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Recently, a number of media outlets, such as USA Today and The Oklahoman, have reported that Oklahoma is experiencing fewer earthquakes associated with injection wells, thanks to efforts from state officials and producers. While collaborative efforts between oil and gas operators and the state is being praised for aiding this decline; importantly, this drop in seismicity comes without a ban or moratorium on wastewater disposal in the state – something many activists have argued would be the only solution.

Operators have taken this issue very seriously, actively working with state regulators since 2014 to help mitigate and better understand the issue of seismicity in the state. Such efforts include: operators investing over $50 million to reduce earthquake risks from disposal wells since March 2015; establishing a working group that includes operators, service companies, the Oklahoma Geological Survey and Oklahoma Corporation Commission; and the industry voluntarily contributing around $450 million in seismic data with regulators and researchers.  Such extensive collaboration is receiving praise from researchers and state officials alike who, thanks to the support offered by Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry, are optimistic about resolving this issue. As Dana Murphy, Commission of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, stated:

“The amount of collaboration and cooperation we have had around this issue has been tremendous, like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

Dr. Austin Holland from ...