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The Geysers

The Geysers geothermal field

Paper on analysis of sequences framing larger events at The Geysers geothermal field

The paper entitled “Analysis of Microseismicity Framing ML>2.5 Earthquakes at The Geysers Geothermal Field, California” by Stephan Bentz from our Section has been finally published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. This is another paper related to the analysis of seismicity at the Geysers geothermal field performed in our section.

In the paper, we statistically analyze temporal properties of seismicity utilizing
seismicity catalogs framing 20 ML>2.5 earthquakes enhanced with the template matching algorithm. We found that triggered aftershocks or larger events are mostly restricted to the northwestern part of the geothermal field and that larger events may be preceded by
isolated smaller earthquakes at approximately the same location.

Bentz, S., P. Martínez-Garzón, G. Kwiatek, G. Dresen, and M. Bohnhoff (2019). Analysis of Microseismicity Framing ML > 2.5 Earthquakes at The Geysers Geothermal Field, California, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, DOI: 10.1029/2019JB017716.

Paper on coda-Q variability at The Geysers

Our team has published another paper related to The Geysers geothermal field. This time, Aglaja Blanke discusses peculiarities of coda-Q attenuation in the largest hydrothermal field of the world.

Reference:

Blanke, A., G. Kwiatek, P. Martínez‐Garzón, and M. Bohnhoff (2019). Sensitivity and Stability Analysis of Coda Quality Factors at The Geysers Geothermal Field, CaliforniaSensitivity and Stability Analysis of Coda Quality Factors at The Geysers Geothermal Field, California, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America doi 10.1785/0120180219. [ Article Page ]

Building up page on The Geysers studies

The Geysers represents a unique site for analysis of induced seismicity. This vapor-dominated geothermal field is located about 120 km north of San Francisco where the geothermal power production is performed for more than 50 years. Currently, The Geysers is the world’s largest geothermal field operated by Calpine and spanning an area of around 78km2 with the nominal capacity of 1517 MW. It is also an area of intensive induced seismic activity, with the largest event reaching magnitude 5.0. The seismicity is recorded with an extensive seismic monitoring networks operated by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and broadband regional network.

The availaibility of high quality data triggered our interest in understanding seismo-mechanical processes in this reservoir. This resulted in a number of publications, that I decided to gather in one place – The Geysers resesarch page.