Assessment of Seismic Potential for a Hydroelectric Project: A Case Study

A seismic network of microearthquake recorders around a proposed dam site is required to establish to assess the seismicity of the project area. Microearthquake studies are useful in delineating active seismic zones and to assess the seismic potential of the faults in the area which is utilized for selecting suitable location of the project. This paper is based on the study conducted for Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project, Jammu & Kashmir. Seismological network of six observatories at and around the dam axis within the radius of 50 km has been established by installing broadband seismographs for microearthquake measurement in the project area. The seismic activity has been recorded for a period of six months. A total of 387 earthquakes have been recorded within the radius of 200 km with varying magnitude from ML 1 to ML 4.9 from the project site. The ‘a’ and ‘b’ value obtained are 3.323 and 0.516, respectively.