In response to dozens of recent earthquakes through the Permian Basin in west Texas, state regulators ordered the closing of two wastewater injection wells—-a move similar to the action taken over the past several years by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
Nearly 61 earthquakes were reported earlier this month near Midland and this week, the Texas Railroad Commission suspended permits for the wells operated by Gunn Oil and Sojourner Drilling.
It followed a move last Friday by Scurry County Judge Dan Hicks to issue a disaster declaration. E&E News reported that more than 50 reports of damage had been made, based on a post this week on the county Facebook page.
Patty Ramon, a spokeswoman with the Railroad Commission , stated the two wells in question the only deep wastewater wells in a 100-square mile area and were suspended indefinitely.
In Oklahoma, wastewater injection wells were believed to be the cause of earthquakes over the past years because of their deep injection levels.
