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Seismic waves increase permeability

Author

Listed:
  • Jean E. Elkhoury

    (University of California)

  • Emily E. Brodsky

    (University of California)

  • Duncan C. Agnew

    (University of California)

Abstract

Permeability: all shook up As well as having obvious effects on people, buildings and scenery, the shaking caused by earthquakes can alter the permeability of the Earth's crust. Permeability is important as it controls the underground movement of fluids, yet it is rarely measured continuously over long periods. A record of water-well levels in Southern California over a 20-year period, in which time seven earthquakes occurred, indicates that seismicity causes a marked increase in permeability: in two of the wells permeability increased by as much as a factor of 3. The data have potentially far-reaching consequences for hydrological monitoring, reservoir engineering and earthquake physics. For instance, the observed tripling of permeability hints at a method for active permeability enhancement in oil and gas reservoirs.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean E. Elkhoury & Emily E. Brodsky & Duncan C. Agnew, 2006. "Seismic waves increase permeability," Nature, Nature, vol. 441(7097), pages 1135-1138, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:441:y:2006:i:7097:d:10.1038_nature04798
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04798
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    Cited by:

    1. Eugenio Sanz & Ignacio Menéndez Pidal & José Ignacio Escavy & Joaquin Sanz de Ojeda, 2020. "Hydrogeological Changes along a Fault Zone Caused by Earthquakes in the Moncayo Massif (Iberian Chain, Spain)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-9, October.
    2. Cadini, F. & De Sanctis, J. & Bertoli, I. & Zio, E., 2013. "Monte Carlo simulation of radionuclide migration in fractured rock for the performance assessment of radioactive waste repositories," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 241-247.
    3. Evgenii V. Kozhevnikov & Mikhail S. Turbakov & Evgenii A. Gladkikh & Evgenii P. Riabokon & Vladimir V. Poplygin & Mikhail A. Guzev & Chengzhi Qi & Artem A. Kunitskikh, 2022. "Colloid Migration as a Reason for Porous Sandstone Permeability Degradation during Coreflooding," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-17, April.

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