Recent Earthquakes in West Texas and Northern Mexico Linked to Oil Production

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck West Texas on Friday near Ackerly, followed shortly by a magnitude 3 quake in Northern Mexico. The U.S. Geological Survey attributes most induced earthquakes to waste fluid disposal rather than hydraulic fracturing. This emphasizes a significant correlation between seismic events and oil production activities.

On Friday, a preliminary earthquake registering 4.8 in magnitude struck West Texas, located approximately 16 miles southwest of Ackerly, Texas, at a depth of 4.2 miles. This seismic event occurred around 12:33 p.m. MT and is situated roughly 62 miles northeast of Midland by road.

In addition, another earthquake of preliminary magnitude 3 impacted Northern Mexico, near the Texas state line, just south-southwest of Sierra Blanca, Texas. This occurred approximately 33 miles from Sierra Blanca, at a depth of 6.5 miles, around the same time, at 12:31 p.m. MT.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has stated, “most induced earthquakes are not directly caused by hydraulic fracturing (fracking).” They attribute the recent increase in seismic activity in the central United States primarily to the disposal of waste fluids from oil production.

Furthermore, the USGS elaborated that wastewater disposal wells contribute more significantly to the induced seismicity as they operate over extended periods and inject larger volumes of fluid compared to hydraulic fracturing. The largest earthquake associated with hydraulic fracturing in the U.S. registered a magnitude of 4.0 in Texas in 2018.

In conclusion, West Texas experienced notable seismic activity on Friday, with a magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Ackerly and a magnitude 3 quake in Northern Mexico. The US Geological Survey underscores that these seismic events are generally linked to waste fluid disposal stemming from oil production rather than hydraulic fracturing itself, highlighting the need to monitor these activities closely.

Original Source: www.lonestarlive.com