Changing Flow Paths Caused by Simultaneous Shearing and Fracturing Observed During Hydraulic Stimulation
Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 47
Abstract
Abstract We monitored the seismohydromechanical rock mass response to high‐pressure fluid injection during a decameter‐scale hydraulic stimulation experiment in crystalline rock at the Grimsel Test Site, Switzerland. Time series recorded at two pressure monitoring locations show abrupt pressure increases that change in amplitude and appearance between subsequent stimulation cycles. Induced seismicity correlates with the propagation of one of these pressure fronts. Deformation data along the same shear zone shows permanent fracture dislocation preceded by strong transient fracture opening. We interpret these observations as nonlinear pressure diffusion along flow channels that reorganize in response to hydromechanical effects during stimulation. Combining these observations with the in situ stress field estimated before stimulation, we argue that the underlying hydromechanical processes involve mixed‐mode stimulation with both Mode I and II/III fracture dislocation.
Authors 10
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Hannes Krietsch corresponding
Affiliation as printed
Department of Earth Sciences ETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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ETH Zurich · Swiss Seismological Service
Affiliation as printed
Swiss Seismological Service ETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
Swiss Seismological Service, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Earth Sciences ETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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ETH Zurich · CSD Engineers (Switzerland)
Affiliation as printed
CSD Ingenieure AG Bern Switzerland
Department of Earth Sciences ETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
CSD Ingenieure AG, Bern, Switzerland
Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Earth Sciences ETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Earth Sciences ETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany
Department of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Earth Sciences ETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Earth Sciences ETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany
Department of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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