Oklahoma’s recent earthquakes and saltwater disposal

Walsh, F. Rall; Zoback, Mark D.

doi:10.1126/sciadv.1500195

Cited by 383 publications

(218 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

212

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It is now generally accepted that the uptick in seismicity is caused by large-scale wastewater injection into the Arbuckle Group (Ellsworth et al, 2015;Walsh and Zoback, 2015;Weingarten et al, 2015). Recent efforts to precisely relocate the activity -made possible through waveform data provided by private companies -show that the carpet of earthquakes is composed of discrete basement faults.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How faults wake up: The Guthrie-Langston, Oklahoma earthquakes

et al. 2018

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Large-scale wastewater disposal has led to a fast-paced reawakening of faults in the Oklahoma/Kansas region. High-resolution earthquake relocations show that the inventory of ancient basement faults in the study region differs from results of seismic surveys and geologic mapping focused on the sedimentary cover. We analyze the evolution of seismic activity in the Guthrie-Langston sequence in central Oklahoma in greater detail. Here, seismic activity has reactivated a network of at least 12 subvertical faults in an area less than 10 km across. Recorded activity began in late 2013, peaked about six months later, and includes two M 4 earthquakes. These earthquakes characteristically occur at about 4 km depth below the top of the basement and do not reach the sedimentary cover. The sequence shows a radial growth pattern despite being no closer than 10 km to significant wastewater disposal activity. Hydrologic modeling suggests that activity initiated with a time lag of several years relative to early injection activity. Once initiated, earthquake interactions contribute to the propagation of seismicity along the reactivated faults. As a result, the spatiotemporal evolution of the seismicity mimics a diffusive pattern that is typically thought to be associated with injection activity. Analysis of the fault slip potential shows that most faults are critically stressed in the contemporary stress field. Activity on some faults, for which we find low slip probability, suggests a significant contribution of geomechanical heterogeneities to the reawakening of these ancient basement faults.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How faults wake up: The Guthrie-Langston, Oklahoma earthquakes

et al. 2018

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Earthquake rates have recently increased markedly in multiple areas of the Central and Eastern United States (CEUS), especially since 2010, and scientific studies have linked the majority of this increased activity to wastewater injection in deep disposal wells (table 1) (Ellsworth, 2013;Keranen and others, 2014;Walsh and Zoback, 2015;Weingarten and others, 2015). Figure 1 shows the location of wells associated with earthquakes (Weingarten and others, 2015) and a timeline of earthquake rates, and figure 2 shows the seismicity maps for varying time intervals in the CEUS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

2016 one-year seismic hazard forecast for the Central and Eastern United States from induced and natural earthquakes

Petersen¹,

Mueller²,

Moschetti³

et al. 2016

Open-File Report

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment-visit http://www.usgs.gov/ or call 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747).For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/.Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.Suggested citation: Petersen, M.D., Mueller, C.S., Moschetti, M.P., Hoover, S.M., Llenos, A.L., Ellsworth, W.L., Michael, A.J., Rubinstein, J.L., McGarr, A.F., and Rukstales, K.S., 2016, 2016 One-year seismic hazard forecast for the Central and Eastern United States from induced and natural earthquakes (ver. 1.1, June 2016): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016-1035, 52 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161035. ISSN 2331ISSN -1258 Cover: Map showing chance of damage from an earthquake in the Central and Eastern United States during 2016. Percent chances are represented as follows: pale yellow, less than 1 percent; dark yellow, 1 to 2 percent; orange, 2 to 5 percent; red, 5 to 10 percent; dark red, 10 to 12 percent.iii AcknowledgmentsWe wish to thank the November 2014 Induced Seismicity workshop participants, over 100 individuals who made valuable suggestions for revising the 2014 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Seismic Hazard Modeling Project maps and models to incorporate induced seismicity. We thank State geological survey representatives and experts on induced seismicity from Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas for their guidance in delineating and discussing potential induced seismicity zones. AbstractThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has produced a 1-year seismic hazard forecast for 2016 for the Central and Eastern United States (CEUS) that includes contributions from both induced and natural earthquakes. The model assumes that earthquake rates calculated from several different time windows will remain relatively stationary and can be used to forecast earthquake hazard and damage intensity for the year 2016. This assessment is the first step in developing an operational earthquake forecast for the CEUS, and the analysis could be revised with updated seismicity and model parameters. Consensus input models consider alternative earthquake catalog durations, smoothing parameters, maximum magnitudes, and ground motion estimates, and represent uncertainties in earthquake occurrence and diversity of opinion in the science community. Ground shaking seismic hazard for 1-percent probability of exceedance in 1 year reaches 0.6 g (as a fraction of standard gravity [g]) in northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas, and about 0.2 g in the Raton Basin of Colorado and New Mexico, in...

show abstract

“…This chapter discusses the following: ▪ Key concepts of earthquake science, such as magnitude, surface effects, and ground motion ▪ The magnitude and depth of induced seismic events relative to natural earthquakes, including the relevance of shallow versus deep earthquakes and the ranges of magnitude for natural and induced events ▪ The hazards and risks related to induced seismicity and the difference between hazard and risk as they pertain to the potential effects of induced seismicity ▪ Ground-motion prediction models currently being used and the need to develop models specific to injection-induced earthquakes ▪ The ways in which fluid injection might cause seismic events, including the concept that the main physical mechanism responsible for triggering injection-induced seismicity is increased pore pressure on critically stressed faults, which decreases the effective normal stress, effectively unclamping the fault and allowing slip initiation (Hubbert and Rubbey 1959;Ellsworth 2013) ▪ The research on induced seismicity in the mid continent, including the recent evaluation of possible temporal and spatial correlations of disposal operations over broader geographic regions in Oklahoma to earthquakes in those specific geographic areas (Walsh and Zoback 2015) ▪ Future research needs, including approaches for better identification of the presence of critically stressed faults in proximity to injection sites and whether injection-induced earthquakes are different from natural earthquakes.…”

Section: Chapter Highlightsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of particular note is the recent evaluation of possible temporal and spatial correlations of disposal operations over broad geographic regions in Oklahoma to earthquakes in those specific geographic areas (Walsh and Zoback 2015). Walsh and Zoback propose a conceptual model for the increased seismicity in Oklahoma based on their analysis of disposal well data and injection volumes and the correlations to observed patterns of seismicity.…”

Section: How Fluid Injection May Induce Seismic Eventsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Industry, academia, and government researchers are now working collaboratively to characterize and map faults and subsurface stress fields. One such project is currently being carried out in Oklahoma by the Stanford Center for Induced and Triggered Seismicity (SCITS) in cooperation with the Oklahoma Geologic Survey and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (Walsh 2015).…”

Section: Fault Maps (Interpretive Data)mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effect of operating dump truck vibrations on bench stability in deep open pit mines

Черных¹,

Zyryanov²,

Shubin³

et al. 2017

gzh

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This report is developed by the StatesFirst Induced Seismicity by Injection Work Group (ISWG) members (the State agencies) with input and support from the ISWG technical advisors (subject matter experts from academia, industry, federal agencies, and environmental organizations) to help better inform all stakeholders and the public on technical and regulatory considerations associated with evaluation and response, seismic monitoring systems, information sharing, and the use of ground motion metrics. It also is intended to summarize the range of approaches that have been used or are currently being used by states to manage and mitigate the risks associated with seismicity that may be induced by injection. StatesFirst is an initiative of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission and the Ground Water Protection Council. Disclaimer This is an informational document, and is not intended to offer recommended rules or regulations. The ISWG recognizes that management and mitigation of the risks associated with induced seismicity are best considered at the state level with specific considerations at local, regional, or cross-state levels, due to significant variability in local geology and surface conditions (e.g., population, building conditions, infrastructure, critical facilities, seismic monitoring capabilities, etc.). Neither the Ground Water Protection Council, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the ISWG (collectively the Group) nor any person acting on their behalf makes any warranty, express or implied I POTENTIAL INJECTION-INDUCED SEISMICITY ASSOCIATED WITH OIL & GAS DEVELOPMENT PrefaceAlthough induced seismicity related to underground injection activities was first observed in the 1960s at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal near Denver, the dramatic increase in earthquake activity in the midcontinent since 2009 has focused attention on the potential hazard posed by earthquakes induced by injection. The science required to understand the process and predict its impacts is still undergoing significant change. This document is designed to provide state regulatory agencies with an overview of current technical and scientific information, along with considerations associated with evaluating seismic events, managing the risks of induced seismicity, and developing response strategies. It is not intended to offer specific regulatory recommendations to agencies but is intended to serve as a resource. Also, unlike prior studies by the National Research Council, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Stanford University, and others, this document is not intended to provide a broad literature review.This report was developed by StatesFirst, an initiative of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) and the Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC). The effort was led by the Induced Seismicity by Injection Work Group (ISWG), composed of representatives of state oil and gas regulatory agencies and geological surveys with support from subject matter experts from academia, industry, federal agencies, and ...

show abstract

Oklahoma’s recent earthquakes and saltwater disposal

Abstract: Increasingly frequent earthquakes in Oklahoma are linked to saltwater disposal.

Cited by 383 publications

References 27 publications

How faults wake up: The Guthrie-Langston, Oklahoma earthquakes

How faults wake up: The Guthrie-Langston, Oklahoma earthquakes

2016 one-year seismic hazard forecast for the Central and Eastern United States from induced and natural earthquakes

Effect of operating dump truck vibrations on bench stability in deep open pit mines

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About