Historical Seismic Monitoring of EGS and Conventional Geothermal Fields: LBNL Efforts and Lessons Learned

Abstract

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) deployment across diverse geological settings requires a better understanding and management of induced seismicity. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has established seismic monitoring systems at numerous geothermal sites, including the Geysers, Desert Peak, Brady Hot Springs, Raft River, Newberry, Patua, Don A. Campbell, Jersey Valley, Utah FORGE, and Cape Modern. These multi-site deployments provide valuable observations of induced seismicity and reservoir evolution, supporting studies of thermo-hydrological-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes, risk assessment, and reservoir management. In this presentation, we review the status of LBNL-operated seismic networks, summarize lessons learned from sensor deployment and long-term monitoring, and discuss challenges related to noise mitigation, sensor coupling, data transmission, real-time processing, and data quality. We also highlight ongoing efforts to make these datasets publicly accessible to support future geothermal and induced seismicity research.