Railroad Commission Of Texas: Wastewater Disposal Well Not Causing Earthquakes
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NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A second wastewater disposal well is not "likely contributing" to hundreds of earthquakes near Azle and Reno, according to a preliminary finding presented to the Railroad Commission of Texas. The finding matches what examiners presented for another well last month.
The proposal however also said evidence did not support finding that the well owned by EnerVest, is not contributing to the earthquakes.
A study earlier this year from a team at SMU implicated the well, and another owned by XTO, in the swarm of quakes that started in 2013.
Commissioners will make the final decision on the status of the well at a later public meeting.
The wells are used to dispose of waste water produced by oil and gas drilling in the area. Researchers have focused on pressure changes caused by the water, leading to the failure of largely unknown faults in the area.
Examiners said evidence showed a "thin" connection between disposal activities and the earthquakes. The modeling used by researchers though, examiners found, was not sufficient to establish a link.
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