17-3 History, Knowns, Questions, and Implications of Induced Seismicity in the Permian Basin

Session: One Century of Oil and Gas in the Permian Basin

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Abstract:

Earthquakes of anthropogenic origin in the oilfields of the Permian Basin in west Texas and southeast New Mexico are perhaps the most complex induced seismicity cases studied to date. Induced seismicity has been documented in the region since the advent of instrumental seismic monitoring in the 1970s. Natural earthquakes occur just west of the Permian Basin in far west Texas and central New Mexico, which adds complexity to the understanding of seismicity in the region. From the 1970s through to approximately 2009, induced earthquakes occurred sporadically in the basin, mainly associated with oilfield secondary recovery operations. The advent of widespread unconventional reservoir development in the region by 2010 began a 15-year escalation of induced seismicity. The primary causal factor is disposal of co-produced wastewater totaling approximately 50 billion bbl since 2009. This injection has altered subsurface stress and caused the widespread development of induced slip and earthquakes on preexisting faults. Earthquakes have also been triggered by hydraulic fracturing in some areas. Induced seismicity has caused general concern and regulatory actions that challenge the sustainability of current wastewater disposal practices in the Permian Basin region.

Much has been learned about the nature of induced seismicity in the Permian Basin from academic research and industry collaboration. Many questions persist. Induced seismicity in the Permian Basin occurs in seven regions, two general geologic levels, and is driven by four processes. The greatest concern comes from wastewater injection between the productive shale intervals and basement causing rupture on basement-rooted faults with local magnitudes as high as M_L5.4. In these cases, hydraulically-conductive faults provide direct hydrogeologic connection between the strata used for injection and the seismogenic basement. Induced seismicity on the most sensitive faults has occurred as distant as 40 km from deep injection. Wastewater injection above the productive shales, hydraulic fracturing, and differential depletion of shale reservoirs have contributed to the seismicity, but these earthquakes occur on strata-bound faults that characteristically produce smaller maximum magnitudes (~M_L3.5). Responding to the seismicity, petroleum regulators in Texas and New Mexico and operators of injection wells have collaborated to reduce the rate of injection into deep strata leading to a recent reduction in the rate of cataloged earthquakes and indicating that mitigation works in reducing the seismic hazard.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-8729

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