Mud volcanoes are geological systems often characterized by elevated fluid pressures at depth deviating from hydrostatic conditions. This near-critical state makes mud volcanoes particularly sensitive to external forcing induced by natural or man-made perturbations. We used the Nirano mud volcanic field as a natural laboratory to test pre- and post-seismic effects generated by distant earthquakes. We first characterized the subsurface structure of the Nirano mud volcanic field with a geoelectrical study. Next, we deployed a broad-band seismic station in the area to understand the typical seismic signal generated by the mud volcano. Seismic records show a background noise below 2 s, sometimes interrupted by pulses of drumbeat-like high-frequency signals lasting from several minutes to hours. To date this is the first observation of drumbeat signal observed in mud volcanoes. In 2013 June we recorded a M4.7 earthquake, that occurred approximately 60 km far from our seismic station. According to empirical estimations the Nirano mud volcanic field should not have been affected by the M4.7 earthquake. Yet, before the seismic event we recorded an increasing amplitude of the signal in the 10–20 Hz frequency band. The signal emerged approximately two hours before the earthquake and lasted for about three hours. Our statistical analysis suggests the presence of a possible precursory signal about 10 min before the earthquake.
[1] We analyzed 118 well-constrained focal mechanisms to estimate the pore fluid pressure field of the stimulated region during the fluid injection experiment in Basel, Switzerland. This technique, termed focal mechanism tomography (FMT), uses the orientations of slip planes within the prevailing regional stress field as an indicator of the fluid pressure along the plane at the time of slip. The maximum value and temporal change of excess pore fluid pressures are consistent with the known history of the wellhead pressure applied at the borehole. Elevated pore fluid pressures were concentrated within 500 m of the open hole section, which are consistent with the spatiotemporal evolution of the induced microseismicity. Our results demonstrate that FMT is a robust approach, being validated at the meso-scale of the Basel stimulation experiment. We found average earthquake triggering excess pore fluid pressures of about 10 MPa above hydrostatic. Overpressured fluids induced many small events (M < 3) along faults unfavorably oriented relative to the tectonic stress pattern, while the larger events tended to occur along optimally oriented faults. This suggests that small-scale hydraulic networks, developed from the high pressure stimulation, interact to load (hydraulically isolated) high strength bridges that produce the larger events. The triggering pore fluid pressures are substantially higher than that predicted from a linear pressure diffusion process from the source boundary, and shows that the system is highly permeable along flow paths that allow fast pressure diffusion to the boundaries of the stimulated region.
SUMMARY Lusi is a sediment-hosted hydrothermal system located near Sidoarjo in Central Java, Indonesia, and has erupted continuously since May 2006. This mud eruption extends over a surface of ∼7 km2, and is framed by high containment dams. The present study investigates the geometry of the subsurface structures using a detailed gravimetric model to visualize in 3-D the Lusi system and surrounding lithologies. The obtained residual Bouguer anomaly map, simulated through geostatistical interpolation methods, supports the results of previous deformation studies. The negative gravity anomaly zones identified at Lusi are interpreted as fractured areas through which fluids can ascend towards the surface. A 3-D detailed geological model of the area was constructed with Geomodeller™ to highlight the main features. This model relies on the structures’ density contrasts, the interpreted residual Bouguer anomaly map, and geological data from previous authors. 3-D algorithms were used to calculate the gravity response of the model and validate it by inverse methods. The final output is a gravity constrained 3-D geological model of the Lusi mud edifice. These results provide essential details on the Lusi subsurface and may be useful for possible future geothermal resource exploitation and for the risk mitigation plans related to the maintenance of the man-made framing embankment.
