WEBINAR - Ade Nascimento (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil)

Salt solution mining, a process used to extract salt by injecting water into underground caverns, has been commonly identified as associated with seismicity. This phenomenon occurs when changes in subsurface pressure and stress alter the mechanical stability of surrounding geological structures. We present the results from an integrated study using microseismic monitoring and 2D active seismic reflection data in a salt solution mining site in Brazil.
Our results show that seismic attributes can image faults/fractures that allow hydraulic connections from the surface to greater depths, facilitating unwanted salt dissolution and leading to cavern collapses and seismicity. The observed seismicity is consistent with structures directly associated with subsidence and pre-existing ones.