A recent spate of earthquakes in West Texas that have damaged homes, infrastructure, and utility lines has been linked by the U.S. Geological Survey to oil and gas activity in the region. The largest quake, measuring a magnitude of 5.1, occurred on Friday in an area that has a long history of seismic activity caused by oil and gas operations.
The city of Snyder declared a disaster in Scurry County following the series of earthquakes, which have rattled the region since 2021. Although no injuries have been reported, residents have felt multiple tremors, with more than 50 earthquakes registering a magnitude of 3 or larger. Experts believe these earthquakes are induced by oil and gas activities in the Permian Basin, a rich deposit of petroleum, natural gas, and potassium stretching across West Texas.
Robert Skoumal, a research geophysicist with the USGS, noted that the recent earthquakes are likely a result of induced seismicity caused by oil and gas operations, particularly water flooding and wastewater disposal. The USGS has observed a similar phenomenon in Oklahoma, where a spike in earthquakes was linked to wastewater injection from oil and gas extraction.
In response to the earthquakes, Oklahoma regulators imposed restrictions on wastewater disposal, leading to a decline in seismic activity. It remains to be seen how West Texas will address the issue of induced earthquakes and whether similar regulations will be implemented to mitigate future risks.
