A database of ground motion recordings, site profiles, and amplification factors from the Groningen gas field in the Netherlands
Ntinalexis, Michail; Kruiver, Pauline P.; Bommer, Julian J.; Ruigrok, Elmer; Rodriguez-Marek, Adrian; Edwards, Ben; Pinho, Rui; Spetzler, Jesper; Hernandez, Edwin Obando; Pefkos, Manos; Bahrampouri, Mahdi; van Onselen, Erik P.; Dost, Bernard; van Elk, Jan
(2023) Earthquake Spectra, volume 39, issue 1, pp. 687 - 701
(Article)
Abstract
A comprehensive database that has been used to develop ground motion models for induced earthquakes in the Groningen gas field is provided in a freely accessible online repository. The database includes more than 8500 processed ground motion recordings from 87 earthquakes of local magnitude ML between 1.8 and 3.6, obtained
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from a large network of surface accelerographs and borehole geophones placed at 50 m depth intervals to a depth of 200 m. The 5%-damped pseudo-acceleration spectra and Fourier amplitude spectra of the records are also provided. Measured shear-wave velocity (VS) profiles, obtained primarily from seismic Cone Penetration Tests (CPTs), are provided for 80 of the ∼100 recording stations. A model representing the regional dynamic soil properties is presented for the entire gas field plus a 5 km onshore buffer zone, specifying lithology, VS, and damping for all layers above the reference baserock horizon located at about 800 m depth. Transfer functions and frequency-dependent amplification factors from the reference rock horizon to the surface for the locations of the recording stations are also included. The database provides a valuable resource for further refinement of induced seismic hazard and risk modeling in Groningen as well as for generic research in site response of thick, soft soil deposits and the characteristics of ground motions from small-magnitude, shallow-focus induced earthquakes.
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Keywords: Groningen gas field, Groningen project database, ground motion database, Induced seismicity, site profile database, site response model, Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology, Geophysics
ISSN: 8755-2930
Publisher: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Note: Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work has been funded by the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM). Funding Information: There are too many colleagues at Shell, ExxonMobil, Deltares, and KNMI who have contributed to this work in various ways to possibly thank in the space available herein, but special mention must be made to Peter Stafford, who is a member of the Groningen GMM team along with seven of the authors of this article, for discussions and astute advice that have always benefited the development of the work. In addition, for assistance at various stages of the work since 2014, we would like to thank Steve Oates, Tom Piesold, and Remco Romijn at Shell, Jordi Domingo Ballesta at KNMI, as well as Helen Crowley, António Araújo Correia and Francesco Graziotti. The geological zonation model was constructed by a large team of geologists from Deltares and TNO—Geological Survey of the Netherlands: Ane Wiersma, Pieter Doornenbal, Tommer Vermaas, Renée de Bruijn, Marc Hijma, Freek Busschers, Marcel Bakker, Ronald Harting, Roula Dambrink, Willem Dabekaussen, Wim Dubelaar, Eppie de Heer, and Jan Peeters. Veronique Marges provided numerous maps and Wim Dubelaar commented on the geological setting. We are very grateful to several individuals who have provided critical review and feedback on the geological model: Rien Herber, Tijn Berends, Joep Storms, Adriaan Janszen, Karel Maron, Clemens Visser, and Dirk Kraaijpoel. Finally, we wish to express particular gratitude to the members of an international panel of experts who provided very valuable feedback, suggestions and criticisms during various stages of the work, including at in-person and online workshops: Gail Atkinson, Norm Abrahamson, Hilmar Bungum, Fabrice Cotton, John Douglas, Jonathan Stewart, Ivan Wong and Bob Youngs. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work has been funded by the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM). Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022.
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