Oklahoma Quake Decline: Fear Of Drilling, Or Lack Of Demand?

By Joe Wertz

Published October 4, 2016 at 11:45 AM CDT

This Nov. 6, 2011 file photo, Chad Devereaux works to clear up bricks that fell from three sides of his in-laws' home in Sparks, Okla, after two earthquakes hit the area in less than 24 hours. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

Another earthquake shook Oklahoma today. It measured 3.1 on the Richter scale, and struck just after 7 a.m. near Stroud, 65 miles from Oklahoma City.

That’s one of more than 500 this year, compared to California’s 156. Scientists have linked Oklahoma’s sharp increase in earthquakes in recent years to the underground injection of wastewater during oil and gas production.

Here & Now‘s Robin Young checks in with Joe Wertz, KGOU’s StateImpact reporter, about Oklahoma’s earthquake trends.

With reporting from the Associated Press.

Guest

Joe Wertz, reporter for StateImpact Oklahoma. He tweets @joewertz.

Tags

earthquakes disposal wells

Joe Wertz

Joe was a founding reporter for StateImpact Oklahoma (2011-2019) covering the intersection of economic policy, energy and environment, and the residents of the state.

See stories by Joe Wertz

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