Researchers warn Oklahoma quakes linked to fracking boom could get stronger

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/05/06/226647/researchers-warn-oklahoma-quakes.html

By Sean Cockerham
McClatchy Washington Bureau
May 6, 2014

Seismologists are warning that Oklahoma’s skyrocketing earthquakes linked to oil and gas activity are liable to get stronger and more dangerous.

Oklahoma has seen a 50 percent rise in earthquakes since October of last year. Since 2009, after the nation’s fracking boom began, the earthquake activity in Oklahoma has been approximately 40 times higher than in the 30 previous years, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The recent surge in the rate of the quakes has prompted the USGS and the Oklahoma Geological Survey to issue a warning that the earthquakes could get stronger, with the agencies saying there is a significantly increased chance for a damaging magnitude 5.5 or greater quake in central Oklahoma.

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A USGS analysis suggests a likely contributing factor to the increase in earthquakes is drilling wastewater injected into deep geologic formations.

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Most ofthe Oklahoma quakes have been small so far. But scientists have linked a 5.7 magnitude quake near Prague, Oklahoma in 2011 to disposal of drilling wastewater. That earthquake was felt as far away as Milwaukee and destroyed 14 homes.

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