Near-realtime seismic monitoring of fluid injection allowed control of induced earthquakes during the stimulation of a geothermal well near Helsinki, Finland. The injection well was drilled down to 6.1 km-depth into Precambrian crystalline rocks. The well was deviated 45° from vertical and an open hole section at the bottom was divided into several injection intervals. A total of 18,160 m3 of fresh water was pumped into crystalline basement over a period of 49 days in June and July, 2018. The stimulation was monitored in near-real time using a deep seismic borehole array and series of borehole stations. Earthquakes were processed within a few minutes and results informed a Traffic Light System (TLS). Using near-realtime information on induced-earthquake rates, locations, magnitudes, and evolution of seismic and hydraulic energy, pumping was either stopped or varied between wellhead-pressures of 60-90 MPa and flow rates of 400-800 l/min. This procedure avoided the nucleation of a project-stopping red alert at magnitude M2.1 induced earthquake, a limit set by the TLS and local authorities.
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53rd U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium
June 23–26, 2019
New York City, New York
Controlling Induced Seismicity During Hydraulic Stimulation of a 6 Km Deep Enhanced Geothermal System in Finland
P. Malin;
P. Malin
ASIR Advanced Seismic Instrumentation and Research
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P. Leary;
P. Leary
ASIR Advanced Seismic Instrumentation and Research
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P. Passmore;
P. Passmore
ASIR Advanced Seismic Instrumentation and Research
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S. Valenzuela;
S. Valenzuela
ASIR Advanced Seismic Instrumentation and Research
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P. Martinez-Garzon;
P. Martinez-Garzon
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
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C. Wollin
C. Wollin
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
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Paper presented at the 53rd U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, New York City, New York, June 2019.
Paper Number:
ARMA-2019-1557
Published:
June 23 2019
Citation
Dresen, G., Kwiatek, G., Bohnhoff, M., Saarno, T., Heikkinen, P., Ader, T., Chendorain, M., Malin, P., Leary, P., Passmore, P., Valenzuela, S., Kukkonen, I., Bluemle, F., Martinez-Garzon, P., and C. Wollin. "Controlling Induced Seismicity During Hydraulic Stimulation of a 6 Km Deep Enhanced Geothermal System in Finland." Paper presented at the 53rd U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, New York City, New York, June 2019.
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