Migration of Fluid‐Induced Seismicity Reveals the Seismogenic State of Faults

Seismic swarms, in natural contexts or induced by anthropogenic fluid injections, commonly show migrations of earthquake hypocenters. Classically, such are interpreted as the diffusion pressure. However, recent studies that seismic front maps stress concentration at tips propagating aseismic slip is primarily pressure increase. In this case, migration might depend on hydromechanical properties control dynamics propagation rather than hydraulic diffusivity. Here, we use synthetic catalogs obtained from modeling a slip-weakening, permeable fault response to injection. By varying permeability and state, shape distance-time plot depends initial criticality failure, not properties. We then extrapolate numerical result seven observed injection-induced swarms showing directly seismogenic index. The has diffusive behavior when driven increase, either swarm beginning later if faults initially critically stressed. On contrary, an accelerating indicates high-criticality stressed fault, which runs away pressurized area. Therefore, study highlights may prove useful indicator characterize state over occur.