As recently as 2015, it was common in the scientific literature to find assertions that the risk of triggering a damaging earthquake by hydraulic fracturing (HF) — an industrial process where pressurized fluids are used to create or open fractures within rock layers — could be treated as negligible. However, that viewpoint has changed dramatically. It is now clear that the hazard from induced seismicity (including HF) exceeds the natural hazard in low-to-moderate seismicity environments. As such, to mitigate risk to vulnerable and critical infrastructure, it is important to address the likelihood and triggering mechanisms of HF-induced earthquakes. Although it is sometimes claimed that HF-induced earthquakes can be accurately predicted, avoided or controlled, critical knowledge gaps still remain. In this Review, we discuss six fundamental issues surrounding induced seismicity, focusing specifically on HF-induced events, including: the triggering mechanisms of HF seismicity; the relationship between tectonic environment and HF seismicity; the similarities and differences between induced and natural events; the damage potential associated with HF-induced seismicity; whether HF-induced events can be predicted; and the relative hazards of HF-induced and natural seismic events. We finish by outlining future research directions that are required to minimize the uncertainty and hazard that surround induced seismicity.

直到2015年，科学文献中普遍发现断言可以解决通过水力压裂（HF）引发破坏性地震的风险-水力压裂是一种工业过程，其中使用加压流体在岩层内产生或打开裂缝-可以忽略不计。但是，这种观点已经发生了巨大变化。现在很明显，在低至中度地震活动环境中，诱发地震活动（包括HF）引起的危害超过了自然危害。因此，为了减轻脆弱和关键基础设施的风险，解决HF诱发地震的可能性和触发机制非常重要。尽管有时声称可以准确预测，避免或控制由HF引起的地震，但仍然存在关键的知识空白。在这篇评论中，我们讨论了围绕感应地震活动的六个基本问题，重点关注HF诱发的事件，包括：HF地震活动的触发机制；构造环境与高频地震活动性的关系；诱发事件与自然事件之间的异同；与HF诱发的地震活动有关的潜在破坏；是否可以预测HF诱发的事件；以及HF诱发的和自然地震事件的相对危害。最后，我们概述了未来的研究方向，这些方向将使诱发地震的不确定性和危害降至最低。诱发事件与自然事件之间的异同；与HF诱发的地震活动有关的潜在破坏；是否可以预测HF诱发的事件；以及HF诱发和自然地震事件的相对危害。最后，我们概述了未来的研究方向，这些方向将使诱发地震的不确定性和危害降至最低。诱发事件与自然事件之间的异同；与HF诱发的地震活动有关的潜在破坏；是否可以预测HF诱发的事件；以及HF诱发和自然地震事件的相对危害。最后，我们概述了未来的研究方向，这些方向将最大限度地减少围绕诱发地震的不确定性和危险性。