to resolve the geometry of the faults, develop a greatly enlarged seismicity catalog and record details of the rupture kinematics. The sequence occurred by progressive fault failure and unlocking, with seismicity initially migrating away from the injection points, triggered by pore pressure diffusion, and then back again, breaking larger asperities loaded to higher stress and producing the largest earthquakes. Seismicity occurred almost exclusively on a secondary fault, located below the reservoir, dipping opposite from the reservoir bounding fault.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Cesca & Daniel Stich & Francesco Grigoli & Alessandro Vuan & José Ángel López-Comino & Peter Niemz & Estefanía Blanch & Torsten Dahm & William L. Ellsworth, 2021. "Seismicity at the Castor gas reservoir driven by pore pressure diffusion and asperities loading," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-24949-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24949-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Víctor Vilarrasa & Silvia De Simone & Jesus Carrera & Antonio Villaseñor, 2022. "Multiple induced seismicity mechanisms at Castor underground gas storage illustrate the need for thorough monitoring," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-3, December.
    2. Simone Cesca & Daniel Stich & Francesco Grigoli & Alessandro Vuan & José Ángel López-Comino & Peter Niemz & Estefanía Blanch & Torsten Dahm & William L. Ellsworth, 2022. "Reply to: Multiple induced seismicity mechanisms at Castor underground gas storage illustrate the need for thorough monitoring," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-4, December.

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