Risk assessment for induced seismicity in Manaus, Brazil

• Autores: Da Silva, A. H. A.; Vieira Jr, L. C. M.; Pita, G. L.; Inaudi, J. A.
• Año de publicación: 2020
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: documento de conferencia
• Materia: Oil exploitation; Gas exploitation; Eventos sísmicos; Ingeniería; TECHNOLOGY::Other technology
• Institución: Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

Fil: Da Silva, A. H. A. Universidad de Campinas; Brasil.
Fil: Vieira Jr, L. C. M. Universidad de Campinas; Brasil.
Fil: Pita, G. L. Universidad Johns Hopkins; Estados Unidos.
Fil: Inaudi, J. A. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentina.
Oil and gas exploitation can trigger seismic events due to operations with high-pressure fluid injection, withdrawal, gas extraction, and hydraulic fracturing. In the last decade the number of events in the North-America U.S. and Europe increased significantly, and so diverse sectors of society have expressed several concerns about fracking increase. As a result, there are many research efforts to understand the triggering mechanism, limitations on water, gas, and oil flow rate, as well as geological characteristics linked to induced seismicity. Concomitantly, there are researchers working to understand how induced earthquakes may affect the ecosystem and infrastructure integrity. This paper aims to assess the risk to infrastructure imposed by induced seismicity due to fluid injection close to Manaus, Brazil. Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state in Brazil, is located in a region over a large shale gas basin. Hazard is evaluated through statistical models and fragility functions are defined for building typologies based on literature values and the capacity spectrum method. In addition, exposure level is based on a newly presented zoning study of Manaus, in which buildings are classified according to U.S. Geological Survey's Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) taxonomy. Although at the different levels, results show that the combination between constructions that are highly vulnerable in an area where induced seismicity events have not been foreseen may lead to a large amount of buildings affected. The conclusions presented in this paper is aimed to inform decision makers evaluating possible reallocation of exploitation wells to mitigate risk in Manaus. The authors understand, however, that, in addition to the risk of structural damage, more studies are necessary to assess the risk of other consequences in a seismic active area.
Fil: Da Silva, A. H. A. Universidad de Campinas; Brasil.
Fil: Vieira Jr, L. C. M. Universidad de Campinas; Brasil.
Fil: Pita, G. L. Universidad Johns Hopkins; Estados Unidos.
Fil: Inaudi, J. A. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentina.
Ingeniería Estructural