Induced Seismicity
Overview
Although induced seismicity related to underground injection activities was first observed in the 1960s at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal near Denver, a dramatic increase in earthquake activity in the midcontinent beginning in 2009 focused attention on the potential hazard posed by earthquakes induced by injection. The science required to understand the process and predict its impacts is still undergoing significant change.
In 2020, the Ground Water Protection Council, in partnership with the Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission and oil and gas producing states, developed a report update to the 2017 Potential Injection-Induced Seismicity Associated with Oil & Gas Development: A Primer on Technical and Regulatory Considerations Informing Risk Management and Mitigation. The updated report included Carbon Capture and Storage along with updates to case studies and state regulation summaries. The report update can be found under the Induced Seismicity Resources on our website.
Additional Reading
- Induced Seismicity Resources
- University of Oklahoma: Earthquakes
- USGS: Earthquakes
News
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Events
Aquifer Storage & Recovery / Managed Aquifer Recharge Webinar:
What's New With the EPA - Reuse, UIC, Stormwater
The GWPC brings it all together with an in-person multi-day Annual Forum conference in the month of September. The GWPC Annual Forum is the place for attendees to continue the discussion on topics of importance through live sessions, interactive roundtables and discussion groups, and networking opportunities. Registration fees and hotel information will be announced soon.
Publications
2017 Revision: Potential Injection Induced Seismicity Associated With Oil & Gas Development: A Primer On Technical & Regulatory Considerations Informing Risk Management & Mitigation
States First, an initiative of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission and the Ground Water Protection Council, is pleased to announce the release of its Second Edition of the report entitled “Potential Injection-Induced Seismicity Associated with Oil & Gas Development: A Primer on Technical and Regulatory Considerations Informing Risk Management and Mitigation.” This 2017 revision of the 2015 report contains numerous additions, updates, clarifications and corrections which will help regulators and the public understand aspects of induced seismicity and its relationship to underground injection and hydraulic fracturing. The report was developed by a workgroup consisting of scientists, engineers and regulators and represents a consensus view on the issues surrounding induced seismicity. For further information about this report please contact Mike Nickolaus at the GWPC <a href=
Potential Injection-Induced Seismicity Associated with Oil & Gas Development: A Primer on Technical and Regulatory Considerations Informing Risk Management and Mitigation
Thirteen states partnered through a multi-state initiative called StatesFirst in 2015 to share and summarize current knowledge related to earthquakes potentially caused by human activity, otherwise referred to as induced seismicity.
The work group comprised of members of state oil and natural gas and geological agencies and other advisory experts from academia, industry, non-profit organizations and federal agencies released a Primer to provide a guide for regulatory agencies to evaluate and develop strategies to mitigate and manage risks of injection induced seismicity. The Primer also outlines how states can best provide information to the public in a transparent and effective manner.
OPPORTUNITIES TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER SOURCES AND ADVANCE WATERSHED GOALS THROUGH THE CLEAN WATER ACT
The topic of induced seismicity, or earthquakes caused by human activities, and in particular seismicity associated with hydraulic fracturing and disposal wells, has been the source of heightened interest and controversy over the past several years. To help disseminate factual information on the subject, the Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) and its research arm, the Ground Water Research and Education Foundation (GWREF), decided to include sessions on induced seismicity in two of the organization’s 2013 conferences.
Resolutions
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