Pore Pressure Diffusion and Onset of Induced Seismicity

The Raton Basin of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico experienced a significant increase in seismicity over the last several decades, including two M5+ earthquakes. started soon after an wastewater disposal associated with coal-bed methane production. Twenty-nine injection wells have operated Basin, high-rate injectors located within kilometer most seismically active regions. We developed pore pressure model to investigate relationship between diffusion onset induced seismicity, emphasis on Trinidad fault zones. Our indicates that sufficient had accumulated northern extent zone induce at time early-stage seismic activity. hydrogeologic architecture played key role controlling perturbation. basal sedimentary interval moderately low diffusivity restricted vertical diffusion, creating substantial lag becoming expression perturbation spatiotemporal conjunction modeled pressures suggests was likely triggered by diffusion.