Influence of tectonic stress regime on the magnitude distribution of induced seismicity events related to hydraulic fracturing

摘要

Hydraulic fracturing is today the primary means of initiating, increasing, and maintaining well productivity in unconventional shale gas reservoirs. However, hydraulic fracturing is attracting public concern over its rapid growth in use and environmental footprint, including potential hazards such as induced seismicity. To mitigate these concerns, there is a need to better understand the level of hazard present with respect to the magnitudes of the events possible, recognizing that these are not equal across different shale gas plays due to regional differences in the geological conditions or even within the same shale gas play due to local differences.