In 2023, West Texas witnessed a notable decrease in earthquake frequency, marking the first such decline in over five years. This shift followed regulatory actions targeting the disposal of toxic wastewater from oil drilling.
According to the Texas Seismological Network, the Texas portion of the Permian Basin oil field reported 194 earthquakes last year, reflecting a 10% reduction from the record high in 2022.
These figures exclude seismic activity in the New Mexico region of the Permian.
Over the years, oil drilling operations have grappled with the substantial volumes of wastewater ejected from wells alongside crude oil.
Traditionally, this wastewater has been disposed of by injecting it back into the ground. However, with the expansion of shale activities in the Permian region, the proliferation of these wastewater injection sites has increased, leading to an escalation in pressure along subterranean fault lines.
In a rare move, Texas regulators, in late 2021, requested drillers to curtail oilfield activities by imposing restrictions on the underground disposal of wastewater.
The data from the Texas Seismological Network monitored tremors with a magnitude of 3 or higher.
Despite the decrease in frequency, the region experienced a seismic event of near-record magnitude in the early hours of November 8.
Shale drillers have been actively working to enhance wastewater recycling efforts and to inject it into more isolated locations.
