West Texas quake that shook San Antonio prompts oil and gas regulator to reduce wastewater disposal
The Robert B. Green hospital building, which has been standing for more than 100 years in San Antonio, was closed last month after being damaged by an earthquake more than 350 miles away in West Texas.has prompted the Texas Railroad Commission to shake up its response to seismicity in the area.for its Northern Culberson-Reeves Seismic Response Area — including further reducing oil field wastewater injections that have been linked to increases in seismic activity.
The number of quakes in Texas has spiked in recent years, particularly in West Texas’ Permian Basin, the state’s most productive oil and gas region. Scientific studies have connected the increase to disposal of contaminated, salty water deep underground — a common practice by oil companies at the end of the hydraulic fracturing process. Research has shown it can awaken dormant fault lines.
The commission is also expanding the boundary of the response area north to the New Mexico border, increasing the size of the covered area to 2,601 square miles from 2,366 square miles. The revised area includes 78 active disposal wells. It said it will also promote expanded data collection to support seismicity research to inform policymakers on data needs for regulation to protect residents and the environment. The data collection will include a voluntary survey of available historical and current reservoir pressure, encouraging the use and reporting of continuous down-hole pressure monitoring data, and assessing the origins of disposal volumes — whether from in-state or out-of-state sources.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas Monthly's Bum Steer Awards include San Antonio mishaps and highlightsMeanwhile, Gregg Popovich is named among 'best things in Texas.'
Read more »
Texas A&M’s top defensive player Antonio Johnson headed to NFL draftAntonio Johnson developed a reputation at Texas A&M for big hits and being in the...
Read more »
San Antonio police say they're prepared for planned drag show protestsLGBTQ supporters are organizing a counterprotest in response to a frequently armed group's plan to demonstrate at the Aztec Theatre.
Read more »
'Pretty strong' cold front to drop San Antonio temperatures into the 40sSan Antonio temperatures are expected to steadily decline through the week as a cold...
Read more »
Crews find 4th victim from blast at San Antonio construction companyCrews have found the body of a fourth person who died in an explosion at a San Antonio construction company and investigators are working to determine the cause and origin of the blast. sanantonio kprc2 click2houston sanews
Read more »
San Antonio high schools to begin testing for tuberculosis Monday after student falls illOne-hundred people at Northside ISD's Brandeis, Clark and O'Connor high schools will be tested this week. SanAntonio SATX SanAntonioTX Texas publichealth SanAntonioSchools
Read more »