Oklahoma begins New Year with minor earthquakes

Two relatively weak earthquakes were recorded this week including one close to Hennessey in the northwestern part of Oklahoma.

The 2.6 magnitude quake recorded Wednesday morning had an epicenter only about one mile southeast of Hennessey and at a depth of about 3 miles. It shook the area around 12:40 in the morning.

The first quake happened New Year’s Day and measured only 2.3 magnitude. It struck at 7:40 p.m. on Tuesday and the epicenter was at a depth of nearly 4 miles.

The U.S. Geological Survey indicated it was close to the Masham community which is about 20 miles southeast of Ponca City and only about 9 miles northwest of Pawnee.

Both quakes occurred in zones where there has been active oil and gas production as well as extensive use of wastewater disposal wells.

Event type:                       Earthquake
Region:                           Oklahoma
Geographic coordinates:           36.097N,  97.883W
Magnitude:                        2.6
Depth:                            5 km
Universal Time (UTC):              2 Jan 2019  06:40:32
Time near the Epicenter:           2 Jan 2019  00:40:32
Local standard time in your area:  2 Jan 2019  00:40:32

Location with respect to nearby cities:
1.9 km (1.2 mi) SE of Hennessey, Oklahoma
33.1 km (20.5 mi) S of Enid, Oklahoma
47.9 km (29.7 mi) WNW of Guthrie, Oklahoma
61.4 km (38.1 mi) NW of Edmond, Oklahoma
77.4 km (48.0 mi) NNW of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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Event type:                       Earthquake
Region:                           Oklahoma
Geographic coordinates:           36.443N,  96.868W
Magnitude:                        2.3
Depth:                            6 km
Universal Time (UTC):              2 Jan 2019  01:40:46
Time near the Epicenter:           1 Jan 2019  19:40:46
Local standard time in your area:  1 Jan 2019  19:40:46

Location with respect to nearby cities:
1.5 km (0.9 mi) WSW of Masham, Oklahoma
35.2 km (21.8 mi) SSE of Ponca City, Oklahoma
40.1 km (24.9 mi) NNE of Stillwater, Oklahoma
70.4 km (43.7 mi) SSE of Arkansas City, Kansas
123.0 km (76.3 mi) NNE of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma