Petroleum Reservoir Evaluation and Development ›› 2026, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (1): 23-33.doi: 10.13809/j.cnki.cn32-1825/te.2025192

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Investigation on risk of induced earthquakes for CO2 geological storage in X block, Xihu Sag, East China Sea

ZHAO Yong(), FENG Qin, SUN Xin(), WANG Qing   

  1. Sinopec Shanghai Offshore Oil & Gas Company, Shanghai 200127, China
  • Received:2025-04-22 Online:2026-01-06 Published:2026-01-26

Abstract:

In the context of the “dual carbon” goals, offshore CO2 geological storage offers significant advantages over onshore storage and represents a key development direction for future carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies. However, deep subsurface industrial activities such as CO2 geological storage carry the risk of inducing earthquakes. Although the East China Sea Shelf Basin is a suitable area for offshore CO2 storage in China, there is currently a lack of studies on the risk of induced earthquakes. An induced earthquake risk assessment method based on the Dieterich’s rate-and-state friction law was employed. Starting from fault stability analysis, the relative seismic activity rate on fault planes was correlated with Coulomb failure stress change. Both deterministic and probabilistic assessment approaches were used to investigate the induced earthquake risk associated with CO2 injection in X block of the Xihu Sag, East China Sea. The results showed that: (1) The target reservoir in the middle Yuquan Formation within X block exhibited an anticline structure. The twelve faults divided the storage trap into northern and southern sections. The in-situ stress regime was potential normal faulting, and all faults were initially stable. (2) When CO2 storage was conducted at a rate of 60×104 t/a over 10 years into the southern trap, the diffusion of pore fluid pressure had a minor impact on surrounding faults, with a relatively low risk of inducing high-magnitude earthquakes. The estimated maximum magnitude of induced earthquakes within the block was 1.8. (3) Increasing the CO2 injection rate would elevate the risk of induced earthquakes. While zonal injection could mitigate this risk, it may not be economically viable due to increased costs. The evaluation methods and findings presented in this study can serve as an assessment approach for induced earthquake risk in CO2 geological storage, providing theoretical support for the safety of CCUS projects.

Key words: East China Sea Shelf Basin, Xihu Sag, CO2 geological storage, fluid injection-induced earthquake, fault stability

CLC Number: 

  • TE58