Project Summary
Passive seismic monitoring is the science of recording and analysing natural or induced seismicity with networks of seismic sensors, without the need for active (man-made) seismic energy sources (like Vibroseis Trucks).
The University of Western Australia (UWA) Geophysics is deploying a sparse network of sensors over a period of 12 or more months in order to measure and interpret background seismicity and noise conditions for the SW Hub CCS project in the South Perth Basin; this is the first stage needed in a comprehensive seismic monitoring program.
The proposed network will comprise 8 or more near surface and autonomous stations located round the SW Hub project area.
Magnitude-frequency curves using historical seismicity catalogues and data collected during the monitoring phase will be developed to establish the rate of background natural seismicity in the project area.
As part of this research, seismicity data, within a 3D geological framework, will be interpreted in order to assess the association of natural and induced seismicity with geological structure. This information will be integrated with other ANLEC R&D studies of tectonic stresses, local faults and geomechanical lab measurements.
Comparisons of state of the art sensor technologies will be made to advance the techniques of passive monitoring and to assess monitoring limitations. Community engagement would also continue with information sessions and reports on the science of microseismicity.
Passive seismic recordings can also be used to build images of the subsurface. This information can potentially be used for CO2 injection monitoring directly (if the appropriate natural sources of seismic energy are present at the site) or used to design the active 4D seismic monitoring strategy. Towards this goal, an assessment of ambient noise sources at the site will be made with the available data and, where possible, 1D images will be made below the monitoring stations.