Criteria to Characterize and Classify Individual and Discreet Clusters of Earthquakes as Natural or Induced 2012–2016 in the Fayetteville Shale Development Area of North-Central Arkansas

Author

Scott Marvin Ausbrooks

Date

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Earth Sciences

Committee Chair

Steve Horton

Committee Member

Christine Powell

Committee Member

Randy Cox

Abstract

North-central Arkansas has seen an increase in unconventional resource development and seismicity within the Fayetteville Shale development area (FSDA) since 2009. The FSDA is historically seismically active, and the increase in seismic activity is likely a combination of both natural and induced earthquakes. This study evaluates 296 FSDA earthquakes from the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) catalog classifying the events as natural, potentially induced, or likely induced. Induced earthquakes are associated with hydraulic fracturing of production (HFP) wells and the injection of fluids in saltwater disposal (SWD) wells. For the HFP well evaluation, a questionnaire was developed to help classify the earthquakes. In addition, a matched filter analysis provided evidence to raise some HFP event classifications from potentially to likely induced. A catalog of FSDA induced earthquakes was created that can be used to exclude potentially induced earthquakes from the hazard calculation for future U.S. National Seismic Hazard Map updates.

Comments

Data is provided by the student

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Embargoed until 12/18/2025

Recommended Citation

Ausbrooks, Scott Marvin, "Criteria to Characterize and Classify Individual and Discreet Clusters of Earthquakes as Natural or Induced 2012–2016 in the Fayetteville Shale Development Area of North-Central Arkansas" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3351.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/3351