Impact of Induced Seismicity on the Evaluation of Seismic Hazard: Some Preliminary Considerations

Abstract

Research Article| March 18, 2015 Impact of Induced Seismicity on the Evaluation of Seismic Hazard: Some Preliminary Considerations Gail M. Atkinson; Gail M. Atkinson Department of Earth Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7gmatkinson@aol.comhghofra@uwo.cakassatou@uwo.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Hadi Ghofrani; Hadi Ghofrani Department of Earth Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7gmatkinson@aol.comhghofra@uwo.cakassatou@uwo.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Karen Assatourians Karen Assatourians Department of Earth Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7gmatkinson@aol.comhghofra@uwo.cakassatou@uwo.ca Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Seismological Research Letters (2015) 86 (3): 1009–1021. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220140204 Article history first online: 14 Jul 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Gail M. Atkinson, Hadi Ghofrani, Karen Assatourians; Impact of Induced Seismicity on the Evaluation of Seismic Hazard: Some Preliminary Considerations. Seismological Research Letters 2015;; 86 (3): 1009–1021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1785/0220140204 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietySeismological Research Letters Search Advanced Search ABSTRACT A case study of seismicity induced by hydraulic fracturing operations near Fox Creek, Alberta, is used to evaluate the extent to which the potential for induced seismicity at a site alters the pre‐existing hazard from natural seismicity. We find that in low‐to‐moderate seismicity environments, the hazard from an induced‐seismicity source, if one is activated in close proximity to a site, can greatly exceed the hazard from natural background seismicity at most probabilities of engineering interest, over a wide frequency range. The most important parameters in determining the induced‐seismicity hazard are the activation probability and the b‐value of the initiated sequence. Uncertainty in the value of the key input parameters to a hazard analysis implies large uncertainty (more than an order of magnitude) in the likelihood of strong shaking. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.