Elements of a best practices approach to induced seismicity in geologic storage

As sequestration projects become larger, a framework for addressing potential induced seismicity will become necessary. We have drawn heavily on work done in the geothermal research community as a basis for a best practices approach for geologic storage. The seven step approach involves documentation of the historical natural seismicity, assessment of the potential for induced seismicity, and recommended steps for mitigation of the risk of the induced seismicity. The approach recognizes the importance of addressing the human element in addition to technical issues. The proposed approach is being applied in a sequestration field pilot in California.