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 disposal wells.
On December 27, 2021, a M 4.5-4.6 (USGS & TexNet estimates, respectively) earthquake occurred 11 miles north of Stanton in Martin County, where there have been clusters of seismic activity. Perhaps unbeknownst to most is that the RRC has been monitoring this area prior to the M 4.5 earthquake in what is known as the Stanton Seismic Investigation Region (SIR). It is likely that this SIR will be upgraded to a Seismic Response Action (SRA)—there have been several smaller earthquakes subsequently, with a M 2.6 event on December 30 and M 3.2 event on Jan 2, 2022 (see map below). Stay tuned, will share more as the picture evolves.
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 disposal wells.
On December 27, 2021, a M 4.5-4.6 (USGS & TexNet estimates, respectively) earthquake occurred 11 miles north of Stanton in Martin County, where there have been clusters of seismic activity. Perhaps unbeknownst to most is that the RRC has been monitoring this area prior to the M 4.5 earthquake in what is known as the Stanton Seismic Investigation Region (SIR). It is likely that this SIR will be upgraded to a Seismic Response Action (SRA)—there have been several smaller earthquakes subsequently, with a M 2.6 event on December 30 and M 3.2 event on Jan 2, 2022 (see map below). Stay tuned, will share more as the picture evolves.
