Detailed 3D Seismic Velocity Structure of the Prague, Oklahoma Fault Zone and the Implications for Induced Seismicity

He, Lipeng1,2; Wu, Qimin1,3; Chen, Xiaowei1; Sun, Xinlei4; Guo, Zhen2; Chen, Yongshun John2

2021-12-28

10.1029/2021GL096137

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS   影响因子和分区

0094-8276

1944-8007

The 2011 Mw 5.7 Prague earthquake is the second largest induced earthquake in Oklahoma, and occurred after decades of wastewater disposal. The local geological structure that led to the triggering of this large earthquake is not well understood. In this study, tomographic inversion of seismic data recorded by a dense local seismic network resulted in a high-resolution 3D velocity model with three major layers. The model clearly illuminates the geometry and characteristics of the Meeker-Prague Fault that hosted the 2011 Prague sequence. A conceptual model is proposed to link the tomographic structure to the triggering process of the sequence. The low-permeability second layer at similar to 1.5-3.5 km may be the key that delays the occurrence of the first sizeable earthquake after decades of wastewater injection. However, a low-shear-velocity zone within this layer at the intersection of two major faults could have provided a fluid pathway to facilitate downward fluid propagation.

seismic tomography fault zone structure induced seismicity Prague Oklahoma earthquake

SCI ; EI

英语

通讯

USGS NEHRP grant[G18AP00022]

Geology

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

WOS:000735897000064

AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION

20215211396396

3D modeling ; Faulting ; Induced Seismicity ; Seismic waves ; Shear flow ; Wastewater disposal

Industrial Wastes Treatment and Disposal:452.4 ; Seismology:484 ; Earthquake Measurements and Analysis:484.1 ; Fluid Flow, General:631.1 ; Data Processing and Image Processing:723.2

GEOSCIENCES

Web of Science

1.Univ Oklahoma, Sch Geosci, Norman, OK 73019 USA
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Ocean Sci & Engn, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
3.Lettis Consultants Int Inc, Concord, CA 94520 USA
4.Chengdu Univ Technol, Int Ctr Planetary Sci, Coll Geosci, Chengdu, Peoples R China

He, Lipeng,Wu, Qimin,Chen, Xiaowei,et al. Detailed 3D Seismic Velocity Structure of the Prague, Oklahoma Fault Zone and the Implications for Induced Seismicity[J]. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS,2021,48(24).

He, Lipeng,Wu, Qimin,Chen, Xiaowei,Sun, Xinlei,Guo, Zhen,&Chen, Yongshun John.(2021).Detailed 3D Seismic Velocity Structure of the Prague, Oklahoma Fault Zone and the Implications for Induced Seismicity.GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS,48(24).

He, Lipeng,et al."Detailed 3D Seismic Velocity Structure of the Prague, Oklahoma Fault Zone and the Implications for Induced Seismicity".GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS 48.24(2021).