%A Stefan Baisch
%A Robert Vörös
%A Elmar Rothert
%A Henrik Stang
%A Reinhard Jung
%A Rüdiger Schellschmidt
%J International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences
%T A numerical model for fluid injection induced seismicity at Soultz-sous-Forêts
%X During fluid injection experiments at the geothermal site of Soultz-sous-Forets(France), more than 114,000 induced seismic events with magnitudes between -2.0 and +2.9 were detected by a local downhole monitoring network. Of these, 35,039 events are sufficiently constrained to be located. Hypocenters align along a sub-vertical, planar structure with the apparent width being dominated by data scattering indicating that seismic activity predominantly occurs along a (pre-existing) larger scale fault structure. For this scenario, we present a numerical model to simulate hydraulic over pressures and induced seismicity during hydraulic injection. The numerical model is based on the physical processes of fluid pressure and stress diffusion with triggering of the induced seismicity being controlled by Coulomb friction. 
Even in its simplest form of a fault zone without any structural heterogeneity, the numerical model reproduces typical observations at Soultz-sous-Forets, such as number and magnitude of induced events, hypocentre locations (including the Kaisere ffect), occurrence of post-injection seismicity, and the largest magnitude event occurring several days aftershut-in.
%N 3
%K Reservoir induced seismicity, Numerical simulations,
Earthquake mechanics, Geothermal, Seismic risk
%P 405-413
%V 47
%D 2010
%I Elsevier Science
%R doi:10.1016/j.ijrmms.2009.10.001
%L epos1300