Influence of Fault Architecture on Induced Earthquake Sequence Evolution Revealed by High‐Resolution Focal Mechanism Solutions

Abstract

AbstractThe increasing seismicity and improved seismic observation network in recent years provide an opportunity to explore factors that influence the triggering processes, spatiotemporal evolution, and maximum magnitude of induced sequences. We map the fault architecture and stress state of four induced sequences in Oklahoma to determine their influence on the seismicity. We systematically relocate the earthquakes and compute hundreds of focal mechanisms of small to medium events (1.0 < M < 5.1) using various techniques, including machine learning, for the Guthrie, Woodward, Cushing, and Fairview sequences. The detailed fault geometry and spatiotemporal evolution of seismicity and stress states reveal different dominant driving forces for each sequence. In Cushing and Fairview (largest event ≥M5.0), the main fault structures are near‐vertical narrow strike‐slip faults, with most of the small earthquake fault planes optimally oriented. The two sequences exhibit discontinuous temporal migration but strong earthquake self‐driven rupture growth. In Guthrie and Woodward (largest event <M5.0), the two sequences show more complex diffuse fault structures with varying dipping angles along depth. The inverted focal mechanisms show a mix of strike‐slip faulting and normal faulting in both sequences, and the normal faulting events are less optimally oriented than strike‐slip events. The two sequences are dominated by continuous diffusive migration in time driven by pore pressure propagation. The above results suggest that fault architecture and stress state influence sequence evolution, major driving forces, and possibly maximum magnitude.