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Texas Seismicity and Seismotectonics

Currently a seismologist affiliated with the Texas Seismological Network. Have a master degree
in Marine Geophysics from the National Taiwan University and PhD in Geophysics from the State
University of New York at Binghamton. Research interest includes studying seismotectonics of
subduction zone and intraplate seismicity. Prior to the employment at the BEG, have several years of research and development experiences from the Oil & Gas industry, focusing on induced seismicity.

Abstract:

Earthquake activities in the State of Texas have significantly increased since 2008. The statewide Texas Seismological Network, better known as TexNet, was established in response to the increased seismicity and for enhancing the earthquake monitoring capacity. Studies have suggested that recent seismicity in Texas are associated with oil&gas industrial activities. Over time, seismic events were unevenly distributed throughout Texas, which have revealed previously unknown seismogenic structures across the state. Currently, a number of seismogenic zones have been identified in the greater Permian Basin (West Texas), the EagleFord Shale Play (the coastal Texas), the Fortworth Basin (central Texas), as well as several minor clusters. Earthquakes in these seismogenic zones present various rupture patterns, largely reflecting the architecture of pre-existing basemnt-rooted tectonic faults. In this presentation I will give a brief summary of these seismogenic patterns.