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Oklahoma Earthquake: Wastewater Wells Ordered to be Shut Down
The quake ties the record for the strongest to hit the state since November 2011.
PAWNEE, OK — A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Saturday morning in Oklahoma, causing damage to buildings, and residents in neighboring Kansas, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri reported feeling rumblings.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake struck around 7:02 a.m. just northwest of Pawnee, Oklahoma, which is located about an hour and a half north of Oklahoma City. Since the quake, the USGS office in Oklahoma reported at least seven aftershocks between magnitude 2.7-3.6 near the epicenter of the magnitude 5.6 quake.
The USGS reported there is a low likelihood of casualties and damage from the quake. However, damage was reported in Pawnee, according to the Tulsa Police Department. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin tweeted that three buildings in Pawnee suffered some level of damage. Residents shared photos on social media of objects thrown to the ground as a result of the quake and some minor damage, including cracks in walls.
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Here's a look at some damage in Pawnee from the #earthquake. Apparently this isn't the worst of it. @KJRH2HD pic.twitter.com/Rrhs7uuoTO
— Cori Duke (@CoriDuke_KJRH) September 3, 2016
Earthquakes in Oklahoma are not uncommon. According to data from the government, the state experienced 907 magnitude 3-plus earthquakes in 2015 alone. The swarm of earthquakes in Oklahoma has been linked to underground wastewater disposal from oil and natural gas production. In August, Tulsa Public Radio reported the Oklahoma Geological Survey conducted a six-month study of oil and gas-injection wells to better understand earthquakes caused by fracking.
The USGS said it cannot currently conclude whether or not this particular earthquake was caused by industrial-related, human activities. "However, we do know that many earthquakes in Oklahoma have been triggered by wastewater fluid injection," the agency said in a news release.
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After the earthquake, the Oklahoma Corporate Commission ordered the shutdown of approximately 37 disposal wells. Disposal well operators within 500 square miles of the epicenter have been told to shut down in the next seven to 10 days.
The OK Corporation Commission’s action to tell operators to shut down is based on emergency authority – this is a mandatory directive,
— Governor Mary Fallin (@GovMaryFallin) September 3, 2016
The earthquake recorded Saturday is the strongest to hit the state since November 2011 when an earthquake of the same magnitude was recorded.
OK earthquake ties strongest quake in state's history at 5.6 magnitude. Previous record breaker was Nov 5, 2011. #okwx #arwx #earthquake
— NWS Tulsa (@NWStulsa) September 3, 2016
According to the USGS, east of the Rocky Mountains, an earthquake can be felt in an area more than 10 times larger than a similar magnitude earthquake on the West Coast.
Patch will update this breaking news story.
Image via USGS
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