Texas has witnessed a series of earthquakes recently, with notable seismic activities measuring up to 3.3 in magnitude. The quakes were predominantly linked to human activities, particularly those associated with the oil and gas industry. The US Geological Survey recorded numerous minor tremors in the area, concluding that wastewater injection from fracking operations likely caused these disturbances. Recent studies estimate a high correlation between earthquakes and oil production practices, highlighting concerns over the environmental implications of deep injection wells leading to more significant seismic events.
Fracking is not usually the direct cause of an earthquake, but the process of disposing wastewater produced through fracking that can trigger tremors.
A 2022 study by the University of Texas at Austin concluded that 68 percent of Texas quakes above magnitude 1.5 were 'highly associated' with oil and gas production.
Deep injection wells, in particular, are linked to higher-magnitude earthquakes...whereas shallower injections seem to be less hazardous in terms of large seismic events.
Texas contributes 42 percent of the nation's crude oil, making it the largest producer in the US.
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