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How is hydraulic fracturing related to earthquakes and tremors?

Reports of hydraulic fracturing causing felt earthquakes are extremely rare. However, wastewater produced by wells that were hydraulic fractured can cause “induced” earthquakes when it is injected into deep wastewater wells.

Wastewater disposal wells operate for longer durations and inject much more fluid than the hydraulic fracturing operations. Wastewater injection can raise pressure levels in the rock formation over much longer periods of time and over larger areas than hydraulic fracturing does. Hence, wastewater injection is much more likely to induce earthquakes than hydraulic fracturing.

Most wastewater injection wells are not associated with felt earthquakes. A combination of many factors is necessary for injection to induce felt earthquakes.

Learn more:

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Image: Withdrawing Water for Hydraulic Fracturing

How much water does the typical hydraulically fractured well require?

There isn’t really a “typical” fractured well because the amount of water used depends on the rock formation, the operator, whether the well is vertical or horizontal, and the number of portions (or stages) of the well that are fractured. In addition, some water is recycled from fluids produced by the well, so the net consumption might be smaller at sites that recycle.Water use per well can be...

link

How much water does the typical hydraulically fractured well require?

There isn’t really a “typical” fractured well because the amount of water used depends on the rock formation, the operator, whether the well is vertical or horizontal, and the number of portions (or stages) of the well that are fractured. In addition, some water is recycled from fluids produced by the well, so the net consumption might be smaller at sites that recycle.Water use per well can be...

Learn More
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Delayed dynamic triggering of disposal-induced earthquakes observed by a dense array in Northern Oklahoma

Recent increases in earthquake occurrence rates in Oklahoma have been linked to the injection of large volumes of saltwater, a byproduct of oil and gas extraction. Here we present a detailed study of remote earthquake triggering in an area of active injection‐induced seismicity in northern Oklahoma using data from the LArge‐n Seismic Survey in Oklahoma (LASSO) temporary array and nearby permanent
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Earthquakes induced by hydraulic fracturing are pervasive in Oklahoma

Wastewater disposal is generally accepted to be the primary cause of the increased seismicity rate in Oklahoma within the past decade, but no statewide analysis has investigated the contribution of hydraulic fracturing (HF) to the observed seismicity or the seismic hazard. Utilizing an enhanced seismicity catalog generated with multi‐station template matching from 2010‐2016 and all available hydra
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Induced earthquake families reveal distinctive evolutionary patterns near disposal wells

The timing of events in seismic sequences can provide insights into the physical processes controlling fault slip. In southern Kansas, the rate of earthquakes rose rapidly starting in 2013 following expansion of energy production into the area, demanding the disposal of large volumes of wastewater into deep wells. Seismicity catalogs that are complete to low magnitudes can provide insights into th
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Induced earthquake magnitudes are as large as (statistically) expected

A major question for the hazard posed by injection-induced seismicity is how large induced earthquakes can be. Are their maximum magnitudes determined by injection parameters or by tectonics? Deterministic limits on induced earthquake magnitudes have been proposed based on the size of the reservoir or the volume of fluid injected. However, if induced earthquakes occur on tectonic faults oriented f
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Shaking intensity from injection-induced versus tectonic earthquakes in the central-eastern United States

Although instrumental recordings of earthquakes in the central and eastern United States (CEUS) remain sparse, the U. S. Geological Survey's “Did you feel it?” (DYFI) system now provides excellent characterization of shaking intensities caused by induced and tectonic earthquakes. Seventeen CEUS events are considered between 2013 and 2015. It is shown that for 15 events, observed intensities at epi
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A century of induced earthquakes in Oklahoma?

Seismicity rates have increased sharply since 2009 in the central and eastern United States, with especially high rates of activity in the state of Oklahoma. Growing evidence indicates that many of these events are induced, primarily by injection of wastewater in deep disposal wells. The upsurge in activity has raised two questions: What is the background rate of tectonic earthquakes in Oklahoma?
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The central United States has undergone a dramatic increase in seismicity over the past 6 years (Fig. 1), rising from an average of 24 M≥3 earthquakes per year in the years 1973–2008 to an average of 193 M≥3 earthquakes in 2009–2014, with 688 occurring in 2014 alone. Multiple damaging earthquakes have occurred during this increase including the 2011 M 5.6 Prague, Oklahoma, earthquake; the 2011 M 5
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High-rate injection is associated with the increase in U.S. mid-continent seismicity

An unprecedented increase in earthquakes in the U.S. mid-continent began in 2009. Many of these earthquakes have been documented as induced by wastewater injection. We examine the relationship between wastewater injection and U.S. mid-continent seismicity using a newly assembled injection well database for the central and eastern United States. We find that the entire increase in earthquake rate i
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Study of reservoir induced seismicity : final technical report

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Duane R. Packer, L.S. Cluff, P. L. Knuepfer, R.J. Withers
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Wastewater Disposal Likely Induced February 2016 Magnitude 5.1 Oklahoma Earthquake

Distant wastewater disposal wells likely induced the third largest earthquake in recent Oklahoma record, the Feb. 13, 2016, magnitude 5.1 event...

Read Article
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EarthWord – Induced Seismicity

The occurrence or frequency of earthquakes for which the origin is attributable to human activities.

Read Article
link

Induced Earthquakes Raise Chances of Damaging Shaking in 2016

For the first time, new USGS maps identify the potential for ground shaking from both human-induced and natural earthquakes in 2016.

Read Article
link

A Century of Induced Earthquakes in Oklahoma?

The rate of earthquakes has increased sharply since 2009 in the central and eastern United States, with growing evidence confirming that these...
Read Article
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Coping with Earthquakes Induced by Fluid Injection

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Read Article

Related Content

  • FAQ
    link
    Image: Withdrawing Water for Hydraulic Fracturing

    How much water does the typical hydraulically fractured well require?

    There isn’t really a “typical” fractured well because the amount of water used depends on the rock formation, the operator, whether the well is vertical or horizontal, and the number of portions (or stages) of the well that are fractured. In addition, some water is recycled from fluids produced by the well, so the net consumption might be smaller at sites that recycle.Water use per well can be...

    link

    How much water does the typical hydraulically fractured well require?

    There isn’t really a “typical” fractured well because the amount of water used depends on the rock formation, the operator, whether the well is vertical or horizontal, and the number of portions (or stages) of the well that are fractured. In addition, some water is recycled from fluids produced by the well, so the net consumption might be smaller at sites that recycle.Water use per well can be...

    Learn More
  • Multimedia
    link
    video thumbnail: Science or Soundbite? Shale Gas, Hydraulic Fracturing, and Induced Earthquakes link
  • Publications

    Delayed dynamic triggering of disposal-induced earthquakes observed by a dense array in Northern Oklahoma

    Recent increases in earthquake occurrence rates in Oklahoma have been linked to the injection of large volumes of saltwater, a byproduct of oil and gas extraction. Here we present a detailed study of remote earthquake triggering in an area of active injection‐induced seismicity in northern Oklahoma using data from the LArge‐n Seismic Survey in Oklahoma (LASSO) temporary array and nearby permanent
    Authors
    A. Pena Castro, Sara L. Dougherty, R. M. Harrington, Elizabeth S. Cochran
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

    Earthquakes induced by hydraulic fracturing are pervasive in Oklahoma

    Wastewater disposal is generally accepted to be the primary cause of the increased seismicity rate in Oklahoma within the past decade, but no statewide analysis has investigated the contribution of hydraulic fracturing (HF) to the observed seismicity or the seismic hazard. Utilizing an enhanced seismicity catalog generated with multi‐station template matching from 2010‐2016 and all available hydra
    Authors
    Robert J. Skoumal, Rosamiel Ries, Michael R. Brudzinski, Andrew J. Barbour, Brian S. Currie
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

    Induced earthquake families reveal distinctive evolutionary patterns near disposal wells

    The timing of events in seismic sequences can provide insights into the physical processes controlling fault slip. In southern Kansas, the rate of earthquakes rose rapidly starting in 2013 following expansion of energy production into the area, demanding the disposal of large volumes of wastewater into deep wells. Seismicity catalogs that are complete to low magnitudes can provide insights into th
    Authors
    Elizabeth S. Cochran, Zachary E. Ross, Rebecca M. Harrington, Sara L. Dougherty, Justin L. Rubinstein
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

    Induced earthquake magnitudes are as large as (statistically) expected

    A major question for the hazard posed by injection-induced seismicity is how large induced earthquakes can be. Are their maximum magnitudes determined by injection parameters or by tectonics? Deterministic limits on induced earthquake magnitudes have been proposed based on the size of the reservoir or the volume of fluid injected. However, if induced earthquakes occur on tectonic faults oriented f
    Authors
    Nicholas van der Elst, Morgan T. Page, Deborah A. Weiser, Thomas Goebel, S. Mehran Hosseini
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

    Shaking intensity from injection-induced versus tectonic earthquakes in the central-eastern United States

    Although instrumental recordings of earthquakes in the central and eastern United States (CEUS) remain sparse, the U. S. Geological Survey's “Did you feel it?” (DYFI) system now provides excellent characterization of shaking intensities caused by induced and tectonic earthquakes. Seventeen CEUS events are considered between 2013 and 2015. It is shown that for 15 events, observed intensities at epi
    Authors
    Susan E. Hough
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

    A century of induced earthquakes in Oklahoma?

    Seismicity rates have increased sharply since 2009 in the central and eastern United States, with especially high rates of activity in the state of Oklahoma. Growing evidence indicates that many of these events are induced, primarily by injection of wastewater in deep disposal wells. The upsurge in activity has raised two questions: What is the background rate of tectonic earthquakes in Oklahoma?
    Authors
    Susan E. Hough, Morgan T. Page
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

    Myths and facts on wastewater injection, hydraulic fracturing, enhanced oil recovery, and induced seismicity

    The central United States has undergone a dramatic increase in seismicity over the past 6 years (Fig. 1), rising from an average of 24 M≥3 earthquakes per year in the years 1973–2008 to an average of 193 M≥3 earthquakes in 2009–2014, with 688 occurring in 2014 alone. Multiple damaging earthquakes have occurred during this increase including the 2011 M 5.6 Prague, Oklahoma, earthquake; the 2011 M 5
    Authors
    Justin L. Rubinstein, Alireza Babaie Mahani
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

    High-rate injection is associated with the increase in U.S. mid-continent seismicity

    An unprecedented increase in earthquakes in the U.S. mid-continent began in 2009. Many of these earthquakes have been documented as induced by wastewater injection. We examine the relationship between wastewater injection and U.S. mid-continent seismicity using a newly assembled injection well database for the central and eastern United States. We find that the entire increase in earthquake rate i
    Authors
    Matthew Weingarten, Shemin Ge, Jonathan W. Godt, Barbara A. Bekins, Justin L. Rubinstein
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis

    Study of reservoir induced seismicity : final technical report

    Authors
    Duane R. Packer, L.S. Cluff, P. L. Knuepfer, R.J. Withers
  • News
    link

    Wastewater Disposal Likely Induced February 2016 Magnitude 5.1 Oklahoma Earthquake

    Distant wastewater disposal wells likely induced the third largest earthquake in recent Oklahoma record, the Feb. 13, 2016, magnitude 5.1 event...

    Read Article
    link

    EarthWord – Induced Seismicity

    The occurrence or frequency of earthquakes for which the origin is attributable to human activities.

    Read Article
    link

    Induced Earthquakes Raise Chances of Damaging Shaking in 2016

    For the first time, new USGS maps identify the potential for ground shaking from both human-induced and natural earthquakes in 2016.

    Read Article
    link

    A Century of Induced Earthquakes in Oklahoma?

    The rate of earthquakes has increased sharply since 2009 in the central and eastern United States, with growing evidence confirming that these...
    Read Article
    link

    Coping with Earthquakes Induced by Fluid Injection

    MENLO PARK, Calif.— A paper published today in Science provides a case for increasing transparency and data collection to enable strategies for...
    Read Article
    link

    Historical Hydraulic Fracturing Trends and Data Unveiled in New USGS Publications

    Two new U.S. Geological Survey publications that highlight historical hydraulic fracturing trends and data from 1947 to 2010 are now available.
    Read Article
    link

    2011 Oklahoma Induced Earthquake May Have Triggered Larger Quake

     In a new study involving researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey, scientists observed that a human-induced magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Prague...

    Read Article