Induced Earthquakes | Russell T. Rudy Energy LLC
“Rigzone” reports that the Oil and Gas Division of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has ordered a halt to operations at 2 disposal wells and curtailed injection volumes at 23 others in the Cherokee-Carmen area of the state. This action was prompted by concerns that injection activity was causing earthquakes.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has long maintained that fluid injection can, under certain circumstances, cause seismic activity. From 1973-2008 there were an average of 24 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more in the central U. S. From 2009-2014 the average jumped to 193 per year, peaking last year at 288.
A study conducted by Southern Methodist University in the area around Azle, Texas, confirmed the relationship between injection volume and seismic activity as did another, published in the June 2015 issue of “Science” magazine.
Most fluid injection is a result of saltwater disposal, enhanced oil recovery or fracking operations. However, to have an impact on seismic activity, the USGS maintains that 3 conditions must be met: the presence of a fault, stress on a fault susceptible to slippage, and a pathway for the pressure from injected fluids to interact with the fault. The USGS suspects that cumulative injected volume and rate of injection are factors as well. However, to confirm their theory, they are conducting experiments at 6 sites around the U. S. and also building computer models to aid in evaluation.
To read the article in its entirety, please go to http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?hpf=1&a_id=142073&utm .
