By May 11, 2015 Read More →

5 disposal wells shut down after 4.0 North Texas earthquake

Railroad Commission gathering seismic data after strongest North Texas earthquake in years

Thursday’s 4.0 magnitude North Texas earthquake 30 miles southwest of Dallas has prompted regulators to shut down five waste water disposal wells pending seismicity testing.

Texas earthquake

Source: US Geological Survey.

Marilyn Gerloff, a resident of Johnson County, told the Arlington Star-Telegram the earthquake sounded like a sonic boom.”  The quake struck at 5:58 p.m. near Venus. Approximately 50 earthquakes have been recorded since seismic activity began to increase in 2013.

“We’ve had several mini ones” in the past, Gerloff said. “The little ones feel like somebody ran a pickup into the side of the house. This one sounded like a sonic boom.”

But Mansfield Fire Chief Barry Bondurant said, “I didn’t feel it, and I was standing right here at Fire Station No. 1.”

On Friday, the Railroad Commission of Texas notified four disposal well operators in North Texas they would be required to conduct well and reservoir testing. Five wells are within 100 square miles of the estimated Texas earthquake epicenter.

As a result, the operators have voluntarily agreed to temporarily shut down to conduct the testing within a matter of days. The testing will help determine the effect of injection operations on pressures within subsurface rock formations. Test results will provide important data and information to determine what, if any, action is necessary to address seismicity in that area.

The operators are Bosque Disposal Systems, LLC; EOG Resources, Inc.; MetroSaltwater Disposal, Inc. and Pinnergy, Ltd.

Immediately following Thursday’s Texas earthquake the Commission dispatched inspectors to the area to inspect oil and gas wells and disposal wells for any damage resulting from the seismic event. No damage to infrastructure was found or detected.

Last year, the Commission adopted rules allowing the collection of such data related to seismicity.

The Railroad Commission says staff will continue to work closely with seismic researchers and industry to collect, analyze, and evaluate seismic data and oil and gas activity in the region to better determine if there is a connection.

“We take the issue of seismicity very seriously and want to move quickly to better understand if there are actions the Commission should require of operators to protect the public, up to and including shutting down well operations,” said Dr. Craig Pearson, Commission staff seismologist.

“More data is always useful in making these kinds of critical decisions that impact the public and the industry.”

Last year, the Commission passed some of the most comprehensive rules on seismicity in the country, which allow the Commission to collect data and information on operations relating to seismic events. This data and information can then be used by the Commission when appropriate.

 

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