Rock Failure During Massive Hydraulic Stimulation of the Baca Location Geothermal Reservoir
- Key words
- Exploration; USA; New Mexico; Baca; Fractures; Temperature; Microearthquakes; Seismic Zones; Hydraulic Stimulation
- Location
- Baca, New Mexico; Valles Caldera, New Mexico
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1982
- Session
- Geophysical surveys; Hydraulic fracturing; Microseismicity;
- Language
- English
Abstract
The analyses of microearthquakes signals occurring during hydraulic stimulation provide an estimate of the size and location of the fractures thus produced. We report studies of microearthquakes occurring during two large3 hydraulic stimulations of the hydrothermal reservoir at the Baca Location in the Jemez Mountains of Northeastern New Mexico. Both stimulations consisted of water, viscosity enhancer, and proppant. The microearthquake event rate was low but variable throughout most of the treatment. Rock failure as indicated by the distribution of the microearthquakes foci appeared restricted to a early vertical NE striking zone. This orientation is in good agreement with the local earth stresses inferred from geological considerations. The second stimulation which occurred in a neighboring well was similar to the first except for a larger injected volume. The lateral extent of the detected fracture system was 600 m in both stimulations.
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