As we expected, the Texas RRC has formally established the Stanton Seismic Response Area (SRA) in Martin County and a small segment of Howard County, due to continuous seismic activity in the region, including a M 4.2 event on December 31, 2020, and a M 4.6 event on December 28, 2021. The RRC attributes theRead more
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As we expected, the Texas RRC has formally established the Stanton Seismic Response Area (SRA) in Martin County and a small segment of Howard County, due to continuous seismic activity in the region, including a M 4.2 event on December 31, 2020, and a M 4.6 event on December 28, 2021. The RRC attributes theRead more
In response to 4 earthquakes (M 3.1-3.7) in northwest Midland County on December 15-16 2021, the Texas RRC suspended all disposal well activity in deep formations in the Gardendale SRA. The RRC’s determination of deep formations is “below the top of the Strawn Formation and especially the Ellenburger Formation”, effectively terminating operations for 33 disposalRead more
On November 23,2021, the NMOCD issued a new framework in response to increased seismic activity believed to be related to UIC Class II injection wells throughout New Mexico. The USGS and NM Bureau of Geology has identified several locations with heightened seismic events: “County Line SRA”- approximately 35 miles east southeast of Malaga, NM; fromRead more
Image Source: Texas RRC Northern Culberson-Reeves Seismic Response Area – Up to 2 M Barrels per Day ofSWD Injection held at bay for Area Operators In another blow to SWD operators in Texas, on October 20,2021, the Texas RRC established the Northern Culberson-Reeves (NCR) Seismic Response Area (SRA) due to an increase in 4.0 MRead more
On to Part II: Business and Financial implications for shallow well operators and their users. First, we note that generally across the Midland basin, we see the clearest signs of pressurization amongst the really old EOR wells, which are generally shallow, and tend to be more concentrated near the flanks or edges of the basinRead more
We’ve been asked to opine on the future implications of the Seismic Response Area (SRA) recently identified by the Texas RRC. The area is located in the heart of the Midland basin, at the intersection of Andrews, Martin, Ector, and Midland counties. The intent behind the RRC’s “voluntary” curtailment requested of operators is to abate induced seismicityRead more
Many of us jumped to attention with news of the recent high magnitude event near Mentone, Texas (see some of our earlier blogs on the March 26 M 4.6-5.0 earthquake in the Texas Delaware basin). Interestingly, we failed to also point out there have been at least 3 series of recent U.S. based seismic eventsRead more
The Produced Water Society recently reached out to Laura Capper, founder and CEO of EnergyMakers Advisory Group (EMAG), regarding the recent seismicity in the Delaware Basin, including a 5.0 M earthquake between Midland and El Paso. Below is the full text of the article. Despite inconclusive research on induced seismicity and saltwater disposal in theRead more
When it rains, it pours! By now you have likely heard of the 5.0 earthquake detected in Culberson county, 175 miles W of El Paso, about 26 miles West of Mentone, Texas. I checked on the population of Mentone – the last update was in 2010 with a reported population of 19, which at the time wasRead more