March 29, 2016
The following can be attributed to Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association.
Researchers use modeling exercises to learn about and prepare for various scenarios, even extremely remote ones. Texas fosters a data-rich research environment and the Legislature appropriated about $4.5 million for the Bureau of Economic Geology to study seismic activity. The U.S. Geological Survey’s recent modeling exercise adds to a growing body of research related to induced and natural seismicity in Texas, and the report clearly states “most injection wells are not associated with earthquakes.” As research continues, the Railroad Commission of Texas has statewide rules that require consideration of historical seismic activity for new injection well permits and empower regulators to shut down a well proven to be causing seismic activity.
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To read more about this study click here: http://energyindepth.org/national/new-usgs-report-finds-risk-of-damaging-earthquakes-from-induced-seismicity-is-low/