The Swiss Seismological Service (SED) at ETH Zurich performs the baseline seismic monitoring of deep geothermal projects in canton Vaud for the canton's Direction Générale de l'Environnement (DGE) in the framework of the GEOBEST2020+ project, which is funded by the Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). As part of this project, three additional seismic stations were installed in 2019 in the Rhone Valley to monitor the geothermal project AGEPP near Lavey-les-Bains (Vaud). Seismic monitoring aims to improve knowledge about natural, local seismicity before the borehole is sunk (work will start in January 2022) and the plant becomes operational. The monitoring should also help detect earthquakes quickly and accurately to help clarify whether they are associated with the geothermal project or are instead of natural origin.
Alpine Geothermal Power Production (AGEPP) is planning a hydrothermal deep geothermal project with a borehole sunk to as far as 3,000 meters below the surface in Lavey-les-Bains (Vaud) in the Rhone Valley. AGEPP aims to extract natural geothermally heated water to generate electricity and heat for the local communities. A somewhat unique feature of the planned project is that the used geothermal water will not be pumped back into the underground. Instead, the cooled, purified thermal water will be piped to the Lavey hydroelectric power plant and where it is discharged into the River Rhone.
For further information on the geothermal project, see www.agepp.ch.
©Régis Colombo
©Régis Colombo
©agepp
©agepp
The monitoring network newly installed at the beginning of 2018 consists of two surface stations and one borehole station. The two surface stations (ILLEZ and FULLY) were placed within approximately 5 kilometres of the deep borehole to optimally complement the SED's existing network. The borehole station (LAVEY) was installed in an existing 170-metre-deep hole near the deep borehole at the Lavey-les-Bains spa. A strong motion sensor was also installed on the surface at the same location.
Since December 2021, the SED is additionally included the data of three operator stations in its monitoring system. These short-period surface stations (MEXWH, EVIOB, and MORCL) were installed near the AGEPP drill site by AGEPP. Whenever possible, the SED uses this data to improve earthquake location precision.
The current seismic monitoring enables the rapid detection of even small changes in natural seismicity. It allows assessing whether there may be a connection with geotechnical activities in the context of the geothermal project. The SED informs AGEPP and the public in real-time about such changes.
Historical earthquake observations over the past four centuries and instrumental seismological data gathered over the past 30 years clearly show that there is naturally occurring earthquake activity in the Lower Rhone Valley between Martigny and Lake Geneva. The earthquakes near Aigle in 1584, at the Lac d'Emosson reservoir or in the Mont Blanc Massif in 1905, reached a macroseismic intensity of VII (very strong) and can be classified as damaging seismic events. A series of weaker but shallow earthquakes in the municipality of Val d'Illiez in 1953-1954 and 1994-1996, was possibly associated with the filling of the Lac de Salanfe reservoir. They show that the Earth's crust in this area is subjected to stress and that even minor disturbances to the stress field or the hydrological conditions may suffice to trigger seismic events.
Although very small - most likely very shallow - earthquakes occurred at Lavey-Village in 2005-2006, the seismological data available today do not indicate the presence of any active fault zone in the immediate vicinity of Lavey-les-Bains. However, the period of seismic data coverage (a few decades) is much shorter than the typical recurrence interval of larger earthquakes on these faults (in Switzerland at least several centuries), and they may have gone undetected until today.
The following maps and lists show the earthquakes since 1 January 2018 in Lavey-les-Bains and the surrounding region.
The list contains only those locations that have been manually verified by seismologists. Current, automatically detected locations can also be shown on the map. Please note that automatically determined locations may be subject to high uncertainties (up to 5 km). Only those quakes are listed which have occurred at depths less than 10 kilometers. Earthquakes at larger depths are extremely unlikely to be caused by the geothermal project. The black circle marks the radius of 2 km around the borehole.
The earthquakes in Lavey-les-Bains and the surrounding region usually constitute naturally occurring seismic activity and are not necessarily associated with AGEPP's geothermal project.
|
Local Time |
Magnitude |
Location |
Depth |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Assessment |
Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-14 00:35 | 0.9 | Martigny VS | 5.8 | 46.17 | 7.06 | manual | SED |
| 2024-10-10 08:33 | 2.7 | Martigny VS | 5.9 | 46.17 | 7.06 | manual | SED |
| 2024-08-03 04:05 | 0.4 | Saxon VS | 1.3 | 46.23 | 7.12 | manual | SED |
| 2024-07-29 02:45 | 0.3 | Saxon VS | 6.3 | 46.20 | 7.13 | manual | SED |
| 2024-07-29 02:42 | 1.3 | Saxon VS | 6.9 | 46.21 | 7.13 | manual | SED |
| 2024-07-28 03:09 | 0.5 | Saxon VS | 2.1 | 46.24 | 7.15 | manual | SED |
|
Local Time |
Magnitude |
Location |
Depth |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Location Type |
Agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-14 00:35 | 0.9 | Martigny VS | 5.8 | 46.17 | 7.06 | manual | SED |
| 2024-10-10 08:33 | 2.7 | Martigny VS | 5.9 | 46.17 | 7.06 | manual | SED |
| 2024-08-03 04:05 | 0.4 | Saxon VS | 1.3 | 46.23 | 7.12 | manual | SED |
| 2024-07-29 02:45 | 0.3 | Saxon VS | 6.3 | 46.20 | 7.13 | manual | SED |
| 2024-07-29 02:42 | 1.3 | Saxon VS | 6.9 | 46.21 | 7.13 | manual | SED |
| 2024-07-28 03:09 | 0.5 | Saxon VS | 2.1 | 46.24 | 7.15 | manual | SED |
| 2024-07-23 01:57 | 0.5 | Saxon VS | 1.2 | 46.23 | 7.15 | manual | SED |
| 2024-07-21 01:04 | 1.0 | Saxon VS | 0.4 | 46.24 | 7.14 | manual | SED |
| 2024-07-10 22:43 | 0.6 | Martigny VS | 4.6 | 46.16 | 7.06 | manual | SED |
| 2024-06-26 10:09 | 1.9 | Monthey VS | 2.7 | 46.24 | 7.05 | manual | SED |
| 2024-06-14 17:46 | 0.8 | Saxon VS | 4.0 | 46.18 | 7.10 | manual | SED |
| 2024-05-27 17:58 | 0.4 | Saxon VS | 6.5 | 46.20 | 7.13 | manual | SED |
| 2024-05-22 20:26 | 0.4 | Martigny VS | 4.3 | 46.16 | 7.06 | manual | SED |
| 2024-05-18 15:17 | 0.5 | Saxon VS | 6.5 | 46.20 | 7.13 | manual | SED |
| 2024-05-17 02:05 | 1.1 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.6 | 46.20 | 6.90 | manual | SED |
| 2024-05-04 05:13 | 0.8 | Martigny VS | 4.8 | 46.16 | 7.06 | manual | SED |
| 2024-04-11 20:20 | 0.8 | Martigny VS | 5.1 | 46.17 | 7.06 | manual | SED |
| 2024-03-20 09:52 | 0.8 | Martigny VS | 4.4 | 46.16 | 7.06 | manual | SED |
| 2024-03-19 09:16 | 1.0 | Martigny VS | 5.2 | 46.17 | 7.06 | manual | SED |
| 2024-03-18 23:07 | 0.7 | Martigny VS | 5.0 | 46.17 | 7.06 | manual | SED |
| 2024-03-12 02:44 | 0.0 | Saxon VS | 6.3 | 46.20 | 7.13 | manual | SED |
| 2024-03-11 02:56 | 0.1 | Monthey VS | 0.9 | 46.25 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2024-02-23 00:25 | 0.8 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.0 | 46.21 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2024-02-20 02:46 | 0.7 | Saxon VS | 6.5 | 46.20 | 7.12 | manual | SED |
| 2024-02-20 02:12 | 0.7 | Saxon VS | 6.7 | 46.20 | 7.13 | manual | SED |
| 2024-01-21 08:13 | 0.9 | Martigny VS | 4.1 | 46.16 | 7.06 | manual | SED |
| 2023-12-23 21:49 | 0.9 | CHAMPERY VS | 1.0 | 46.17 | 6.94 | manual | SED |
| 2023-11-25 12:57 | 0.8 | Saxon VS | 6.4 | 46.22 | 7.15 | manual | SED |
| 2023-11-10 21:22 | 0.4 | Saxon VS | 3.8 | 46.18 | 7.10 | manual | SED |
| 2023-09-06 06:40 | 0.9 | CHAMPERY VS | 5.3 | 46.20 | 6.91 | manual | SED |
| 2023-09-03 22:23 | 0.1 | Saxon VS | 4.8 | 46.17 | 7.09 | manual | SED |
| 2023-08-30 21:28 | 0.3 | Saxon VS | 4.5 | 46.18 | 7.11 | manual | SED |
| 2023-08-22 22:50 | 0.7 | Martigny VS | 5.1 | 46.13 | 7.03 | manual | SED |
| 2023-08-05 22:09 | 0.6 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.9 | 46.19 | 6.93 | manual | SED |
| 2023-07-17 03:31 | 1.2 | CHAMPERY VS | 1.1 | 46.20 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2023-07-05 03:43 | 0.6 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.5 | 46.20 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2023-06-04 13:10 | 1.2 | Saxon VS | 6.1 | 46.20 | 7.11 | manual | SED |
| 2023-05-14 22:11 | 0.9 | CHAMPERY VS | 6.0 | 46.19 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2023-04-16 23:08 | 0.3 | Saxon VS | -2.0 | 46.24 | 7.12 | manual | SED |
| 2023-03-29 00:54 | 0.4 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.3 | 46.21 | 6.90 | manual | SED |
| 2023-03-28 19:49 | 0.7 | Saxon VS | 1.0 | 46.23 | 7.13 | manual | SED |
| 2023-03-05 05:53 | 1.6 | CHAMPERY VS | 5.6 | 46.20 | 6.91 | manual | SED |
| 2023-02-21 00:57 | 0.2 | Saxon VS | 4.6 | 46.20 | 7.13 | manual | SED |
| 2023-02-04 08:43 | 1.3 | CHAMPERY VS | 5.5 | 46.20 | 6.91 | manual | SED |
| 2023-02-03 05:46 | 0.2 | Saxon VS | 5.8 | 46.21 | 7.09 | manual | SED |
| 2023-01-13 06:08 | 1.1 | Saxon VS | -1.5 | 46.23 | 7.10 | manual | SED |
| 2022-12-26 01:23 | 0.5 | CHAMPERY VS | 5.0 | 46.20 | 6.91 | manual | SED |
| 2022-12-04 10:06 | 1.8 | Martigny VS | 7.4 | 46.17 | 7.08 | manual | SED |
| 2022-12-03 20:23 | 1.6 | Martigny VS | 7.8 | 46.17 | 7.07 | manual | SED |
| 2022-11-20 11:47 | 0.7 | CHAMPERY VS | 5.4 | 46.19 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2022-11-15 02:30 | 0.3 | Martigny VS | 6.9 | 46.17 | 7.08 | manual | SED |
| 2022-11-09 01:03 | 1.5 | CHAMPERY VS | 5.6 | 46.19 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2022-10-25 21:11 | 1.6 | Monthey VS | 1.3 | 46.26 | 6.93 | manual | SED |
| 2022-10-13 02:59 | 0.3 | Monthey VS | 0.7 | 46.25 | 6.95 | manual | SED |
| 2022-09-18 00:16 | 0.4 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.3 | 46.20 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2022-08-19 15:53 | 1.1 | CHAMPERY VS | 6.6 | 46.14 | 6.97 | manual | SED |
| 2022-08-19 00:43 | 0.9 | CHAMPERY VS | 6.5 | 46.13 | 6.96 | manual | SED |
| 2022-04-11 03:10 | 0.9 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.7 | 46.19 | 6.93 | manual | SED |
| 2022-01-16 14:32 | 0.5 | CHAMPERY VS | 5.1 | 46.19 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2021-12-24 05:35 | 0.8 | CHAMPERY VS | 3.1 | 46.16 | 6.95 | manual | SED |
| 2021-12-18 07:41 | 0.9 | CHAMPERY VS | 5.4 | 46.20 | 6.91 | manual | SED |
| 2021-11-14 03:59 | 0.8 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.7 | 46.20 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2021-10-07 01:11 | 0.3 | Saxon VS | 1.7 | 46.23 | 7.13 | manual | SED |
| 2021-09-19 10:43 | 0.4 | Saxon VS | 0.6 | 46.23 | 7.13 | manual | SED |
| 2021-08-09 12:52 | 1.1 | Les Diablerets VD | 1.9 | 46.28 | 7.11 | manual | SED |
| 2021-08-06 10:41 | 1.0 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.1 | 46.20 | 6.91 | manual | SED |
| 2021-07-23 15:16 | 0.6 | Les Diablerets VD | 0.5 | 46.25 | 7.15 | manual | SED |
| 2021-07-20 10:53 | 0.8 | Les Diablerets VD | 2.5 | 46.28 | 7.11 | manual | SED |
| 2021-06-15 14:48 | 0.7 | Saxon VS | 1.0 | 46.24 | 7.14 | manual | SED |
| 2021-06-04 21:45 | 1.0 | Martigny VS | 4.4 | 46.17 | 7.07 | manual | SED |
| 2021-04-03 23:04 | 0.2 | Saxon VS | 5.7 | 46.22 | 7.15 | manual | SED |
| 2021-02-28 17:27 | 0.3 | Saxon VS | 3.6 | 46.12 | 7.14 | manual | SED |
| 2021-02-28 11:50 | 0.6 | Saxon VS | 4.6 | 46.13 | 7.14 | manual | SED |
| 2021-01-31 12:48 | 1.4 | CHAMPERY VS | 3.6 | 46.20 | 6.91 | manual | SED |
| 2021-01-24 08:29 | 0.7 | Saxon VS | 4.3 | 46.20 | 7.12 | manual | SED |
| 2021-01-22 18:49 | 1.0 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.4 | 46.19 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2021-01-16 12:37 | 1.0 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.6 | 46.20 | 6.91 | manual | SED |
| 2021-01-02 10:48 | 0.3 | Saxon VS | 6.1 | 46.19 | 7.10 | manual | SED |
| 2020-12-28 01:50 | 1.3 | Saxon VS | 3.7 | 46.19 | 7.11 | manual | SED |
| 2020-12-26 14:56 | 0.5 | Martigny VS | 0.9 | 46.12 | 6.98 | manual | SED |
| 2020-12-09 02:23 | 0.3 | Saxon VS | -2.5 | 46.23 | 7.15 | manual | SED |
| 2020-11-28 05:45 | 0.7 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.2 | 46.20 | 6.91 | manual | SED |
| 2020-11-27 08:55 | 1.8 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.7 | 46.20 | 6.91 | manual | SED |
| 2020-11-09 14:25 | 1.6 | Martigny VS | 6.8 | 46.14 | 7.02 | manual | SED |
| 2020-11-06 19:47 | 0.9 | Saxon VS | 5.8 | 46.19 | 7.12 | manual | SED |
| 2020-08-28 04:57 | 0.2 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.7 | 46.19 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2020-07-28 00:43 | 2.0 | Saxon VS | 6.6 | 46.19 | 7.08 | manual | SED |
| 2020-07-25 12:33 | 0.8 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.6 | 46.20 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2020-07-03 19:00 | 0.2 | Monthey VS | 2.8 | 46.24 | 7.05 | manual | SED |
| 2020-05-20 04:29 | 0.4 | Monthey VS | 0.8 | 46.25 | 6.93 | manual | SED |
| 2020-05-03 09:13 | 0.8 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.5 | 46.20 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2020-03-15 14:23 | 1.2 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.9 | 46.20 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2020-03-15 13:35 | 0.8 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.7 | 46.20 | 6.91 | manual | SED |
| 2020-02-16 03:05 | 0.2 | Saxon VS | 5.8 | 46.22 | 7.15 | manual | SED |
| 2020-02-10 05:25 | 1.0 | Saxon VS | 5.8 | 46.22 | 7.15 | manual | SED |
| 2020-01-04 20:56 | 0.2 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.3 | 46.19 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2019-12-24 00:27 | 0.6 | CHAMPERY VS | 4.9 | 46.20 | 6.92 | manual | SED |
| 2019-12-07 20:36 | 1.4 | CHAMPERY VS | 3.0 | 46.20 | 6.93 | manual | SED |
| 2019-11-13 00:46 | 0.6 | Martigny VS | 6.0 | 46.14 | 7.05 | manual | SED |
| 2019-11-02 07:43 | 0.7 | Saxon VS | 6.9 | 46.19 | 7.09 | manual | SED |