Earthquakes Strike West Texas and Northern Mexico; USGS Links Activity to Wastewater Disposal
A preliminary 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit West Texas, with another 3 magnitude quake in Mexico. The U.S. Geological Survey links rising seismic activity to wastewater disposal from oil production rather than hydraulic fracturing. The largest induced quake noted was a 4.0 in Texas in 2018. Other contemporaneous issues in Texas spotlight various regional health and economic challenges.
On Friday, a preliminary magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck West Texas, located approximately 16 miles southwest of Ackerly, at a depth of around 4.2 miles. The event occurred at 12:33 p.m. Mountain Time, with Ackerly sitting about 62 miles northeast of Midland by road. Additionally, a magnitude 3 earthquake was reported in Mexico, approximately 33 miles south-southwest of Sierra Blanca, a few minutes earlier at 12:31 p.m. MT, and this quake occurred at a depth of 6.5 miles.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) states that the majority of induced earthquakes are not a direct result of hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Instead, the surge in seismic activity in the central United States is mainly linked to the disposal of wastewater generated from oil production. The report emphasizes that wastewater disposal wells typically inject a more substantial volume of fluids for longer periods compared to hydraulic fracturing, making them more likely to trigger earthquakes.
Furthermore, the USGS mentions that the largest recorded earthquake induced by hydraulic fracturing in the U.S. was a magnitude 4.0 quake that occurred in Texas in 2018. This highlights the potential seismic impacts of improper waste disposal practices associated with oil extraction.
In related news, Texas continues to face various challenges, including a rising measles outbreak with 146 reported cases, extraditions of Gulf cartel members to face drug charges in the U.S., complications from Texas’s abortion ban affecting healthcare access in Colorado, and tariff threats projected to negatively impact the U.S. economy.
In summary, recent earthquakes in West Texas and northern Mexico highlight concerns regarding induced seismicity related to wastewater disposal from oil production. The USGS reports that the shift in the source of increasing earthquakes is linked more to waste fluid injection than to fracking activities. Monitoring these geological events remains essential for public safety and environmental management.
Original Source: www.lonestarlive.com
