Sixfold increase in US earthquakes may be caused by injection wells, say scientists [View all]

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Since 2009 the earthquake rate in the United States has more than sextupled. Two studies released this week by teams at the University of Colorado and Stanford University may show why.

From 1973 to 2008, the United States experienced an average of 21 earthquakes a year of magnitude 3.0 or higher. From 2009 to 2013, there were 99 a year, and in 2014, it jumped to 653 a year.

What changed?

Two studies released today, one in the journal Science Advances and the other in Science point to the same answer: wastewater disposal wells.

These studies arrive on the heels of the Oklahoma Geological Survey's announcement two months ago that it is “very likely that the majority of recent earthquakes, particularly those in central and north-central Oklahoma, are triggered by the injection of produced water in disposal wells.”

More: http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/0619/Sixfold-increase-in-US-earthquakes-may-be-caused-by-injection-wells-say-scientists



A new study ties high-rate injection wells like this salt water disposal well in Colorado to an enormous increase in the rate of earthquakes.