earthquakes

A series of temblors in the region has been linked to oil and gas extraction processes.

Permian Basin oil wells produce a lot of water. Much of it is injected into disposal zones above and below the basin’s primary oil- and gas-producing zone. When water is injected into these disposal zones, the pressure increases, mainly because no fluid is concurrently removed. Is this increase in pressure a concern? The data would suggest yes.

The 5.2-magnitude earthquake is tied for the fourth strongest in Texas history. It occurred in an area where oilfield companies have long been injecting waste water.

Regulators told some injection well operators close to the epicenter of a magnitude 4.0 earthquake that they will have to shut down their operations indefinitely.

The recent Permian Basin earthquakes in Texas are keeping producers, regulators, and service providers busy in their quest to reduce the intensity and frequency of the induced seismic events.

Before 2012, water management for unconventional oil and gas plays was in its infancy and was trying to keep up with operations. Today, many of the initial challenges have been resolved but new challenges persist. What does the future hold for water in the US onshore unconventional plays?

The Railroad Commission of Texas is inspecting injection wells in the Gardendale Seismic Response Area where a magnitude 5.3 earthquake and multiple aftershocks struck.

The Texas Railroad Commission has designated a new swath of the Permian as a Seismic Response Area after a series of earthquakes linked to water-disposal wells rattled the area.

Even though total produced volumes are projected to hit new record highs in the coming years, treated water is expected to be comparatively lower than in the past, despite water disposal practices increasing oilfield seismic activity, with earthquakes nearly doubling in West Texas alone in 2021.

Operators will not be able to inject wastewater below 10,000 ft in the Gardendale area.