Study: Wastewater Injection Caused Oklahoma's Largest-Ever Earthquake

Thursday, March 28, 2013 - 13:30 in Earth & Climate

Earthquakes In Oklahoma Between 1973 And 2011 The yellow dots show earthquakes before 2009. The orange dots show earthquakes between 2009 and 2011. The red dots show earthquakes after November 5, 2011. For a full explanation, visit the USGS. USGSThe most severe recorded earthquake in Oklahoma history may also have been the most severe earthquake ever linked to a certain oil and gas drilling operation. In 2011, a series of earthquakes hit central Oklahoma, destroying six houses, damaging an additional 14, and bringing down a turret at the 700-student St. Gregory's University. Among the series was the largest earthquake ever recorded in the state of Oklahoma. And, some scientists say, the quakes may have included the largest earthquake ever triggered by the injection of wastewater from oil and gas drilling deep inside the Earth. A team of U.S. geologists has published a paper in Geology that argues that wastewater injection triggered the...

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