Microseismicity induced during fluid-injection: A case study from the geothermal site at Groß Schönebeck, North German Basin

The technical feasibility of geothermal power production in a low enthalpy environment will be investigated in the geothermal site at Groß Schönebeck, North German Basin, where a borehole doublet was completed in 2007. In order to complete the Enhanced Geothermal System, three massive hydraulic stimulations were performed. A seismic network was deployed including a single 3-component downhole seismic sensor at only 500 m distance to the injection point. Injection rates reached up to 9 m3/min and the maximum injection well-head pressure was as high as ∼60 MPa. A total of 80 very small (–1.8 < MW < –1.0) induced seismic events were detected. The hypocenters were determined for 29 events. The events show a strong spatial and temporal clustering and a maximum seismicity rate of 22 events per day. Spectral parameters were estimated from the downhole seismometer and related to those from other types of induced seismicity. The majority of events occurred towards the end of stimulation phases indicating a similar behavior as observed at similar treatments in crystalline environments but in our case at a smaller level of seismic activity and at lower magnitudes.