Can Repetitive Small Magnitude-Induced Seismic Events Actually Cause Damage?

Geoengineering activities such as reservoir impoundment, mining, wastewater injection, geothermal systems, and CO2 capture have been linked directly to induced seismicity. With the industrial boom in natural shale gas production regions previously aseismic areas have seen an exponential growth in th...

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Main Authors: Oliver-Denzil S. Taylor, Alanna P. Lester, Theodore A. Lee, Mihan H. McKenna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Advances in Civil Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/2056123
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author Oliver-Denzil S. Taylor
Alanna P. Lester
Theodore A. Lee
Mihan H. McKenna
author_facet Oliver-Denzil S. Taylor
Alanna P. Lester
Theodore A. Lee
Mihan H. McKenna
author_sort Oliver-Denzil S. Taylor
collection DOAJ
description Geoengineering activities such as reservoir impoundment, mining, wastewater injection, geothermal systems, and CO2 capture have been linked directly to induced seismicity. With the industrial boom in natural shale gas production regions previously aseismic areas have seen an exponential growth in the frequency of small magnitude events, with multiple events observed in close proximity within a 24-hour time period. While the overwhelming majority of induced seismic research has focused on the causality, the potential risk posed to critical federal infrastructure has escaped scrutiny. This proposes the question, “Can repetitive small magnitude-induced seismic events actually cause damage?” A review of the potential risk is presented herein, concluding that a simplistic definitive statement of whether single or multiple small magnitude-induced seismic events do or do not cause damage to critical infrastructure cannot be justified, and warrants additional study. However, recent observations and research suggest the likelihood that these geoengineering-induced events can and do cause detrimental degradation of the subsurface (damaging the overlying structure) is not insignificant.
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spelling doaj-art-b93285821b4f488faea98534d58beb682025-08-20T03:23:12ZengWileyAdvances in Civil Engineering1687-80861687-80942018-01-01201810.1155/2018/20561232056123Can Repetitive Small Magnitude-Induced Seismic Events Actually Cause Damage?Oliver-Denzil S. Taylor0Alanna P. Lester1Theodore A. Lee2Mihan H. McKenna3U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USAU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USAU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, USACE Reachback Operations Center, Mobile, AL 36602, USAU.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USAGeoengineering activities such as reservoir impoundment, mining, wastewater injection, geothermal systems, and CO2 capture have been linked directly to induced seismicity. With the industrial boom in natural shale gas production regions previously aseismic areas have seen an exponential growth in the frequency of small magnitude events, with multiple events observed in close proximity within a 24-hour time period. While the overwhelming majority of induced seismic research has focused on the causality, the potential risk posed to critical federal infrastructure has escaped scrutiny. This proposes the question, “Can repetitive small magnitude-induced seismic events actually cause damage?” A review of the potential risk is presented herein, concluding that a simplistic definitive statement of whether single or multiple small magnitude-induced seismic events do or do not cause damage to critical infrastructure cannot be justified, and warrants additional study. However, recent observations and research suggest the likelihood that these geoengineering-induced events can and do cause detrimental degradation of the subsurface (damaging the overlying structure) is not insignificant.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/2056123
spellingShingle Oliver-Denzil S. Taylor
Alanna P. Lester
Theodore A. Lee
Mihan H. McKenna
Can Repetitive Small Magnitude-Induced Seismic Events Actually Cause Damage?
Advances in Civil Engineering
title Can Repetitive Small Magnitude-Induced Seismic Events Actually Cause Damage?
title_full Can Repetitive Small Magnitude-Induced Seismic Events Actually Cause Damage?
title_fullStr Can Repetitive Small Magnitude-Induced Seismic Events Actually Cause Damage?
title_full_unstemmed Can Repetitive Small Magnitude-Induced Seismic Events Actually Cause Damage?
title_short Can Repetitive Small Magnitude-Induced Seismic Events Actually Cause Damage?
title_sort can repetitive small magnitude induced seismic events actually cause damage
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/2056123
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