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Sensitivity of a seismically active reservoir to low-amplitude fluctuations: Observations from Lake Jocassee, South Carolina

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Abstract

Relation between water level changes and pattern of seismicity is an important consideration in studies of Reservoir Induced Seismicity (RIS). Sensitivity of the Regions around Lake Jocassee to small fluctuations in the lake level is presented in this paper. The seismic source regions in the area around the lake seem to be sensitive to changes in the lake level as small as 1 to 1.5 m. Although such changes may produce stress changes of the order of only 0.1 bar, their influence on the spatial pattern of earthquakes seems to be quite perceptible. Observations of this type may help understand the threshold values of pore pressure/effective stress changes that can activate fault zones under high fluid pressure.

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Rajendran, K. Sensitivity of a seismically active reservoir to low-amplitude fluctuations: Observations from Lake Jocassee, South Carolina. PAGEOPH 145, 87–95 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879485

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