Coupled evolution of seismicity and permeability in fault zones

作者：Wenzhi Zhao, Mengke An, Luca Dal Zilio, Luanxiao Zhao, Hehua Zhu, Xianda Shen, Quan Gan, Fengshou Zhang, Derek Elsworth · 发表于：Communications Earth & Environment · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1038/s43247-025-02838-5 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：earthquake and tectonic studies、Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena、Geological and Geochemical Analysis

Understanding the coupled evolution of fault friction and permeability is essential for assessing seismic risk, reservoir stability, and caprock integrity. Fault slip alters permeability by opening or sealing fluid pathways, linking frictional behavior to subsurface fluid transport. This review synthesizes findings from theoretical models, experiments, and numerical simulations to elucidate the seismicity-permeability coupling behavior of faults. Key factors influencing this coupling include fault mineralogy, roughness, and temperature, as well as geological settings and fluid injection strategies. Fault gouge plays a dominant role in controlling seismicity-permeability interactions in mature faults, while rough surfaces govern these behaviors in incipient faults. Scaling relationships derived from laboratory studies link frictional weakening to permeability changes, offering predictive tools for subsurface fault behavior. Understanding these processes provides critical insights into fault stability, seismic potential, and fluid transport and offers valuable guidance for managing induced seismicity and optimizing subsurface activities. Factors such as fault mineralogy, roughness, temperature, geological settings, and fluid injection strategies influence seismicity-permeability coupling behavior of faults, with fault gouge controlling interactions in mature faults and rough surfaces governing them in incipient faults, according to a synthesis of theoretical, experimental, and ...