On 12 June 2025, the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, in Warsaw hosted the public defense of the doctoral thesis by Monika Staszek, MSc, entitled Joint multiplet and static stress drop analysis for enhanced characterization of reservoirs undergoing fluid injection.
The thesis addressed the issue of seismicity induced by underground fluid injection processes, a topic of growing importance in connection with geothermal energy development and the increasing demand for alternative energy sources. The research focused on the accurate identification and characterization of subsurface fault structures and fracture networks in geothermal exploitation areas, with particular emphasis on monitoring static stress changes and seismic source dynamics.
The study employed precise relocation of multiplet seismic events and static stress drop analysis to better reconstruct the evolution of faults and discontinuities in fluid-injected reservoirs. The research was based on seismic data from the Prati-9 and Prati-29 injection wells at The Geysers geothermal field in California (USA). The combination of high-quality seismic analysis and geomechanical modeling enabled a more accurate determination of rock mass parameters critical for assessing the processes leading to induced seismicity.
As the doctoral candidate herself emphasized:
“What fascinates me most about my work is the possibility of characterizing the rock medium using only passive data from induced seismicity, which is normally considered a threat. Even a simple method such as seismic similarity analysis allows us to identify structures that respond differently to the water injection process. The best possible characterization of the rock mass and its response to injection is extremely important from the perspective of risk management in geothermal areas.”
Supervisor:
- Dr Łukasz Rudziński (Institute of Geophysics PAS)
Reviewers:
- Prof. Andrzej Leśniak
- Prof. Vasileios Karakostas (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece)
- Dr Jannes Kinscher (INERIS, France)
The public defense attracted a large audience. Following the discussion, the Scientific Council of the Institute of Geophysics PAS made a positive decision to award Monika Staszek, MSc, the degree of Doctor of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
