Drilling Wastewater Injection Likely Factor In Increased Oklahoma Quakes, Agencies Say

摘要

Wastewater disposal by injection at oil and gas production sites is a likely contributing factor to the rapid increase in the rate of earthquakes in Oklahoma since October 2013, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and the Oklahoma Geological Survey. The recent jump in the rate of earthquakes significantly increases the chance for a damaging quake in central Oklahoma, the agencies said in a joint statement released May 5. "We hope that this new advisory of increased hazard will become a crucial consideration in earthquake preparedness for residents, schools and businesses in the central Oklahoma area," Bill Leith, USGS senior science adviser for earthquakes and geologic hazards, said in the statement.