Seismic Activity in West Texas and Northern Mexico: Recent Earthquakes Explained
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck West Texas near Ackerly, followed by a magnitude 3 quake in Northern Mexico. The USGS indicates that increased seismic activity is mainly due to wastewater disposal associated with oil production, rather than hydraulic fracturing.
A preliminary magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred on Friday in West Texas, approximately 16 miles southwest of Ackerly and at a depth of 4.2 miles. This seismic event transpired around 12:33 p.m. MT. Ackerly is situated roughly 62 miles northeast of Midland by road.
Additionally, another earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3 was recorded in Northern Mexico near the Texas border, approximately 33 miles south-southwest of Sierra Blanca. This quake occurred at around 12:31 p.m. MT and was located 6.5 miles underground.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has noted that “most induced earthquakes are not directly caused by hydraulic fracturing (fracking).” They attribute the recent surge in earthquakes within the central United States primarily to the disposal of waste fluids resulting from oil production.
The USGS elaborates that “wastewater disposal wells typically operate for longer durations and inject much more fluid than is injected during the hydraulic fracturing process,” thereby increasing the likelihood of inducing earthquakes. They also highlight that the largest known earthquake induced by hydraulic fracturing in the U.S. measured 4.0 and occurred in Texas in 2018.
In summary, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck West Texas near Ackerly, followed closely by a magnitude 3 quake in Northern Mexico. The USGS attributes the increase in seismic activity in the region to wastewater disposal from oil production rather than hydraulic fracturing itself. These insights underline the complexities of human activity’s impact on seismic events.
Original Source: www.lonestarlive.com
