Abstract:Using finite element method.The stresse field and the static Coulomb failure stress changes was calculated. The calculated results show that the location of the water impoundment plays an important role in triggering reservoir earthquake. When the reservoir water is loaded right over the fault and on the hanging wall of the fault, it will promote the earthquakes for normal faults and inhibit the seismicity for thrust faults. However, the earthquakes will all be inhibited both for normal and thrust faults with high dip angles when the load of reservoir water is located on the footwall of the faults. No strong reservoirinduced earthquakes will occur despite the load of water will promote the earthquake for the faults with small dip angles when the load is put on the footwall of the faults.