TIG 3 - Induced Seismicity

Co-Leaders Mike Malavazos, PIRSA and Barry Goldstein, PIRSA

Terms of Reference (DRAFT). The terms of reference are currently in draft and are subject to consultation with the TIG members.

Tabulation of Projects

Project Name Summary of key project objectives, key contacts and links to details
 Research Partners
Induced seismicity in the Cooper Basin
 Establish the compatability (or otherwise) of fracture stimulation pf granite hot rock reservoirs with exisitng land users & infrastructure, Habanero project near Innamincka in the South Australian Cooper Basin by Suzanne Hunt and Cameron Morelli, 2006, Cooper Basin HDR hazard evaluation: Predictive modelling of local stress changes due to HFR geothermal energy operations in South Australia, Report Book 2006/16.
This project has benefited from peer review invited via both the websites of both the AGEG and the IEA"s Geothermal Implementing Agreement. This report has been peer reviewed and reviewers comments are also provided. Cooper Basin HDR Hazard Evaluation: Predictive Modelling of Local Stress Changes due to HFR Geothermal Energy Operations in South Australia.
  • U Adel (Hunt & Morelli)
  • Geodynamics (Wyborn)
  • PIRSA (Malavazos & Love)
Protocols for the management of induced seismicity Leverage on Hunt & Morelli (2006) and established protocols for the assessment of potential induced seismicity risk associated fracture stimulation  during the development of Engineered Geothermal Systems.

This is undertaken by Cameron Morelli (2008) for the AGEGs TIG-1 under the project title, Analysis of Induced Seismicity Risks due to Engineered Geothermal System Operations in South Australia.

Preliminary findings were published at the 2008 AGEG-AGEA Australian Geothermal Energy Conferrence under the title, Analysis and Management of Seismic Risks Associated with Engineered Geothermal System Operations in South Australia by Cameron Morelli and Michael Malavazos
  
  • U Adel (Morelli)

  • PIRSA (Malavazos & Love)

Meetings

Meeting 2 September 2010 minutes

GEISER  (Geothermal Engineering Integrating Mitigation of Induced Seismicity in Reservoirs)

For current views on managing induced seismicity download the GEISER Newsletter #3 - January 2011.
This recaps:
  • How the US DoE promotes partnership with Europe;
  • The Autralian approach for induced seismicity and
  • Feedbacks from the IEA - US DoE - GEISERS (Europe) Induced Seismicity Workshop ReyKjavik, 3-5 March 201o.

Visit  the GEISER webpage www.geiser-fp7.eu and view past newsletters at www.geiser-fp7.eu/Newsletters

Study into Potential Induced Seismicity from Fracture Stimulation of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in the SA Cooper Basin

Australian School of Petroleum, Adelaide University – South Australia

The South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Resources (PIRSA) allocated AUS $50,000 in June 2005 to the Australian School of Petroleum at University of Adelaide to undertake a research study of potential induced seismicity associated with the fracture stimulation of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) wells in the Cooper Basin and then undertake similar studies in other prospective EGS provinces. The Cooper Basin study, led by Dr Suzanne Hunt, used predictive modelling of local stress change to forecast probable impacts from the fracture stimulation of naturally fractured granites in the vicinity of the Habanero wells drilled by Geodynamics. This study (Hunt and Morelli, 2006) is fully aligned with the aims of the GIA for its members to pursue collaborative efforts that address issues of “significant concern to the acceptance of geothermal energy in general but Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) in particular. The issue is the occurrence of significant seismic events in conjunction with EGS reservoir development or subsequent heat extraction”.

Outputs from the project included numerical models that assess potential impacts (on the local in-situ stress field) from the development of EGS reservoirs and also the development of finite difference models to assess the likelihood of damage to petroleum wellbores and completions that might possibly be caused by a seismic wave hitting a wellbore at various depths. The one year study, Cooper Basin HDR hazard evaluation: Predictive modeling of local stress changes due to HFR geothermal energy operations in South Australia was completed in June 2006.This report has been peer reviewed and reviewers comments are also provided.

Key conclusions from Hunt and Morelli (2006) are:
  • The Cooper Basin in South Australia is ideally suited to EGS activities in terms of natural background seismicity levels.
  • Reactivation of any basement faults in the region is unlikely in the vicinity of the Habanero Site.
  • Induced seismic events at the Habanero well site in the Cooper Basin fall below the background coefficient of ground acceleration (0.05 g) thereby not exceeding the government’s current building design standards for peak ground acceleration.
  • The static stress damage zone would not be expected to have any impact on identified local structural features. This is due to the nearby faults being beyond the reach of the induced seismicity associated with EGS activity.
Below is a map of basement in the Cooper Basin showing well locations. The inset bullet shows the attenuation radiation distance from Geodynamics' Habanero 1 well site. (After Hunt and Morelli, 2006.)

Map of basement in the Cooper Basin showing well locations. After Hunt et al., 2006.

The results and conclusions from this study were presented by Michael Malavazos, Chief Petroleum Engineer, PIRSA at the GRC Conference in San Diego in September 2006.

Reference
Hunt S P and Morelli C, 2006. Cooper Basin HDR hazard evaluation: Predictive modelling of local stress changes due to HFR geothermal energy operations in South Australia. Prepared by the University of Adelaide for South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Resources. University of Adelaide Report Book 2006/16.

‘Analysis and Management of Induced Seismic Risks associated with Engineered Geothermal System Operations in South Australia’

Following from the 2006 report by Hunt and Morelli a report on the ‘Analysis and Management of Induced Seismic Risks associated with Engineered  Geothermal System Operations in South Australia’ has been completed and is now available.

This report outlines the findings of the recent study conducted into the induced seismicity risks related to engineered geothermal system (EGS) operations in South Australia (SA).  The objective of the study was to develop the necessary protocols for the analysis and management of seismic risks associated with EGS operations in SA by building on the findings of a previous report (Hunt & Morelli 2006) that focused on evaluating the hazard associated with inducing seismicity at a single EGS site in the Cooper Basin. Click here to to read the report.

And click here to download the Google earth tools created by the author to view spatial and temporal distributions of natural seismic events recorded in the South Australian and Australian catalogues.

News and Links

  • The Geothermal Engineering Integrating Mitigation of Induced Seismicity in Reservoirs (GEISER) project started at the beginning of 2010 and aims to address several of the major challenges the development of geothermal energy is facing, including the mitigation of induced seismicity to an acceptable level. European Commission funding of € 5.3 M has been granted for 3.5 years.
    For more information see the GEISER website: www.geiser-fp7.eu
    Newsletters: www.geiser-fp7.eu/Newsletters