The volume couple as a source for micro-seismic events

Summary A case is presented that the volume couple source mechanism is a likely description of fracturing induced seismic events. Finite-difference modelling is then introduced as a valid description of the double couple by comparing its wavefield predictions to the well established theory results developed within the Aki and Richards text. The finite-difference method is than applied to the volume couple case to show the nature of the predicted wavefields. Some comparisons are then made to some published results which are consistent with the model predictions made here.