Possibility of reservoir-triggered earthquake occurrence in the Huoi Quang and Ban Chat hydropower dam area

Bui Van Duan; Nguyen Anh Duong; Tran Thi An; Vu Minh Tuan; Nguyen Thuy Linh

doi:10.15625/1859-3097/17/4B/12997

Author affiliations

Authors

Bui Van Duan Department of Seismology, Institute of Geophysics, VAST
Nguyen Anh Duong Department of Seismology, Institute of Geophysics, VAST
Tran Thi An Department of Seismology, Institute of Geophysics, VAST
Vu Minh Tuan Department of Seismology, Institute of Geophysics, VAST
Nguyen Thuy Linh Department of Seismology, Institute of Geophysics, VAST

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15625/1859-3097/17/4B/12997

Keywords:

Fault, reservoir, stress, tectonic, triggered-earthquakes.

Abstract

The possibility of reservoir-triggered earthquake occurrence in the Huoi Quang and Ban Chat hydropower dam area has been assessed based on studying and analyzing the relationships between the reservoir-triggered earthquake occurrence and the following factors: (1) the types of rocks underlying the reservoir; (2) the oscillating reservoir loads on faults in the reservoir area; (3) the incremental stress caused by reservoir loads; (4) the slip tendency of faults in the reservoir area; and (5) the Coulomb stress change of faults in the reservoir area. The results show that these factors have interactive effects and simultaneously contribute to the favorable conditions for reservoir-triggered earthquake occurrence. The Huoi Quang and Ban Chat hydropower reservoirs are located in the area of moderate seismicity; however, with the favorable conditions due to these five factors, reservoir-triggered earthquakes can possibly occur. If reservoir-triggered earthquakes occur, they will be concentrated around the Ban Chat hydropower dam area within a radius of 11 - 12 km and at a depth of about 6 ± 1 km.

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