In the past decade, Oklahoma has experienced unprecedented seismicity rates, following an increase in the volumes of wastewater that are being disposed underground. In this article, we perform a probabilistic assessment of the time-dependent seismic hazard in Oklahoma and incorporate these results into an integrated seismic risk model to assess the evolution of the statewide economic losses, including a conservative forecast through 2030. Our risk model employs an injection-driven earthquake rate model, a region-specific ground motion model, a recent Vs30 map, HAZUS exposure data and updated vulnerability curves for both structural and nonstructural elements, and contents. The calculations are performed using a stochastic Monte Carlo–based approach implemented in the OpenQuake engine. The resulting seismic hazard maps illustrate the incompatibility of the regional seismic provisions with the current seismicity. In 2015, in particular, the induced seismic hazard in several places in Oklahoma was higher than along the San Andreas fault. During the peak of seismicity in 2015, the seismic risk was 275 times higher than the background level, with the vast majority of losses originating from damages to nonstructural elements and contents. Our direct economic loss estimates are in reasonable agreement with the paid insurance claims, but show significant sensitivity to the ground motion model selection. The proposed risk model, with possible regular updates on the seismicity rate forecast, can help stakeholders define acceptable production levels.
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Research Article|
August 01, 2021
Time-dependent seismic hazard and risk due to wastewater injection in Oklahoma
Iason Grigoratos;
1
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USAIason Grigoratos, The University of Texas at Austin, 301 E Dean Keeton St, Austin, TX 78712, USA. Email: [email protected]
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Paolo Bazzurro, M.EERI;
Paolo Bazzurro, M.EERI
2
University School of Advanced Studies of Pavia (IUSS), Pavia, Italy
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Ellen Rathje, M.EERI;
Ellen Rathje, M.EERI
1
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Alexandros Savvaidis
Alexandros Savvaidis
3
Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Paolo Bazzurro, M.EERI
2
University School of Advanced Studies of Pavia (IUSS), Pavia, Italy
Ellen Rathje, M.EERI
1
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Alexandros Savvaidis
3
Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USAIason Grigoratos, The University of Texas at Austin, 301 E Dean Keeton St, Austin, TX 78712, USA. Email: [email protected]
Publisher: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Received:
21 May 2020
Accepted:
21 Nov 2020
First Online:
17 Nov 2021
Online ISSN: 1944-8201
Print ISSN: 8755-2930
© The Author(s) 2021
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Earthquake Spectra (2021) 37 (3): 2084–2106.
Article history
Received:
21 May 2020
Accepted:
21 Nov 2020
First Online:
17 Nov 2021
Citation
Iason Grigoratos, Paolo Bazzurro, Ellen Rathje, Alexandros Savvaidis; Time-dependent seismic hazard and risk due to wastewater injection in Oklahoma. Earthquake Spectra 2021;; 37 (3): 2084–2106. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/8755293020988020
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Index Terms/Descriptors
- buildings
- damage
- earthquake prediction
- earthquakes
- fluid injection
- geologic hazards
- ground motion
- induced earthquakes
- mitigation
- Monte Carlo analysis
- natural hazards
- Oklahoma
- probability
- recurrence interval
- risk assessment
- risk management
- seismic risk
- seismicity
- statistical analysis
- structures
- United States
- waste water
- OpenQuake
Latitude & Longitude
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