Rash of earthquakes blamed on oil production, including a magnitude 4.9 in Texas (USA Today)
Until Monday’s earthquake, the largest earthquake known to have been induced by enhanced oil recovery was a magnitude 4.6.
Elizabeth Weise
USA TODAY
Three earthquakes that struck west Texas on Monday – including a magnitude 4.9 temblor – are all linked to local oil production.
Three quakes were recorded Monday night in Scurry County, Texas. The magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred at 10:38 p.m. local time and tied for the eighth-strongest earthquake in the state’s history.
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“We can say with confidence that these are related to oil and gas extractions,” said Justin Rubinstein, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, California.
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Texas is not considered a naturally seismically active area and in general had a low rate of earthquakes until the advent of new oil production methods.
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more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/07/23/texas-earthquakes-blamed-on-oil-production/74517191007/