map of injection-induced earthquakes

The US Geological Survey has created a map of injection wells associated with induced (manmade) earthquakes, shown with red dots below. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/03/...

The USGS document, http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2016/1035/ofr20161035.pdf , contains references to the scientific papers where researchers analyzed the connection between injection wells and earthquakes, including nearby areas such as Youngstown and Ashtabula, Ohio, as well as the US region with the most injection-induced earthquakes, Oklahoma. "In Oklahoma, for example, the natural rate of earthquakes is only one or two a year, but there have been hundreds since fracking and horizontal drilling, with the associated wastewater injection, became commonplace in the last decade."

See WP article or USGS paper for other maps.

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Permalink Reply by G.H. on March 28, 2016 at 6:25pm

Thanks, Paul, pretty sure your post falls on deaf ears here, as always.  Rather certain Ohio determined you can't have injection wells near fault lines, problem solved.  It's a bummer that Oklahoma doesn't want to figure it out (for obvious reasons, such as state economy), but I don't really care since I don't live there.

Permalink Reply by Dan on March 29, 2016 at 12:23am
Thank you Pual,

Actually a good related post and the title isn't suggestive.
Permalink Reply by Frank Walker on March 29, 2016 at 1:58am

Does not anyone have in their lease that use of wells/drillings on/beneath their property for disposal is prohibited?  This seems to me a no-brainer . . but maybe that's just me.  ;-)

Permalink Reply by Barry D on March 29, 2016 at 2:07am

Hey Chicken Little,

As usual you cherry picked your information to try and instill fear. Typical fractivist tactic.

As usual you did not read the material you cite.

From the report you cite:

Less than one percent of injection wells were suspected of being associated with seismic activity.

More from the report that you cite:

  • Total number of U.S. disposal wells – 40,000 (approx.)
  • Number of U.S. disposal wells potentially linked to seismicity – 218
  • Percentage of U.S. disposal wells potentially linked to seismicity – 0.55%
  • Percentage of disposal wells operating without seismicity – 99.45%
  • Total number of Class II injection wells in the United States – 150,000 (approx.)
  • Percentage of Class II injection wells potentially linked to seismicity – 0.15%
  • Percentage of Class II injection wells operating without seismicity – 99.85%

Despite prevalent media coverage of each seismic event, the number of wells even potentially linked to earthquakes is comparatively small across the United States. Even in the individual states where most of the attention on induced seismicity has been focused, the vast majority of injection wells are operating aseismically.

In recent years, scientists, regulators, and industry have come together to implement a number of measures to mitigate the risk of induced seismicity, including resource and data sharing to empower states to adopt best practices. Many states have also updated their rules and guidelines for injection well permitting, and companies have spent tens of millions of dollars in mitigation procedures – many of which were voluntary – in order to further reduce risks.

Paul, you like regulators and regulations, as stated above these regulators are addressing the issue with new regulations ( action with which I agree). You convenienlty leave out this info in your post.

So your post is no more than your usual fear mongering.

Permalink Reply by Barry D on March 29, 2016 at 6:23am

More proof that your post is a faud and just fear mongering.

You state - ""In Oklahoma, for example, the natural rate of earthquakes is only one or two a year, but there have been hundreds since fracking and horizontal drilling, with the associated wastewater injection, became commonplace in the last decade."

From the USGS Press Conference introducing it's report:

“What’s happening in Oklahoma is unrelated to hydraulic fracturing. It’s unrelated to hydraulic fracturing flowback water. It’s caused by massive injection of produced water.” (marker 2:52)

“Most of the water does not come from fracking, it just comes from regular oil and gas.”

An apology from you would be appropriate.

Permalink Reply by paleface on March 29, 2016 at 10:15am
Permalink Reply by Barry D on March 29, 2016 at 10:50am

paleface,

Good article, thanks.

Permalink Reply by Jack Young on March 29, 2016 at 3:11pm

Check this out, Paul. There are lots of ways to generate minor tremors - injection wells are just one of them. http://www.wired.com/2008/06/top-5-ways-that/  And injection wells have the ability to gradually relieve pressures that could eventually build up to cause a truly damaging quake. Some folks at Stanford have proposed injecting water intentionally along certain fault lines. So perhaps this will end up being a true win-win situation once it's fully understood. Not everything you weren't aware of previously is a problem - that's important for you to remember.

Permalink Reply by Neil Sahene on April 4, 2016 at 4:41am

Paul,

Thanks for that information. A month or so ago I saw a story on one of the network news programs about the earthquakes that have occurred in Oklahoma as a result of fracking. I called my insurance company the next day and added earthquake coverage to my homeowners policy. It wasn't expensive. I think it added $42.00 to my annual premium. So I would suggest for anyone in a drilling area to get it added to their policy. The peace of mind is worth it.

 

Permalink Reply by Amy Feldman on April 4, 2016 at 4:49am
Whatever happened to the propane-frack technology? Seemed like a promising way to avoid all this contaminated waste water. And back when there was buzz about it I heard it was potentially cheaper and more productive than fracking with water. Anyone understand why this tech never got off the ground?
Permalink Reply by Paul Heckbert on August 21, 2016 at 11:05pm

Oklahoma reduces earthquakes through oil industry regulation:

[start at 2:47]

http://harryshearer.com/le-shows/august-14-2016/

Permalink Reply by charles skellett on August 22, 2016 at 1:52am

Highland Township, Elk County, which in 2013 approved an ordinance banning shale wastewater injection wells, overturned the rule last week and settled a federal lawsuit with a Marcellus Shale gas producer that wants to build a disposal well.

Two new supervisors on the township’s three-member board voted to rescind the ordinance, saying they were unlikely to prevail in a lawsuit with Seneca Resources Corp. The supervisors then entered into a consent decree with Seneca.

A Seneca spokesman told the Courier Express in DuBois, Pa., that the company would reapply for a drilling permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection, which suspended its review last year because of the lawsuit. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which licenses injection wells in Pennsylvania, has approved the facility.

chasgas

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