Análisis temporal de la deformación cortical en el norte de Añelo, provincia del Neuquén, mediante Interferometría Diferencial de Radar de Apertura Sintética (DInSAR).

Abstract

This study quantifies surface deformation in the northeastern sector of Añelo, located in the central-western region of Neuquén Province, using Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR). The main objective was to investigate the relationship between land subsidence and hydrocarbon-related activities in the area. The use of active remote sensing overcomes the limitations of conventional methods, enabling a detailed geospatial analysis of the Earth's surface. To achieve this, Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images were processed using the DInSAR technique. A total of 183 ascending-orbit interferograms were analyzed, covering the period from May 2017 to July 2024. The resulting displacement time series allowed for the estimation of deformation velocity along the satellite’s Line of Sight (LOS). The results revealed a broad area exhibiting significant subsidence, with average rates close to -7 mm/year and cumulative deformation of approximately 60 mm over the study period. The strong correlation between cumulative displacement and cumulative unconventional hydrocarbon production suggests a clear relationship between resource extraction and ground subsidence in the study area.