Fluid-Driven Seismicity in the Baihetan Reservoir Area Revealed by 3D Seismic Tomography Based on Dense Seismic Arrays

Abstract

After impounding the Baihetan Water Reservoir in a historically seismically active area, numerous earthquakes occurred, but it is uncertain if they are connected to the impoundment. Based on the dense seismic network, this study used local earthquake tomography to construct high-resolution V_P (P-wave velocity) and V_P/V_S models (P- to S-wave velocity ratio) and update earthquake locations after the impoundment of Baihetan reservoir. Our study revealed that the reservoir water spreads from the dam site to the Qiaojia Basin and the Heishuihe branch, and pore pressure diffusion along faults induces many earthquakes. Reservoir water migrates through hidden faults and fractures beneath Hulukou, spreading to both sides and saturating some rocks below 7 km beneath the dam site-Lianhuatang section, causing multiple magnitude 3.5+ earthquakes. This study reveals that reservoir water migration drives earthquakes in the reservoir area, offering new insights into seismogenesis following the Baihetan reservoir's impoundment, potentially applicable to understanding reservoir-induced earthquakes in other reservoirs.