Consistency of stress state,locations and source mechanisms of events induced by hydraulic fracturing: downhole monitoring

We present results of processed microseismic events induced by hydraulic fracturing and detected using dual downhole monitoring arrays. The results provide valuable insight into hydraulic fracturing. For our study, we detected and located microseismic events and determined their magnitudes, source mechanisms and inverted stress field orientation. Event locations formed a distinct linear trend above the stimulated intervals. Source mechanisms were only computed for high‐quality events detected on a sufficient number of receivers. All the detected source mechanisms were dip‐slip mechanisms with steep and nearly horizontal nodal planes. The source mechanisms represented shear events and the non‐double‐couple components were very small. Such small, non‐double‐couple components are consistent with a noise level in the data and velocity model uncertainties. Strikes of inverted mechanisms corresponding to the nearly vertical fault plane are (within the error of measurements) identical with the strike of the location trend. Ambient principal stress directions were inverted from the source mechanisms. The least principal stress, σ₃, was determined perpendicular to the strike of the trend of the locations, indicating that the hydraulic fracture propagated in the direction of maximum horizontal stress. Our analysis indicated that the source mechanisms observed using downhole instruments are consistent with the source mechanisms observed in microseismic monitoring arrays in other locations. Furthermore, the orientation of the inverted principal components of the ambient stress field is in agreement with the orientation of the known regional stress, implying that microseismic events induced by hydraulic fracturing are controlled by the regional stress field.     

On the retrieval of moment tensors from borehole data

The complete moment tensors of seismic sources in homogeneous or vertically inhomogeneous isotropic structures cannot be retrieved using receivers deployed in one vertical borehole. The complete moment tensors can be retrieved from amplitudes of P‐waves, provided that receivers are deployed in at least three boreholes. Using amplitudes of P‐ and S‐waves, two boreholes are, in principle, sufficient. Similar rules also apply to transversely isotropic media with a vertical axis of symmetry. In the case of limited observations, the inversion can be stabilized by imposing the zero‐trace constraint on the moment tensors. However, this constraint is valid only if applied to observations of shear faulting on planar faults in isotropic media, which produces double‐couple mechanisms. For shear faulting on non‐planar faults, for tensile faulting, and for shear faulting in anisotropic media, the zero‐trace constraint is no longer valid and can distort the retrieved moment tensor and bias the fault‐plane solution. Numerical modelling simulating the inversion of the double‐couple mechanism from real data reveals that the errors in the double‐couple and non‐double‐couple percentages of the moment tensors rapidly decrease with increase in the number of boreholes used. For noisy P‐ and S‐wave amplitudes with noise of 15% of the top amplitude at each channel and for a velocity model biased by 10%, the errors in the double‐couple percentage attain 25, 13 and 6% when inverting for the double‐couple mechanism from one, two and three boreholes.     

Moment Tensor Solutions and Triggering Environment for Earthquakes in Koyna-Warna Water Reservoirs Region,India

We consider nine earthquakes in the Koyna-Warna reservoir region on the western side of the Peninsular India. The deviatoric moment tensors of these earthquakes have been evaluated by minimizing the least-squares misfit between observed and synthetic seismograms. We use broadband seismograms of observatories at KARD and PUNE which are at distances of nearly 50 and 150 km, respectively, from the epicenters. Both surface wave inversion and the difference between the arrival times of SH and SV show the presence of an anisotropic crust. However, we have obtained an equivalent isotropic structure by improving the published crustal structures of this area through inversion of surface wave group velocity data. The deviatoric moment tensors of the earthquakes are decomposed into two components: double-couple and compensated linear vector dipoles (CLVD). The double-couple components of all the nine earthquakes show normal faulting with minor strike slip; the T axis is consistently subhorizontal with an average azimuth of 260.6° and the P axis is nearly vertical. The fault planes of six events give average strike direction and dip, respectively as 194.0° and 51.8° and are associated with the main fault of the area. The other three events lie in the southern part of this area and have strike direction between SSE and SE which is parallel to the tectonic features in this part. The CLVD component is generally within 20 percent of the total moment tensor. Recent studies show that anisotropy can produce source mechanism with CLVD up to 30 percent and can also cause high pore fluid pressure leading to fault instability more rapidly compared to conventional mechanism in an isotropic medium. It appears that the anisotropic crust, noted in the present work, is generating the CLVD component and also gives the proper environment to trigger earthquakes by reservoirs through pore fluid pressure.     

2016年4月16日熊本地震滑动分布反演与分析

综合利用强震数据、GPS数据和InSAR数据基于双断层模型反演熊本地震滑动分布,通过选择合理的介质模型和平滑因子,分别对数据进行单独反演和联合反演。从结果分析可以看出:三种数据联合反演的结果最优,最终滑动模型为:断层1走向为236°,倾角65°,滑动角-150.6°,最大滑动量为6m;断层2走向为206°,倾角72°,滑动角-155°,最大滑动量为4m。基于K-net和Kik-net获取永久位移快速反演得到的滑动分布结果与基于GPS数据,Sentinel-1A InSAR数据反演甚至联合反演得到滑动分布结果比较一致,表明大震后利用高密度强震动台网后快速获取滑动分布用于震后应急响应和灾害评估是切实可行的,同时认为此次地震发震断层为右旋走滑的断层系统。     

2013年7月22日甘肃岷县-漳县M_S6.6地震震源破裂过程

2013年7月22日,在甘肃岷县漳县交界处发生MS6.6地震,地震震中位置靠近临潭—宕昌断裂.本文通过构建有限断层模型,利用国家强震动台网中心提供的12条强地面运动三分量资料,通过波形反演方法来研究这次地震的震源破裂过程.结果显示这次地震是发生在甘东南地区岷县—宕昌断裂带东段附近的一次MW6.1级逆冲兼具左旋走滑破裂事件,最大滑动量约为80cm.发震断层走向及滑动性质与岷县—宕昌断裂吻合,推断本次地震与东昆仑断裂向北的扩展和推挤密切相关,是岷县—宕昌断裂进一步活动的结果.     

基于线弹性位错模型及干涉雷达同震形变场反演1997年玛尼Mw75级地震参数－Ⅰ.均匀滑动反演

1997年11月8日西藏玛尼Mw75级地震是干涉雷达技术应用于地震观测以来的一次重要事件.Peltzer等认为该形变场体现了地壳的非线性弹性形变响应，挤压象限和拉张象限的杨氏模量比值为2.相同的情形并没有在其他地震同震形变场中发现，通常用线弹性理论就能够很好地解释观测数据.考虑到他们所用断层模型的简化程度和纯走滑约束等，本研究认为非线性弹性解释是牵强的.应用广泛使用的Okada线弹性位错模型，采用卫星观测得到的地表断层位置，去除倾滑为零的约束，基于非线性优化反演方法寻求拟合雷达观测的最佳断层几何参数和均匀滑动参数.结果表明，线弹性模型能够满意解释观测数据.断层在朝阳湖以东的段落最深达到165 km，随着断层向两侧延伸，深度逐渐减小；反演得到的断层倾     

Retrieval of source parameters of an event of the 2000 West Bohemia earthquake swarm assuming an anisotropic crust

We propose an inversion scheme for retrieval of characteristics of seismic point sources, which in contrast to common practice, takes into account anisotropy. If anisotropy is neglected during inversion, the moment tensors retrieved from seismic waves generated by sources situated in anisotropic media may be biased. Instead of the moment tensor, the geometry of the source is retrieved directly in our inversion; if necessary, the moment tensor can be then determined from the source geometry aposteriori. The source geometry is defined by the orientation of the slip vector and the fault normal as well as the strength of the event given by the size of the slip and the area of the fault. This approach allows direct interpretation of the source geometry in terms of shear and tensile faulting. It also makes possible to identify volumetric source changes that occur during rupturing. We apply the described algorithm to one event of the 2000 West Bohemia earthquake swarm episode. For inversion we use information of the direct P waves. The structure is approximated by three different models determined from travel-time observations. The models are inhomogeneous isotropic, inhomogeneous anisotropic, and homogeneous anisotropic. For these models we obtain seismic moments M_T = 3.2 − 3.8 × 10¹⁴ Nm and left-lateral near-vertical oblique normal faulting on a N-S trending rupture surface. The orientation of the rupture surface is consistent with fault-plane solutions of earlier studies and with the spatial distribution of other events during this swarm. The studied event seems to be accompanied by a small amount of crack opening. The amount of crack opening is slightly reduced when the inhomogeneous anisotropic model is assumed, but it persists. These results and additional independent observations seem to indicate that tensile faulting occurs as a result of high fluid pressure.     

2003年8月16日赤峰地震：一个可能发生在下地壳的地震？

利用宽频带远震数字地震记录,计算赤峰台下方接收函数,得到了MOHO面深度为34~35 km,并结合CRUST2.0模型等前人工作成果得到了赤峰地区的速度结构.我们以此速度结构作为模型,利用中国国家地震台网（CDSN）5个台站的宽频带地震数据,采用CAP方法反演2003年8月16日赤峰地震震源机制解并初步确定震源深度;再利用IRIS 9个台站远震体波数据,通过对比理论计算和观测记录的方法进一步精确确定震源深度并验证反演得到的机制解,得出此次地震矩震级为5.2,震源机制解为：节面I：315°/64°/19°,节面II：216°/74°/152°,震源深度为25±2 km,已深达下地壳.本文初步讨论了这样的发震深度所对应的可能发震机理和岩石物理特征,认为赤峰地区的下地壳处于相对低温的状态.     

汶川M_S 8.0地震库仑破裂应力变化及断层危险性初步研究

利用四川省汶川MS8.0地震的震源机制解及滑动分布模型,反演了由汶川地震造成的同震库仑破裂应力变化;从余震效应与断层相互作用的角度对库仑破裂应力变化进行了分析。结果显示:基于滑动分布模型反演的库仑破裂应力变化能较好地反映与余震分布的对应关系,以最大余震断层面参数(走向/倾角/滑动角:204°/56°/98°)为接收断层,反演结果最佳,83%M>4的余震均发生于库仑应力增加约0.01MPa的区域;库仑破裂应力变化的主要特征为断层北盘大部分区域为库仑破裂应力下降区,断层南盘主要为增加区,断层两端均显示库仑破裂应力变化增加,且分别沿NE和SW两个方向发展。最后,基于活断层分布模型,计算由此次地震造成的已存断层面上的库仑破裂应力变化,结果显示多条左旋走滑断裂库仑破裂应力变化值增加     

Comparison of DC sensitivity patterns for anisotropic and isotropic media

Many rocks possess electrical properties with a clearly expressed anisotropy. The anisotropic character of the rocks is often overlooked in forming the Fréchet derivatives or sensitivity functions for parameter updating during the inversion of DC resistivity data. In this study we have compared the sensitivity patterns for an isotropic, homogeneous model with that for a transversely isotropic (i.e. anisotropic) model having a tilted axis of symmetry using a pole–pole array. The sensitivity functions are expressed in terms of the derivatives of the electric potential U with respect to the average conductivity σ_m (geometric mean of the longitudinal and transverse conductivities) and the coefficient of anisotropy λ. Results are plotted in both cross-section form and plan view for various dip and strike angles of the axis of symmetry. The derivative dU/dλ decreases more rapidly than the isotropic value dU/dσ, and shows pronounced asymmetry and weakening of magnitude with increasing dip of the plane of symmetry. The derivative dU/dσ_m also exhibits the asymmetric pattern (except for vertical and horizontal dip cases). The positive region between the electrodes only extends to a small depth compared to the isotropic derivative, even in the case of a vertical axis of symmetry (VTI medium). The ratio of this anisotropic derivative to the isotropic derivative, when plotted as a function of position and depth shows prominent differences in both the sign and the magnitude of the sensitivities, especially for steep dips and for strongly anisotropic rocks. The plot highlights the dangers of an isotropic assumption. Even for mildly anisotropic rocks (λ < 1.2) the possibility for error in interpretation is considerable. Combined borehole and surface measurements are needed to diagnose anisotropy. Further work is needed to design optimal electrode configurations in anisotropic situations.     

Anisotropic inversion of refracted waves in vertical cable data in the presence of dip

Refracted arrivals are analysed to estimate the near‐surface anisotropy of marine sediments using a vertical‐cable (VC) configuration. In the presence of dip, the horizontal and vertical ray‐slownesses are obtained from the observed apparent slownesses in the up‐ and downdip directions using a sum or difference at each azimuth. The multiple azimuths generated by a VC geometry permit the ray‐slowness distribution of the marine sediments to be determined. An inversion procedure is developed to provide dip and anisotropy parameters for refractive layers from the measured refraction traveltimes in multilayered azimuthally isotropic and anisotropic media. Two sets of transversely isotropic models are used to analyse the azimuthal variations of apparent and ray slownesses. In the first set, we fix the anisotropic parameters of the models but vary the dip (0°, 5° and 10°) to test the effects of the presence of dip. In the second set, we vary the P‐wave anisotropy strength (5.2%, 10.3%, 15.8% and 22.0%) to examine the sensitivity and accuracy of ray‐slowness approximations which are independent of dip. We test this inversion procedure on synthetic P‐wave VC data calculated for six different models by a finite‐difference method. The results of applications to real VC data acquired from the North Sea are also presented.     

近震源地震波波形资料反演震源破裂过程的可靠性分析

用近震源波形资料拟合反演地震的震源破裂过程,所包含的一些不确定因素将对反演结果的精度及可靠性产生影响,文中的数值实验分析了所假定的反演断层模型参数的某些不确定性对反演结果的影响程度,并对观测波形的截取长度对反演精度的影响进行了讨论．结果表明：(1)近震源地震波形资料能较好地分辨断层浅部的破裂过程.然而对断层深部的位错分布的约束和反演能力较差．联合使用近、远场地震波资料进行反演,能反演出一个更为完全的整个断层破裂过程的图像.(2)用近震源地震波资料反演时,反演结果对所假定的反演断层的走向和倾角非常敏感.断层走向偏离真实值2°或倾角偏离真实值5°都会导致一个虚假的反演结果.(3)反演中所使用的介质速度结构模型的不确定性,也会对反演结果产生影响.     

P‐wave stacking‐velocity tomography for VTI media

A major complication caused by anisotropy in velocity analysis and imaging is the uncertainty in estimating the vertical velocity and depth scale of the model from surface data. For laterally homogeneous VTI (transversely isotropic with a vertical symmetry axis) media above the target reflector, P‐wave moveout has to be combined with other information (e.g. borehole data or converted waves) to build velocity models for depth imaging. The presence of lateral heterogeneity in the overburden creates the dependence of P‐wave reflection data on all three relevant parameters (the vertical velocity V_P0 and the Thomsen coefficients ε and δ) and, therefore, may help to determine the depth scale of the velocity field. Here, we propose a tomographic algorithm designed to invert NMO ellipses (obtained from azimuthally varying stacking velocities) and zero‐offset traveltimes of P‐waves for the parameters of homogeneous VTI layers separated by either plane dipping or curved interfaces. For plane non‐intersecting layer boundaries, the interval parameters cannot be recovered from P‐wave moveout in a unique way. Nonetheless, if the reflectors have sufficiently different azimuths, a priori knowledge of any single interval parameter makes it possible to reconstruct the whole model in depth. For example, the parameter estimation becomes unique if the subsurface layer is known to be isotropic. In the case of 2D inversion on the dip line of co‐orientated reflectors, it is necessary to specify one parameter (e.g. the vertical velocity) per layer. Despite the higher complexity of models with curved interfaces, the increased angle coverage of reflected rays helps to resolve the trade‐offs between the medium parameters. Singular value decomposition (SVD) shows that in the presence of sufficient interface curvature all parameters needed for anisotropic depth processing can be obtained solely from conventional‐spread P‐wave moveout. By performing tests on noise‐contaminated data we demonstrate that the tomographic inversion procedure reconstructs both the interfaces and the VTI parameters with high accuracy. Both SVD analysis and moveout inversion are implemented using an efficient modelling technique based on the theory of NMO‐velocity surfaces generalized for wave propagation through curved interfaces.     

地球内核平动振荡的地震激发

本文利用球对称、非自转、弹性和各向同性地球模型(SNREI)理论模拟计算了地球内核平动振荡的地震激发.以2004年12月26日苏门答腊大地震为例,讨论震源机制解(标量地震矩、走向、倾角、滑动角和深度)对内核平动振荡振幅激发的影响;基于全球21个Mw8.0级以上的大地震,分别计算10个数据资料较好的超导重力台站理论上可以接收到的内核平动振荡信号的频率域振幅.结果表明标量地震矩对内核平动振荡振幅的影响最大,走向、倾角、滑动角和深度对内核平动振荡振幅也有一定影响,但是影响相对较小;不同区域获得的由大地震引起的内核平动振荡信号的幅度存在显著差异,此结果为频率域多台站加权迭积提供了计算基础.另外,只有武汉台站接收到的2011年日本Tohoku Mw9.1地震激发的内核平动振荡的振幅值达到了地球表面高精度、高灵敏度的超导重力仪检测水平,振幅值为0.0103nm·s-2.结果说明地震激发的内核平动振荡的信号极其微弱,信号几乎淹没在背景噪声中,必须利用多台站迭积法才有可能将信号提取出来.     

综合近震及远震波形反演2006文安地震(Mw5.1)的震源机制解

2006年7月4日,在距离北京100 km左右的文安地区,发生了M_w=5.1级地震,引起了北京地区的强烈震感.为了更好的认识区域构造,我们利用近震及远震波形反演的方法得到了此次文安地震的震源机制.选择了北京数字地震台网的9个地震台,震中距小于600 km,台站的方位角覆盖较好.为了更好地利用信号相对较弱的P波信号,对于一个地震记录,本文分别截取出P波和面波两个部分,分别给予不同的权重进行反演,结合格点搜索的方法,得到了与记录P波及面波三分量对应较好的地震的方位角、倾角和滑移角.同时考虑到北京西北地区地壳较厚,本文在利用F-K方法计算近震理论波形的时候,对不同的方位角,采用了不同的地壳速度模型.随后结合远震信号中的直达P、pP、sP波形得到了分辨率较高的地震震源深度.反演结果表明,此次文安地震是一个较为典型的走滑型地震,方位角为210°,倾角80°,滑移角-150°,地震的深度为14~15 km,地震的震级为(M_w=5.1).反演结果与断层的几何分布、余震分布及北京地区北北东向应力场有很好的一致性.     

用接收函数建立区域模型的震源机制反演及其在芦山地震序列研究中的应用

本文提出并试验了一种基于接收函数建立区域模型进行震源机制反演的方法.选取四川地震台网记录的M≥3且信噪比高的近震波形资料,反演得到了芦山地震序列中74个地震的震源机制.通过对震源深度和震源机制的综合分析,探讨了芦山地震的发震构造和区域应力场状态.采用接收函数方法反演获取了26个台站下方的S波速度结构,对不同区域的台站反演结果进行叠加平均,以此区域平均S波速度作为本文震源机制反演使用的区域模型的S波速度;区域模型的P波速度由经验公式给出.反演稳定性测试表明,使用不同模型或对原始波形记录加入随机噪声的反演结果与原始反演相比,震源深度最大误差为1km,断层面各参数误差水平也很低,且显示的发震类型是一致的,其中随机噪声带来的误差小于模型带来的误差.主震反演得到的震源机制解为:震源深度17km,矩震级6.47;节面Ⅰ走向213°,倾角51°,滑动角98°;节面Ⅱ走向20°,倾角40°,滑动角80°;显示芦山主震可视为纯逆冲型地震,发震构造可能是某个具有较大倾角的逆冲断层,而不是低缓的推覆构造的基底滑脱面.同时本文反演获取的73个M≥3余震的震源机制绝大多数也显示了类似的发震类型,逆冲型地震为67个,占92%,具有绝对优势;走滑型地震为5个,正断型地震为1个.其中5个走滑型地震中的4个均分布在震源区的东北端.整个芦山地震序列深度集中在12~20km,且沿震源区短轴的余震深度剖面有自西向东呈逐步变浅的趋势,呈现清晰的铲形断面结构,结合本地地质构造,可以推断芦山地震序列主要发生在龙门山前山断裂以东的逆冲推覆体内的一个隐伏断裂上.P轴方位角优势方位与区域应力场及汶川震源区南段的相一致,表明芦山序列地震活动主要受区域应力场控制,且汶川震后该区应该不存在应力场变化.P轴仰角随深度分布则显示了孕震层在浅部为脆性上地壳,而深部已经进入了中地壳低速层.断层面的几何形态简单,倾角均值在不同深度保持稳定在55°左右,与主震倾角接近,这与汶川震源区南段的研究结果明显不同,揭示了龙门山断裂带南段与此次芦山发震断裂在断层面几何形态上的明显差异.     

利用InSAR资料反演2008年西藏改则MW6.4和MW5.9地震的断层参数

2008年1月9日在我国西藏改则发生了一次M_W6.4地震,随后有40次3.5级以上余震发生,其中最大的一次为1月16日的M_W5.9余震.本文处理了ENVISAT ASAR两轨（升轨和降轨）同震资料,精确确定了同震地表位移的空间分布;随后利用弹性半空间的位错模拟确定了上述事件的断层面参数;最后,基于非均匀滑动模型反演确定了两次地震断面上的滑动分布.结果表明,M_W6.4主震断层为走向218°、倾角52°的西倾断层,最大滑动量约1.9 m,出现在地表以下约7.6 km处;而M_W5.9余震发生在主震断层西3.2 km的地方,发震断层为走向200°、倾角59°的西倾断层,最大滑动量约1.0 m,出现在地表以下约3.9 km处.     

Testing the ability of surface arrays to monitor microseismic activity

Recently there has been much interest in the use of data from surface arrays in conjunction with migration‐based processing methods for passive seismic monitoring. In this study we use an example of this kind of data recorded whilst 18 perforation shots, with a variety of positions and propellant amounts, were detonated in the subsurface. As the perforation shots provide signals with known source positions and origin times, the analysis of these data is an invaluable opportunity to test the accuracy and ability of surface arrays to detect and locate seismic sources in the subsurface. In all but one case the signals from the perforation shots are not visible in the raw or preprocessed data. However, clear source images are produced for 12 of the perforation shots showing that arrays of surface sensors are capable of imaging microseismic events, even when the signals are not visible in individual traces. We find that point source locations are within typically 45 m (laterally) of the true shot location, however the depths are less well constrained (～150 m). We test the sensitivity of our imaging method to the signal‐to‐noise ratio in the data using signals embedded in realistic noise. We find that the position of the imaged shot location is quite insensitive to the level of added noise, the primary effect of increased noise being to defocus the source image. Given the migration approach, the array geometry and the nature of coherent noise during the experiment, signals embedded in noise with ratios ≥0.1 can be used to successfully image events. Furthermore, comparison of results from data and synthetic signals embedded in noise shows that, in this case, prestack corrections of traveltimes to account for near‐surface structure will not enhance event detectability. Although, the perforation shots have a largely isotropic radiation pattern the results presented here show the potential for the use of surface sensors in microseismic monitoring as a viable alternative to classical downhole methods.     

Seismic ground motion in a layered half-space due to a Haskell-type source. I: Theory

In this paper, closed-form analytic expressions for the frequency-wave number domain Fourier amplitudes of the displacement field at the free surface of a layered, anelastic half-space are established. The displacement field is caused by a seismic source described by a shear dislocation propagating with constant velocity over a rectangular fault (Haskell's model). Three-dimensional plane wave propagation is considered in the layered half-space using a propagator-based formalism. The wave radiation from the source is decoupled into P-SV and SH motions and the two problems are treated separately. First, analytic expressions are calculated for the displacement field at the free surface due to unidirectional unit impulses. Then, these expressions are used to compute solutions for the displacement field due to effective point sources associated with a pure strike slip and a pure dip slip. Finally, these solutions are combined and integrated over the rectangular fault area to establish closed-form analytic expressions of the total displacement field at the free surface.