Mitigating Injection-Induced 

Seismicity 

Bill Bates 

Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Prevention 

Branch – Underground Injection Control Program 

28/03/2016 1 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
Disclaimer	

These slides and the information 

contained in them have been prepared by 

EPA staff for informational purposes only. 

They should not be relied on for 

regulatory compliance purposes and do 

not necessarily reflect EPA’s official policy 

and legal positions. 

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Increase	in	Seismic	Events	

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USGS, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/induced/ 
Cri2cal	Components	

Pressure Buildup 

• An increase in the 

formation pore 

pressure from 

disposal activities 

Faults of Concern 

• Optimally oriented 

for movement, 

and under critical 

stress. 

• Sufficient size for 

movement to 

potentially cause 

a significant 

earthquake 

• May be a single 

fault or a zone of 

multiple faults and 

fractures. 

Pathway 

• A permeable 

avenue (matrix or 

fracture 

permeability) 

allowing the pore 

pressure increase 

to reach the fault 

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USGS, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/induced/modeling.php 

Cri2cal	Components	
Pressure Buildup 

• An increase in the 

formation pore 

pressure from 

disposal activities 

Faults of Concern 

• Optimally oriented 

for movement, 

and under critical 

stress. 

• Sufficient size for 

movement to 

potentially cause 

a significant 

earthquake 

• May be a single 

fault or a zone of 

multiple faults and 

fractures. 

Pathway 

• A permeable 

avenue (matrix or 

fracture 

permeability) 

allowing the pore 

pressure increase 

to reach the fault 

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Cri2cal	Components	
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USGS, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/induced/modeling.php 

Cri2cal	Components	
Pressure Buildup 

• An increase in the 

formation pore 

pressure from 

disposal activities 

Faults of Concern 

• Optimally oriented 

for movement, 

and under critical 

stress. 

• Sufficient size for 

movement to 

potentially cause 

a significant 

earthquake 

• May be a single 

fault or a zone of 

multiple faults and 

fractures. 

Pathway 

• A permeable 

avenue (matrix or 

fracture 

permeability) 

allowing the pore 

pressure increase 

to reach the fault 

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Cri2cal	Components	
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USGS, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/induced/modeling.php 

Cri2cal	Components	
Classic	Example	

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Evans, The Mountain Geologist, v3, 1966 
Minimizing	and	Managing	the	Poten/al	for	

Injec/on	Induced	Seismicity	Associated	with	

Class	II	Disposal	Wells:	A	Prac/cal	Approach	

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Study	Approach	

• Literature	review	and	compila/on	

• Analysis	of	four	case	examples		

• Development	of	decision	model	

• Fundamentals	of	induced	seismicity	

• Explore	petroleum	engineering	methods	

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Study	Approach	

• Literature	review	and	compila/on	

• Analysis	of	four	case	examples		

• Development	of	decision	model	

• Fundamentals	of	induced	seismicity	

• Explore	petroleum	engineering	methods	

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Study	Approach	

• Literature	review	and	compila/on	

• Peer	reviewed	material	only	

• Comprehensive,	but	moving	target	

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Study	Approach	

• Literature	review	and	compila/on	

• Analysis	of	four	case	examples		

• Development	of	decision	model	

• Fundamentals	of	induced	seismicity	

• Explore	petroleum	engineering	methods	

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Study	Approach	

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Study	Approach	

• Analysis	of	four	case	examples		

• Geologic	site	summary	

• History	of	seismicity	

• State	ac/ons	

• Applica/on	of	reservoir	engineering	methods	

• Lessons	learned	

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Study	Approach	

• Literature	review	and	compila/on	

• Analysis	of	four	case	examples		

• Development	of	decision	model	

• Fundamentals	of	induced	seismicity	

• Explore	petroleum	engineering	methods	

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Study	Approach	

• Development	of	decision	model	

• Received	much	input	throughout	process	

• Comprehensive	thought	process	-	not	specific	

• Founded	on	Director	Discre/onary	Authority	

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20 

Decision Thought Process 

No Permit 

Existing Class II New Class II 

UIC 

Process 

UIC 

Process 

Seismicity Concerns? 

Site Assessment 

(Faults, Pressure Buildup, Pathway) 

Remaining Seismicity Concerns? 

UIC Process 

With Conditions 

Approaches 

(Monitoring, Operational, Management) 

Is There a Satisfactory Approach? 

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Work	Flow	and	Ac2on	Plan	

Collect 

Necessary 

Data 

GIS 

Mapping 

and 

Analysis 

Can the 

Potential 

be 

Mitigated 

Act in a 

Timely 

Fashion 

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Mul2-Disciplinary	Site	

Assessment	

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Information Needed Source 

Regional and Local Seismicity USGS or state agency catalog; event 

accuracy, seismometer spacing 

Detailed Well Information Permit and other Well Files, including 

daily disposal volumes and pressures 

Geologic Setting 

Maps, Cross-sections, Permit 

Application, Seismic Surveys, 

Publications 

Reservoir Characterization Core analysis, Well Tests, Well Logs, 

Hydraulic Fracture Results, Publications 

Reservoir Pressure Static Pressure: gauge or fluid level 

Flow Character Analysis or Modeling 

Pathway Analysis or Test Results 

Stress Direction Borehole Breakout, Production logs 
Study	Approach	

• Literature	review	and	compila/on	

• Analysis	of	four	case	examples		

• Development	of	decision	model	

• Fundamentals	of	induced	seismicity	

• Explore	petroleum	engineering	methods	

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Study	Approach	

• Fundamentals	of	induced	seismicity	

• Captures	a	broader	poten/al	audience	

• Provides	a	general	reference	

• Includes	geoscience	and	engineering	aspects	

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Study	Approach	

• Literature	review	and	compila/on	

• Analysis	of	four	case	examples		

• Development	of	decision	model	

• Fundamentals	of	induced	seismicity	

• Explore	petroleum	engineering	methods	

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Engineering	Tools	

• A	few	points.	

• Quality	of	data	is	crucial.	

• These	methods	are	an	interpre/ve	tool,	not	a	fix-all.	

• PE	tools	can	determine	if	fracture	flow	is	

predominant.	

• Fractured	reservoirs	can	transmit	pressure	buildup	

over	great	distances.	

• PE	tools	can	detect	reservoir	changes	at	distance,	

including	faults.	

• Correspondence	between	well	behavior	and	

seismicity	was	apparent	in	some	case	example	wells.	

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• Two	fundamental	approaches	

• Well	tes/ng	

• Pressure	transient	or	falloff	tes/ng	can	

determine	if	a	reservoir	is	fractured,	as	well	

as	sta/c	forma/on	pressure.	

• Func/on	of	near	well	condi/ons.	

• Analysis	of	opera/onal	data	

• Hall	plots	using	opera/onal	data	(rates	and	

pressures)	indicate	changes	in	transmissivity	

(ease	of	injec/on)	at	distance.	

• Covers	both	near	wellbore	and	distance	

increasing	with	/me.

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Engineering	Tools	
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Engineering	Tools	
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Engineering	Tools	
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Engineering	Tools	
Summary	of	Findings	

• Take	a	proac/ve	approach		

• Realis/c	analysis	instead	of	defini/ve	proof	

• Monitor	seismicity	trends	in	regional	area	

• Magnitude	and	frequency	

• Engage	operators	early	

• Addi/onal	site	geologic	data	

• Voluntary	ac/ons	

• Increased	opera/onal	data	

• Engage	external	exper/se	if	warranted	

• Modify	opera/ons	if	warranted	
Summary	of	Findings	

• Perform	mul/-disciplinary	characteriza/on	of	site.		

(injec/on	reservoir	tes/ng,	analysis,	consulta/on,	

literature).	

• Case	examples	–	deep	fractured	reservoirs		

• Fractures	more	likely	to	communicate	pressure	

buildup	long	distances		

• Buildup	can	be	direc/onal	and	extend	miles	

• Fractured	reservoirs	can	result	in	communica/on	

with	basement	rocks,	lower	confining	strata	is	

important.	
Summary	of	Findings	

• Assure	high	quality	opera/onal	data	

• PermiYng	con/ngencies	(green,	yellow,	red	lights)	

are	an	excellent	tool	to	address	site	uncertain/es	

• Increased	seismometers	beZer	define	seismic	

ac/vity.	
– Minimizing and Managing Potential Impacts of InjectionInduced Seismicity From Class II Disposal Wells: Practical 

Approaches: 

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-08/documents/

induced-seismicity-201502.pdf

– Scientific Principles Affecting Protocols for Sitecharacterization and Risk Assessment Related to the Potential 

for Seismicity Triggered by Saltwater Disposal and Hydraulic 

Fracturing: 

https://scits.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/

scitsguidelines_final_spring2015_0.pdf

– Potential Injection Induced Seismicity Associated With Oil & 

Gas Development: A Primer On Technical & Regulatory 

Considerations Informing Risk Management & Mitigation: 

http://www.gwpc.org/sites/default/files/finalprimerweb.pdf 

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Addi2onal	Resources