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arXiv · 1610.05870

On the origin of exponential growth in induced earthquakes in Groningen

Maurice H. P. M. van Putten·Anton F. P. van Putten·Michael J. A. M. van Putten
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Abstract

The Groningen gas field shows exponential growth in earthquakes event counts around a magnitude M1 with a doubling time of 6-9 years since 2001. This behavior is identified with dimensionless curvature in land subsidence, which has been evolving at a constant rate over the last few decades {essentially uncorrelated to gas production.} We demonstrate our mechanism by a tabletop crack formation experiment. The observed skewed distribution of event magnitudes is matched by that of maxima of event clusters with a normal distribution. It predicts about one event $<$\,M5 per day in 2025, pointing to increasing stress to human living conditions.

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BibTeXRIS

Maurice H. P. M. van Putten, Anton F. P. van Putten, Michael J. A. M. van Putten. 2016-10-19. On the origin of exponential growth in induced earthquakes in Groningen. https://arxiv.org/abs/1610.05870

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