"Oklahoma Cracks Down On Injection Wells After Earthquake Spike"

"The Sooner State has switched strategies, limiting not just the depth, but amount of wastewater than oil and gas producers can pump back underground."

"Oklahoma hopes to cut off a sharp spike in earthquakes with new directions limiting how much wastewater can be pumped underground, changing tack from an earlier policy in hopes of reassuring residents after several years of bigger and more urban quakes.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission released a new plan on Tuesday, directing oil and gas producers to reduce the amount of water they inject into wells by 40 percent. The guidelines would directly impact about 250 wells, and reduce well input by 500,000 barrels per day.

Seismologists have linked a sudden increase in strong quakes to the practice of injecting wastewater underground, which can create dangerous tensions in geological fault lines. The limestone Arbuckle formation, which lies beneath Oklahoma, may be especially vulnerable to new tensions."

Molly Jackson reports for the Christian Science Monitor February 16, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

"Environmentalists Sue Three Oklahoma Energy Companies Over Earthquakes" (Oklahoman)

"Lawsuit Filed Over Oklahoma’s ‘Fracking’ Earthquakes as Its Third Largest Quake Is Felt in 7 Other States" (EcoWatch)

"Oklahoma Calls For More Disposal Wells To Shut After Quake" (Reuters)