The relationship between wastewater disposal from oil and gas recovery and earthquakes is becoming clearer. In parts of the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains, the number of earthquakes has increased dramatically since 2009.
For example, an unprecedented 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Pawnee, OK, in 2016, damaging buildings and causing one injury when a chimney fell on a resident. It wasn’t the only earthquake to shake the usually seismically quiescent state: Since 2009, seismicity in Oklahoma has risen 900-fold.
The reason for the quakes, researchers have determined, is the practice of injecting massive amounts of wastewater deep into the earth as part of the process of oil and gas recovery. The geologic conditions in central Oklahoma are especially conducive to triggering seismic activity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, because the rock underlying the formations where disposal water is being injected has existing faults. The wastewater, injected into porous sedimentary rocks typically between 1 km and 2 km deep, often travels to the heavily fractured “basement” rocks, a layer made of solid, crystalline rocks like granite. The liquids lubricate the faults in this layer, allowing...
Would you like to access the complete CEP News Update?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.
