Seismic Response to hydraulic fracturing in caving mines

Authors: Birch, DJ; Meyer, S G Download Paper

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1952_33_Birch

Cite As:
Birch, DJ & Meyer, S G 2019, 'Seismic Response to hydraulic fracturing in caving mines', in W Joughin (ed.), Deep Mining 2019: Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Deep and High Stress Mining, The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Johannesburg, pp. 445-460, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1952_33_Birch



Abstract:
We present qualitative observations of the recorded rock mass response to hydraulic-fracturing in four case studies from three major caving mines and demonstrate usefulness in the application of advanced seismological methods to describe this response. Three out of the four cases represent a rare opportunity where the seismic response to hydraulic-fracturing was fairly isolated. The activation of structures was readily evidenced using source mechanism analysis. Hydraulic-fracturing applied along the abutment of a cave was shown to be effective in inducing propagation in a highly stressed, stalled section of the cave. The dominant mode of failure in all cases was shear. The amount and type of volumetric change associated with seismicity was dependent on the proximity of the events to mine voids. Seismic activity rates were estimated to be between 10 and 75 times higher during fluid injection than in the time prior to treatment.

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