Interpretation of microseismic effects of petroleum production through observed response to coal mine blasts

This paper employs coal mine blast-induced ground motions to interpret microseismic phenomena that from time to time may be induced by petroleum resource development. Reservoir depletion, flooding, etc may produce microseismic ground motions that lead to concern on the part of those who feel the ground motion. These concerns can be addressed by comparison to other similar ground motions, such as the blast-induced motions described herein, and their effect on residential structures. These similar motions were found not to cause even cosmetic cracking of the weak wall covering of a residential structure. Furthermore ground motion-induced crack response was found to have an order of magnitude less effect than climatological changes associated with the passage of a weather front.