This article summarizes the Rocky Mountain Arsenal deep well injection operations, and the initial monitoring attempts made when seismic activity became an issue. Information is given on the work done by the USGS to collect seismic data (as it became apparent there was little historical documentation to justify high magnitude earthquakes in the area). The article presents a general correlation linking increased injection with increased seismic activity. However, it goes into great detail on tectonic strain in relation to changing pore pressure to support the concept of induced seismicity. This article is of great importance because the theory proposed by Healy et al. explained the events of several large earthquakes that occurred one year after injection had stopped (1967).
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A brief overview of historic injection operations are given, as well as a detailed analysis of the Precambrian rock reservoir. The mathematical model for the reservoir is combined with the known parameters of injection pressures and seismic data to determine a critical reservoir pressure at which seismic activity would occur. This study echoes the previous article, stating that an increase in fluid pressure overstressed the basement rock, triggering the Denver earthquakes. Additionally, from the calculations performed, a relatively small increase in reservoir pressure (464 psi), triggered the earthquake
A brief overview of historic injection operations are given, as well as a detailed analysis of the Precambrian rock reservoir. The mathematical model for the reservoir is combined with the known parameters of injection pressures and seismic data to determine a critical reservoir pressure at which seismic activity would occur. This study echoes the previous article, stating that an increase in fluid pressure overstressed the basement rock, triggering the Denver earthquakes. Additionally, from the calculations performed, a relatively small increase in reservoir pressure (464 psi), triggered the earthquake