Recently, two studies related
to induced seismicity have been published in science journals analyzing the
relationship between underground wastewater disposal and the increase of
earthquakes.
The study entitled
“High-rate injection is associated with the increase in U.S. mid-continent
seismicity” examines the impact of injected wastewater into the ground on
seismicity in the central U.S., including states of Texas, Colorado, Arkansas,
Illinois, Michigan, Oklahoma and New Mexico. The other study considered the
same issue but specifically in Oklahoma, and is entitled “Oklahoma’s recent
earthquakes and saltwater disposal.”
Authors of the U.S
mid-continent study observed that injection rates higher
than 300,000 barrels per month are very likely to be associated with induced
seismicity, and concluded that “injection rate is the most important well
operational parameter affecting the likelihood of an induced seismic event in
regions and basins potentially prone to induced seismicity.”
As for the Oklahoma
study, researchers found that hydraulic fracturing
flow-back water was unlikely to be related to induced seismicity and explained
that “the volume of hydraulic fracturing flow-back water to be disposed into
the wells represents “an extremely small fraction.”
Written by Chloe Marie - Research Fellow
06/19/2015
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