State regulators are waiting to see if their latest attempts to ease the potential for an increase in northern Oklahoma earthquakes will work.
Following what was originally rated a 4.6 magnitude earthquake, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission directed the operator of one wastewater disposal well to reduce the volume of injection. The volume was to be reduced from 17,000 barrels of wastewater a day to 5,000 barrels a day.
“This is an on-going situation and further actions are possible,” stated the Commission in making the announcement.
The move came after the strong quake that was among more than a dozen that hit northwestern Oklahoma since Friday. On Monday, three more quakes were recorded including a 4.5 magnitude quake near Covington along with quakes measuring 3.3 and 2.8 magnitudes.
So far, there have been no reports of injury or significant damage, according to Garfield County Emergency Management Director Mike Honigsberg.