Fracking: 2014 Report – Investigation of Seismicity in the Montney Trend

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In 2012 the BC Oil and Gas Commission (Commission) released the results of its investigation into induced seismicity in the Horn River Basin. The report determined lowlevel seismic activity (2.2 to 3.8 ML) was caused by fluid injection during hydraulic fracturing near pre-existing faults.1

As noted in the 2012 report, the Commission distinguishes between the microseismic events caused by fracturing the rock during the hydraulic fracturing process (-3.0 to 0.5 ML) and induced events caused by fault movement (events greater than 0.5 ML). As a result of recommendations from the investigation (Appendix 2), eight new seismograph stations (funded by the Commission, Geoscience BC, and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers) were added to the existing two Canadian National Seismograph Network (CNSN) stations to provide more accurate detection and location capabilities.

Six went online in August 2013, and two in November 2014. With the new stations the CNSN began recording many more lower magnitude events than previously recorded, enhancing the Commission’s ability to track seismicity. This report’s primary focus is on the investigation into events recorded between August 2013 and October 2014 in the Montney. The investigation found that during this period 231 seismic events in the Montney were attributed to oil and gas operations – 38 induced by wastewater disposal and 193 by hydraulic fracturing operations.

None of the recorded events resulted in any injuries, property damage or loss of wellbore containment. The report finds that events ranging from 2.5 to 4.4 ML may produce actual fault movements in the range of one millimetre to centimetres within the target formation and at depth. Data also shows there is a higher occurrence of induced seismicity in certain areas due to the presence of pre-existing, stressed faults that are susceptible to reactivation.

As detailed in this report, the Commission identified five areas in the Montney where seismic events appear to have been triggered by hydraulic fracturing operations. Data shows that only 0.15 per cent of wellbore stage completions during the investigation period resulted in seismic events felt at surface. Two additional areas of observed seismicity appear linked to two wastewater disposal wells. There are 104 active disposal wells in B.C.

Read full report.

BC Oil and Gas Commission – December 2014.

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