Anthropogenic Seismicity Rates and Operational Parameters at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field

Abstract

Hot and Bothered One of the most uncertain aspects of energy production at geothermal fields is the potential for the induction of earthquakes from extraction of hot fluids and injection of wastewater back into the subsurface. Brodsky and Lajoie (p. 543 , published online 11 July) compared the historical rates of seismicity—after correcting for the occurrence of aftershocks—to operational parameters at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field in southern California. The net volume of fluid extracted and injected was correlated with recent seismicity. However, since the 1980s, when the first plant came online, the rate of earthquakes induced with additional increments of volume injected has decreased.