Oklahoma may see first earthquake drop since 2011

OREANDA-NEWS. October 26, 2016.  Oklahoma is expected to see the first drop in the number of earthquakes since 2011 as the state government puts in place stricter restrictions on oil and gas wastewater disposal wells.

The number of earthquakes in Oklahoma above a magnitude 3.0 has been 548 so far this year said Michael Teague, Oklahoma's secretary of energy and environment said at the US Association for Energy Economics (USAEE) conference. That compares to more than 900 in 2015, which was a steep rise from about 580 in 2014 and about 100 in 2013, according to the US Geological Survey.

A number of studies pin the growing frequency of earthquakes in Oklahoma with the rapid growth in the number of drilling wastewater injection wells.

"In Oklahoma, water is cheap and disposal is cheap," Teague said. "There was no incentive to do anything."

As the frequency of earthquakes rose, the state has targeted wells that flow into the Arbuckle formation, he said. The state has initiated a multi-pronged approach, from a policy, research, regulatory and communications standpoint to tackle the spate of earthquakes.

"We are not done with this," he said.

Low oil prices will likely help cut the number of earthquakes as well, since companies have slowed drilling activities, easing the need to dispose of wastewater.

"The question is what happens when the price of oil comes up?" Teague said. "Our answer is: we are stopping earthquakes."