Representational Image
Oklahoma geologists have documented strong links between increased seismic activity in the state and the injection into the ground of wastewater from oil and gas production, a state agency said on Tuesday.
Currently, Oklahoma is recording 2-1/2 earthquakes daily of a magnitude 3 or greater, a seismicity rate 600 times greater than observed before 2008, the report by the Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS) said.
It is "very likely that the majority of the earthquakes" are triggered by wastewater injection activities tied to the oil and gas industry, the OGS said.
It warned that residents should be prepared for a "significant earthquake."
Last year the state recorded 585 magnitude 3 or greater, up sharply from 109 in 2013. Prior to 2008, Oklahoma averaged less than two a year.
The spike in earthquake activity has put Oklahoma in the centre of a national debate over whether wastewater disposal from oil and gas production triggers earthquakes.
The report said seismicity rates have increased with injection volumes. Other reports have also found links between oil and gas work and earthquakes that have rocked communities throughout the U.S. Midwest and South.
The water at issue is extracted from the ground along with oil and gas, then the water is separated and re-injected into deep wells.
The drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," generates large amounts of wastewater. But the OGS report said fracking is responsible for only "a small percentage of the total volume of wastewater injected into disposal wells in Oklahoma."
State regulators have been closely monitoring wastewater well activity, limiting well permits in some areas and requiring some operators to take steps to mitigate earthquake risk.
On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which regulates oil and gas work in the state, said this issue was its top priority.
"There will no doubt be more steps to take, and all options... are on the table," the OCC said in a statement.
The state launched a new website "Earthquakes in Oklahoma" to provide information to the public.
Areas in central and north-central Oklahoma have seen most of the recent earthquakes.
The Oklahoma Oil & Gas Association (OKOGA) said further study is needed.
"There may be a link between earthquakes and disposal wells, but we... still don't know enough about how wastewater injection impacts Oklahoma's underground faults," said OKOGA President Chad Warmington.
The energy sector is a major part of Oklahoma's economy, responsible for one in every four jobs in the state.
The biggest quake to date in Oklahoma history hit in November 2011. The 5.6-magnitude quake damaged more than a dozen homes along with several businesses.
Currently, Oklahoma is recording 2-1/2 earthquakes daily of a magnitude 3 or greater, a seismicity rate 600 times greater than observed before 2008, the report by the Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS) said.
It is "very likely that the majority of the earthquakes" are triggered by wastewater injection activities tied to the oil and gas industry, the OGS said.
It warned that residents should be prepared for a "significant earthquake."
Last year the state recorded 585 magnitude 3 or greater, up sharply from 109 in 2013. Prior to 2008, Oklahoma averaged less than two a year.
The spike in earthquake activity has put Oklahoma in the centre of a national debate over whether wastewater disposal from oil and gas production triggers earthquakes.
The report said seismicity rates have increased with injection volumes. Other reports have also found links between oil and gas work and earthquakes that have rocked communities throughout the U.S. Midwest and South.
The water at issue is extracted from the ground along with oil and gas, then the water is separated and re-injected into deep wells.
The drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," generates large amounts of wastewater. But the OGS report said fracking is responsible for only "a small percentage of the total volume of wastewater injected into disposal wells in Oklahoma."
State regulators have been closely monitoring wastewater well activity, limiting well permits in some areas and requiring some operators to take steps to mitigate earthquake risk.
On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which regulates oil and gas work in the state, said this issue was its top priority.
"There will no doubt be more steps to take, and all options... are on the table," the OCC said in a statement.
The state launched a new website "Earthquakes in Oklahoma" to provide information to the public.
Areas in central and north-central Oklahoma have seen most of the recent earthquakes.
The Oklahoma Oil & Gas Association (OKOGA) said further study is needed.
"There may be a link between earthquakes and disposal wells, but we... still don't know enough about how wastewater injection impacts Oklahoma's underground faults," said OKOGA President Chad Warmington.
The energy sector is a major part of Oklahoma's economy, responsible for one in every four jobs in the state.
The biggest quake to date in Oklahoma history hit in November 2011. The 5.6-magnitude quake damaged more than a dozen homes along with several businesses.
© Thomson Reuters 2015
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
