Workshop on Hazard from Induced Seismicity Completed

Co-hosted by the Oklahoma Geological Survey and the USGS

Midwest City, OK

November 17th 2014: Field trip
November 18th 2014: Workshop
November 19th 2014: Internal meeting to discuss workshop content

Purpose

The workshop developed the methodology and models to describe the hazard from induced seismicity for the United States.

The National Seismic Hazard Maps (NSHM) affect public safety and influence building and insurance costs, totaling several hundred billion dollars per year. Currently, suspected non-tectonic earthquakes are removed from the hazard calculations for the NSHM. The hazard calculations for about 10 states, including Oklahoma, will be affected by taking into account suspected non-tectonic earthquakes.

Scientists from State Geological Surveys, academia, the USGS presented their initial findings from including induced seismicity into the hazard calculations.

Discussions

1. input into the hazard maps,
2. impacts of the decisions,
3. regulatory and industry issues, and
4. hazard products.

We invited regulators, industry representatives, scientists, engineers, and the public to provide insight for this new hazard model.

November 17​, 3 to 6 pm​: Field Trip, Departing from the Reed Conference Center front entrance

(half-day to allow for same day arrival if possible)
Address: 5800 Will Rogers Rd, Midwest City, OK 73110, Phone:(405)741-7333

Overview of oil and gas activity in central Oklahoma and tour of disposal wells including high-volume disposal wells in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

November 18: Workshop on Hazard from Induced Seismicity

• Welcome and Background

  • Welcome -- Oklahoma Geological Survey – Holland, Keller
  • Welcome USGS – Rubinstein, Anderson, and Petersen
  • Overview of Induced seismicity - Ellsworth
  • A Case Study Of Seismicity In Azle, Texas – DeShon

• Part 1: The National Seismic Hazard Model and Potentially Induced Seismicity

  • How Is The NSHM Put Together? What Are The Key Factors That Influence Hazard? -- Mueller
  • Is Mmax Different For Induced Seismicity? -- McGarr
  • Ground Motions And Source Properties Of Natural Vs Induced Earthquakes -- Cramer
  • Shaking From Induced Earthquakes – Hough
  • Hazard Sensitivity To Rate Models, Smoothing, And Mmax - Moschetti

• Part 2: The Logic Tree

  • Overview Of The Logic Tree To Assess Hazard From Varying Earthquake Rates -- Rubinstein
  • The Potentially Induced Seismicity Model: Sensitivity To Parameters, Future Seismicity, and the Straw-man Model – Petersen
  • Discussion

  • Special Lunch Presentation:

    Can Stress Measurements Help Determine Whether Induced Seismicity Is likely? - Zoback

• Part 3: Other Methods & Government Panel

  • One Application Of A Traffic Light System – Holland
  • Another Option -- Operational Earthquake Forecasting – Field
  • Discussion
  • Government Agency Panel And Discussion

• Industry Panel and Wrap-up

  • Industry panel
  • Wrap-up, Next Steps, & Comments

November 19: Internal meeting

• USGS, State Geological Surveys, and NSHMP Steering Committee meeting to discuss workshop content.
• Steering Committee/ Advisory Panel Meeting