Rapid Response, Monitoring, and Mitigation of Induced Seismicity near Greeley, Colorado

Research Article| June 15, 2016 Rapid Response, Monitoring, and Mitigation of Induced Seismicity near Greeley, Colorado W. L. Yeck; W. L. Yeck aNational Earthquake Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey, MS 966, Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225‐0046 U.S.A.wyeck@usgs.gov Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. F. Sheehan; A. F. Sheehan bDepartment of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, 399 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309 U.S.A. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar H. M. Benz; H. M. Benz aNational Earthquake Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey, MS 966, Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225‐0046 U.S.A.wyeck@usgs.gov Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. Weingarten; M. Weingarten cDepartment of Geophysics, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall Room 367, Stanford, California 94305 U.S.A. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Nakai J. Nakai bDepartment of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, 399 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309 U.S.A. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information W. L. Yeck aNational Earthquake Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey, MS 966, Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225‐0046 U.S.A.wyeck@usgs.gov A. F. Sheehan bDepartment of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, 399 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309 U.S.A. H. M. Benz aNational Earthquake Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey, MS 966, Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225‐0046 U.S.A.wyeck@usgs.gov M. Weingarten cDepartment of Geophysics, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall Room 367, Stanford, California 94305 U.S.A. J. Nakai bDepartment of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, 399 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309 U.S.A. Publisher: Seismological Society of America First Online: 14 Jul 2017 Online Issn: 1938-2057 Print Issn: 0895-0695 © 2016 by the Seismological Society of America Seismological Research Letters (2016) 87 (4): 837–847. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220150275 Article history First Online: 14 Jul 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation W. L. Yeck, A. F. Sheehan, H. M. Benz, M. Weingarten, J. Nakai; Rapid Response, Monitoring, and Mitigation of Induced Seismicity near Greeley, Colorado. Seismological Research Letters 2016;; 87 (4): 837–847. doi: https://doi.org/10.1785/0220150275 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietySeismological Research Letters Search Advanced Search ABSTRACT On 1 June 2014 (03:35 UTC), an Mw 3.2 earthquake occurred in Weld County, Colorado, a historically aseismic area of the Denver–Julesburg basin. Weld County is a prominent area of oil and gas development, including many high‐rate class II wastewater injection wells. In the days following the earthquake, the University of Colorado, with support from the U.S. Geological Survey and Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology–Portable Array Seismic Studies of the Continental Lithosphere, rapidly deployed six seismic stations to characterize the seismicity associated with the 1 June earthquake (the Greeley sequence) and to investigate its possible connection to wastewater disposal. The spatial and temporal proximity of earthquakes to a high‐rate wastewater disposal well strongly suggests these earthquakes were induced. Scientific communication between the university, state agencies, and the energy industry led to rapid mitigation strategies to reduce the occurrence of further earthquakes. Mitigation efforts included implementing a temporary moratorium on injection at the well, cementing the bottom portion of the disposal well to minimize hydrologic connectivity between the disposal formation and the underlying crystalline basement, and subsequently allowing injection to resume at lower rates. Following the resumption of wastewater disposal, microseismicity was closely monitored for both increases in earthquake rate and magnitude. Following mitigation efforts, between 13 August 2014 and 29 December 2015, no earthquakes larger than M 1.5 occurred near the Greeley sequence. This study demonstrates that a detailed and rapid characterization of a seismic sequence in space and time relative to disposal, combined with collaboration and communication between scientists, regulators, and industry, can lead to objective and actionable mitigation efforts that potentially reduced the rate of earthquakes and the possible generation of larger earthquakes. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.