Induced seismicity in the development of EGS—benefits and drawbacks

D. Elsworth, Y. Fang, Q. Gan, K. J. Im, T. Ishibashi, Y. Guglielmi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The development of a successful Enhanced/Engineered Geothermal System (EGS) reservoir at commercial scale has proved an elusive goal—despite the prospects of an immense resource and a near-limitless supply of sustainable baseload power. Key challenges relate to both creating and sustaining a high-throughput reservoir from an initially very low permeability deep reservoir and in achieving this with minimal induced seismicity. In the following we (i) explore the nature of early- and late-time induced seismicity anticipated in such projects, (ii) observed at contemporary and historic sites, and explore how this may be linked to permeability evolution through (iii) permeability-seismicity scaling and in (iv) coupling with the evolving rate and state properties of the reservoir.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationRock Dynamics
Subtitle of host publicationFrom Research to Engineering - 2nd International Conference on Rock Dynamics and Applications, ROCDYN 2016
EditorsHaibo Li, Jianchun Li, Qianbing Zhang, Jian Zhao
PublisherCRC Press/Balkema
Pages13-24
Number of pages12
ISBN (Print)9781138029538
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
Event2nd International Conference on Rock Dynamics and Applications, ROCDYN 2016 - Suzhou, China
Duration: May 18 2016May 19 2016

Publication series

NameRock Dynamics: From Research to Engineering - 2nd International Conference on Rock Dynamics and Applications, ROCDYN 2016

Other

Other2nd International Conference on Rock Dynamics and Applications, ROCDYN 2016
Country/TerritoryChina
CitySuzhou
Period5/18/165/19/16

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geology

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