Plugged Wells and Reduced Injection Lower Induced Earthquake Rates in Oklahoma

Published on | Journals, News, TSR
Difference between pre-plug back and post-plug back depth for wells that were initially injecting into the Precambrian basement or lower Arbuckle. Inset shows the location of these plugged back wells (colored triangles) and other disposal wells (grey triangles) within area of interest. Inset cross-section shows schematic of a disposal well that was plugged back out of the lowermost portion of the Arbuckle. | Skoumal et al. (2024) TSR

13 November 2024–Wastewater injection resulting from oil and gas production in Oklahoma caused a dramatic rise in seismic activity in the state between 2009 and 2015. But regulatory efforts to backfill some injection wells with cement and reduce injection volumes have been effective in lowering the state’s induced earthquake rate, … Continue Reading »

At Work: Julian Lozos

Published on | At Work, Community, Member, News
Julian Lozos at 2019 Ridgecrest rupture

4 October 2024–Julian Lozos describes his job—modestly—as “making fake earthquakes on his computer.” But the associate professor of geophysics at California State University, Northridge was also a fan of volcanoes from a young age. During his last visit at his parents’ home, “my mom found a book that I had … Continue Reading »

Precariously Balanced Rocks in New York, Vermont Provide Limits on Earthquake Shaking

Published on | BSSA, Journals, News

10 September 2024–Five boulders, delivered by glacier and balancing delicately on rocky pedestals in northern New York and Vermont, can help define long-term maximum shaking intensity of earthquakes in the region. Seismologists examine the fragility of precariously balanced rocks, or PBRs, to determine the intensity of shaking would be needed … Continue Reading »