Analysis and Management of Seismic Risks Associated with Engineered Geothermal System Operations in South Australia

Abstract

In 2005, the Petroleum and Geothermal Group (PG) of the Division of Minerals and Energy Resources, Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA funded a report into evaluation of the seismic hazard generated at Geodynamics’ engineered geothermal system (EGS) site in the Cooper Basin (Hunt & Morelli 2006). This report was well received internationally, and in 2007, after the induced seismic events at Basel, Switzerland, a second report was funded (by PG for the land access protocols technical interest group (TIG 1) of the Australian Geothermal Energy Group (AGEG)) to develop protocols for the analysis and management of seismic risks associated with EGS operations in SA (Morelli & Malavazos in progress). This presentation summarises the findings of that report, which outlines the: • Risk analysis and management processes; • Risks associated with both natural, and induced seismicity and the monitoring of such events; • Infrastructure and population within SA’s geothermal exploration licences (GEL); • Geotechnical data that is required for comprehensive risk analysis; and • Recommendations for the analysis and management of seismic risks associated with EGS operations in SA.