More reductions in the operations of northern Oklahoma wastewater injection wells were announced Wednesday by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission as it takes steps to attempt to reduce the surge in strong earthquakes.
The latest plan affects 27 Arbuckle disposal wells owned by seven different energy firms. The wells are in an area about 12 by 24 miles. The total disposal volume reduction will be 54,859 barrels a day or about 18 percent of the current operation.
“The data available indicates that a much larger approach to the earthquakes in that entire part of northwestern Oklahoma is needed and we have been working on such a plan,” said Tim Baker, Director of the Commission’s Oil and Gas Divison. “However, given the recent earthquake activity in the Fairview area, the plan announced today is a necessary step as part of this ongoing process.”
The companies affected include: Chaparral Energy LLC which operates two wells in the area; Chesapeake Operating Inc. which has 7 wells; D and B Operating with one well; Eagle Chief Midstream LLC with one well; Midstates Petroleum Company LLC which has seven wells; SandRidge Exploration and Production LLC with seven wells: Triad Energy Inc with one; and WPX Energy with one.
To accomplish the 18 percent reduction overall in the area as calculated by the Commission, some of the wells will see reductions of up to 33.45 percent cuts in operations. Some will be reduced by 27 percent. Others by only one percent.
Still, with the action, there is concern of larger quakes.
“We are also concerned about the possibility of a higher potential risk of earthquakes as a result of a number of disposal wells stopping operation at once because of a general power failure, and then resuming full operation when power is restored,” explained Baker. “These conditions existed in the Fairview area. We are now advising operators to gradually restore operations in the event of a sudden shut-down due to power failures.”
