Induced Microseismic Event with Strong Rupture Directivity and Superimposed Attenuation Effects

Rupture directivity is a fundamental effect well known mainly for large natural earth-quakes. Its observation for microseismic events is difficult due to small rupture size and short duration, usually insufficient coverage of monitoring array and attenuation along wave propagation paths. Here, we detect the rupture directivity for an induced micro -seismic event (Mw similar to 1:2) recorded by a dense surface starlike array during hydraulic fracturing of a shale reservoir in China. We use durations of initial P -wave arrivals as a proxy to peak frequency content. The observed directional and offset dependence of the peak frequencies can be explained by superimposed effects of the rupture direc-tivity of fast, possibly supershear rupture propagation and attenuation, permitting the determination of the event's fault plane orientation. Furthermore, we implement a sim-ple statistical correction to the amplitudes, proving the inverted source mechanism to be stable, only with a slightly lower, yet unreliable nonshear component.

Automated summary

This study reports the detection of rupture directivity in an induced microseismic event (Mw ~ 1.2) recorded by a dense surface starlike array during hydraulic fracturing of a shale reservoir in China. The directional and offset dependence of peak frequencies observed can be explained by the effects of rupture directivity and attenuation, allowing for the determination of the event's fault plane orientation. Furthermore, a statistical correction is implemented to the amplitudes, confirming the stability of the inverted source mechanism with a slightly lower, yet unreliable nonshear component.