The state’s new earthquake plan for disposal wells in northwestern Oklahoma gets the support of Oklahoma House Speaker, Rep. Jeff Hickman.
In a statement issued Tuesday, he called it appropriate action by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
“The Corporation Commissioners demonstrated their authority in today’s announcement to drastically reduce the volumes of saltwater which can be injected in more than 200 disposal wells in northwest Oklahoma,” said the Speaker. “I know the Commissioners, who are elected by Oklahomans, take very seriously these decisions and their impact on residents in the areas affected by the spike in tremors, mineral owners in the region and operators and employees in the energy sector.”
Rep. Hickman, who lives at Fairview where there have been numerous stronger earthquakes said he believes the commission, working with the Oklahoma Geological Survey used science and data to develop the plan, “which hopefully not only manages the issue of the ongoing tremors we have had for the past few years in northwest and northcentral Oklahoma, but actually is significant enough to get ahead of this issue.”
He also used the Commission’s announcement to push for House Bill 3158 which he filed to give the commission more authority and power in issuing directives controlling disposal wells. The bill was filed after SandRidge Energy refused to initially go along with the Commission’s request to reduce operations of some of its wells in northern Oklahoma.
“I filed HB 3158 this session to remove all doubt that the Corporation Commission has the complete authority in these emergency situations to take whatever action it deems necessary without so much as a hearing,” said Rep.Hickman.
