Relative contributions of local and regional disposal practices to triggering earthquakes in central Kansas were established through spatiotemporal analysis of formation pressure, disposal volumes, and measured seismicity. A persistent earthquake swarm in Hutchinson, Kansas, is a concern for both the public and state regulatory agencies seeking to mitigate seismicity. Near the Hutchinson earthquakes, increases in formation pressure were recorded in the Arbuckle Group, a common disposal interval. In a previous study, formation pressures in a few wells suggested a regional pressure increase as the primary driver of seismicity that migrated into central Kansas. However, the Hutchinson swarm is also in proximity to several high-rate disposal wells. In this paper, we examine the spatial relationship of formation pressures and disposal volumes to evaluate the relative contributions of local and regional disposal practices to inducing earthquakes near Hutchinson.
Presentation Date: Monday, October 12, 2020
Session Start Time: 1:50 PM
Presentation Time: 3:05 PM
Location: 360A
Presentation Type: Oral
