Sandrige Energy, Inc. Implements Changes in its Disposal Well Operating Activities in the Oklahoma

On January 20, 2016, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission announced that Sandridge Energy, Inc. agreed to changes in its disposal well operating activities at the request of the Commission. This decision comes as part of the Commission’s new emergency action plan in response to recent earthquakes in the Medford and Cherokee/Byron areas.

More precisely, Sandridge Energy, Inc. agreed to remove eight disposal wells and to convert five of them for the purposes of research as well as to reduce the total disposal volume by 40% for all wells in the Medford and Cherokee/Byron areas.

The Commission’s director declared that “for the first time, researchers will have data that shows what is happening underground in real-time when it comes to disposal and seismicity.” He also added that “this [Oklahoma Geological Survey] project will be in the forefront of the effort to learn not only more about what can be done about the current earthquake issue, but also what can be done to better identify and manage future risk.”

Written by Chloe Marie - Research Fellow

01/22/2016