Potentially induced earthquakes in Oklahoma, USA: Links between wastewater injection and the 2011 Mw 5.7 earthquake sequence

Abstract

Research Article| June 01, 2013 Potentially induced earthquakes in Oklahoma, USA: Links between wastewater injection and the 2011 Mw 5.7 earthquake sequence Katie M. Keranen; Katie M. Keranen 1ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, 100 E. Boyd Street, Norman, Oklahoma 73069, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Heather M. Savage; Heather M. Savage 2Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, PO Box 1000, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, New York 10964, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geoffrey A. Abers; Geoffrey A. Abers 2Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, PO Box 1000, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, New York 10964, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Elizabeth S. Cochran Elizabeth S. Cochran 3U.S. Geological Survey, 525 S. Wilson Avenue, Pasadena, California 91106, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Katie M. Keranen 1ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, 100 E. Boyd Street, Norman, Oklahoma 73069, USA Heather M. Savage 2Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, PO Box 1000, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, New York 10964, USA Geoffrey A. Abers 2Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, PO Box 1000, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, New York 10964, USA Elizabeth S. Cochran 3U.S. Geological Survey, 525 S. Wilson Avenue, Pasadena, California 91106, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 18 Sep 2012 Revision Received: 23 Jan 2013 Accepted: 23 Jan 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2013 Geological Society of America Geology (2013) 41 (6): 699–702. https://doi.org/10.1130/G34045.1 Article history Received: 18 Sep 2012 Revision Received: 23 Jan 2013 Accepted: 23 Jan 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Katie M. Keranen, Heather M. Savage, Geoffrey A. Abers, Elizabeth S. Cochran; Potentially induced earthquakes in Oklahoma, USA: Links between wastewater injection and the 2011 Mw 5.7 earthquake sequence. Geology 2013;; 41 (6): 699–702. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G34045.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Significant earthquakes are increasingly occurring within the continental interior of the United States, including five of moment magnitude (Mw) ≥ 5.0 in 2011 alone. Concurrently, the volume of fluid injected into the subsurface related to the production of unconventional resources continues to rise. Here we identify the largest earthquake potentially related to injection, an Mw 5.7 earthquake in November 2011 in Oklahoma. The earthquake was felt in at least 17 states and caused damage in the epicentral region. It occurred in a sequence, with 2 earthquakes of Mw 5.0 and a prolific sequence of aftershocks. We use the aftershocks to illuminate the faults that ruptured in the sequence, and show that the tip of the initial rupture plane is within ∼200 m of active injection wells and within ∼1 km of the surface; 30% of early aftershocks occur within the sedimentary section. Subsurface data indicate that fluid was injected into effectively sealed compartments, and we interpret that a net fluid volume increase after 18 yr of injection lowered effective stress on reservoir-bounding faults. Significantly, this case indicates that decades-long lags between the commencement of fluid injection and the onset of induced earthquakes are possible, and modifies our common criteria for fluid-induced events. The progressive rupture of three fault planes in this sequence suggests that stress changes from the initial rupture triggered the successive earthquakes, including one larger than the first. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.