Wells closing after Oklahoma quake fraction of state’s total
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Steve Gibson, of Pawnee, takes photos of damage to a building in downtown Pawnee, Okla., following a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that hit just after 7 a.m., in north-central Oklahoma.
OKLAHOMA CITY >> The 37 wastewater disposal wells to be shut down in north-central Oklahoma, where a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck this weekend, are just a fraction of the state’s total number.
Oklahoma Corporation Commission spokesman Matt Skinner says the wells are among about 4,200 across the state. They’re also among the about 700 in a 15,000-square-mile “Area of Interest” created by the commission to address earthquakes in the area near Pawnee.
An increase in magnitude 3.0 or greater earthquakes in Oklahoma has been linked to underground disposal of wastewater from oil and natural gas production.
Skinner said it isn’t clear how many wells under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency are in an adjacent county.
Saturday’s earthquake tied for the largest in the state. No major damage was reported.
2 responses to “Wells closing after Oklahoma quake fraction of state’s total”
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For years, USA exported its environmental problems related to oil recovery to Saudi Arabia and the Mid East. Now we seem to want to be energy independent and produce more at home. Fine. But get ready for environmental problems like this. Only way to go ultimately is alternative, self-sustaining energy.
Yes, tend to agree. How would you address this in Hawaii? Small efficient reactor electrical production?