Controlling fluid-induced seismicity during a 6.1-km-deep geothermal stimulation in Finland.
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Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 31049397.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.aav7224 and PMC identifier 6494490.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC.
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Abstract
We show that near-real-time seismic monitoring of fluid injection allowed control of induced earthquakes during the stimulation of a 6.1-km-deep geothermal well near Helsinki, Finland. A total of 18,160 m<sup>3</sup> of fresh water was pumped into crystalline rocks over 49 days in June to July 2018. Seismic monitoring was performed with a 24-station borehole seismometer network. Using near-real-time information on induced-earthquake rates, locations, magnitudes, and evolution of seismic and hydraulic energy, pumping was either stopped or varied-in the latter case, between well-head pressures of 60 and 90 MPa and flow rates of 400 and 800 liters/min. This procedure avoided the nucleation of a project-stopping magnitude <i>M</i> <sub>W</sub> 2.0 induced earthquake, a limit set by local authorities. Our results suggest a possible physics-based approach to controlling stimulation-induced seismicity in geothermal projects.