Several homeowners in Edmond have had enough of the earthquakes that have rattled their city leaving a path of damage. They have filed suit in Oklahoma County District Court against a dozen oil and gas companies, blaming them for the earthquakes of Dec. 29, 2015 and Jan. 1, 2016. The late December quake measured 4.3 magnitude and was strong enough to have toppled a chimney at one home and knocked books and other items from shelves in homes. The New Year’s Day quake was 4.2 magnitude and resulted in slightly similar damage.
The lawsuit, filed by attorneys Garvin Isaacs and David Poarch was against such firms as Devon Energy Corp.; New Dominion LLC; Marjo Operating Co. Inc.; Pedestal Oil Co. Inc.; Sundance Energy Oklahoma LLC;Grayhorse Operating Inc.; R.C. Taylor Operating Co. LLC; TNT Operating Co.; White Operating Co.; Rainbo Service Co.; Special Energy Corp.; and Northport Production Co.
The energy companies are not commenting but the lawsuit filed by nine homeowners accuses them of acting negligently creating wells that constitute an “ultrahazardous activity.”
The lawsuit is asking the courts to issue a permanent injunction to stop the use of 16 saltwater disposal wells operated by the companies. While many experts believe the wells have contributed to the surge in strong quakes in the Edmond region, the lawsuit was more specific.
“The use of disposal wells by defendants created conditions which, among other things, ae the proximate cause of unnatural and unprecedented earthquakes that continue unabated, increasing in both frequency and magnitude within Oklahoma County and elsewhere in the state of Oklahoma, which have damaged plaintiffs and others and threaten to do so in the future.”
Isaacs spoke with The Oklahoman about the suit, stating, “Mother Earth has spoken, and Oklahoma is in a dangerous, dangerous position.”
He said the issue must be addressed.
The lawsuit was filed after the State Corporation Commission reduced the operations of some of the wells closest to the epicenters of the quakes. Five wells were affected by the order.
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