Data from seismic slip-pulse experiments simulating induced earthquake rupture in the Groningen gas field

Hunfeld, Luuk Bernd;

2021 || YoDa Data Repository, Utrecht University, Netherlands

Rock materials show dramatic dynamic weakening in large-displacement (m), high-velocity (~1 m/s) friction experiments, providing a mechanism for the generation of large, natural earthquakes. However, whether such weakening occurs during induced M3-4 earthquakes (dm displacements) is unknown. We performed rotary-shear experiments on simulated fault gouges prepared from the source-, reservoir- and caprock formations present in the seismogenic Groningen gas field (Netherlands). Water-saturated gouges were subjected to a slip pulse reaching a peak circumferential velocity of 1.2-1.7 m/s and total displacements of 15-20 cm, at 2.5-20 MPa normal stress. The results show 22-81% dynamic weakening within 5-12 cm of slip, depending on normal stress and gouge composition. At 20 MPa normal stress, dynamic weakening from peak friction coefficients of 0.4-0.9 to 0.19-0.27 was observed, probably through thermal pressurization. We infer that similar effects play a key role during induced seismic slip on faults in the Groningen and other reservoir systems.

Originally assigned keywords

Corresponding MSL vocabulary keywords

MSL enriched keywords

Originally assigned sub domains
  • rock and melt physics
MSL enriched sub domains
  • rock and melt physics
  • analogue modelling of geologic processes
Source http://dx.doi.org/10.24416/UU01-A8BLMR
Source publisher YoDa Data Repository, Utrecht University, Netherlands
DOI 10.24416/UU01-A8BLMR
Authors
Contributors
Citation Hunfeld, L. B. (2021). Data from seismic slip-pulse experiments simulating induced earthquake rupture in the Groningen gas field (Version 1.0) [Data set]. Utrecht University. https://doi.org/10.24416/UU01-A8BLMR
Collection period(s)
  • 2019-02-03 - 2019-05-30