Fracture Caging to Limit Induced Seismicity

Geothermal resources offer a stable low-carbon energy source. However, geothermal sites can collocate with the hypocenters of large-magnitude seismic events. Large events pose risk to public safety and are therefore liability for efforts develop resources. Here, we propose “fracture caging” limit induced event magnitudes present evidence from numerical model predictions, laboratory experiments, field observations. Fracture caging involves drilling tactical production wells around injection zone contain fluids in fracture-dominated flow systems. Prior our work, effect small on growth large fractures through was subject debate. Our work shows that impede fracture high-pressure rocks. This containment offers mechanism seismicity.