Development of advanced microseismic monitoring methods and applications in mining and shale gas hydraulic fracturing

Abstract

Because of various mining activities, the local stress is perturbed that generally induces microseismicity around the mining area. By analyzing the microseismic data, we can determine the location, magnitude, and focal mechanism of microseismic events, which may provide early warning to the hazards such as rockburst, coal methane and water outburst, and cavity collapse. Similarly, for shale gas development, hydraulic fracturing is needed to create fractures in target shear reservoirs to efficiently extract gas. Hydraulic fracturing is generally accompanied by microseismic events, from which stimulated reservoir volume can be estimated. Here we report recent developments on many aspects of microseismic monitoring, including microseismic event detection, microseismic event location, microseismic event focal mechanism determination, and microseismic velocity and structure imaging. We will then report their applications to mining and shale gas hydraulic fracturing.