According to the GSA, “Deep well injection of fluids has likely caused earthquakes in excess of magnitude 2.0 over the past several decades, including a magnitude 5.7 earthquake in 2011 in Oklahoma and a sharp increase of earthquake frequency from 2012 to 2014 in Oklahoma. Kansas has also experienced a marked increase in seismic activity in the last two years, including the state’s largest earthquake recorded at magnitude 4.9 in November 2014.” In addition, research geologist at the United States Geological Survey William Ellsworth recently told The New Yorker, “We can say with virtual certainty that the increased seismicity in Oklahoma has to do with recent changes in the way that oil and gas are being produced.”
Now you can impress all your friends at the next cocktail party with your brilliant grasp of this complicated yet fascinating topic!
