A magnitude 4.8 earthquake hit West Texas on Friday near Ackerly, with another smaller quake at 3.0 magnitude occurring in Mexico near the Texas border. The USGS attributes increased seismic activity to wastewater disposal related to oil production, rather than hydraulic fracturing alone.
On Friday, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred in West Texas, approximately 16 miles southwest of Ackerly, at a depth of 4.2 miles. The tremor struck at around 12:33 p.m. MT, and Ackerly is located roughly 62 miles northeast of Midland by road.
Simultaneously, a second earthquake registered a magnitude of 3.0 near the Mexico-Texas border, occurring at 12:31 p.m. MT, about 33 miles south-southwest of Sierra Blanca, Texas, at a depth of 6.5 miles.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provided insights into the cause of recent seismic activities, stating, “most induced earthquakes are not directly caused by hydraulic fracturing (fracking).” The increased earthquake occurrences in the central United States are primarily associated with the disposal of wastewater from oil production, leading to higher risks of earthquakes compared to fracking methods.
According to the USGS, the operation of wastewater disposal wells is characterized by prolonged usage and the injection of larger fluid volumes compared to hydraulic fracturing processes. Thus, they hold a higher likelihood of inducing seismic events. Furthermore, it adds, “The largest earthquake known to be induced by hydraulic fracturing in the United States was a magnitude 4.0 earthquake that occurred in 2018 in Texas.”
Two notable earthquakes struck West Texas and Northern Mexico on Friday, with the larger tremor measuring 4.8 in magnitude. Insights from the USGS highlight the correlation between wastewater disposal and increased seismic activity. This emphasizes the distinction between the effects of fracking and waste fluid disposal on earthquake induction.
Original Source: www.lonestarlive.com
