The surge in recent years of earthquake activity associated with some oil and gas operations, most notably in Oklahoma, has spurred a range of actions and responses from state geoscientists and regulators. States have taken measures to monitor these earthquakes and moderate the activities that may be causing them, particularly the deep underground injection of large volumes of wastewater. Many states with extensive oil and gas operations but little or no increased earthquake activity have also adopted practices to prevent and prepare for potential induced earthquakes in their area.

Our speakers are:

• Jeremy Boak, Ph.D., Director, Oklahoma Geological Survey, Mewbourne College of Earth & Energy, University of Oklahoma | Slides   Video
• Michael H. Young, Ph.D., Associate Director for Environment, Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin | Slides   Video
• Steven Dade, Geologist 2, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil & Gas Resources Management | Slides   Video

Webinar Co-Sponsors: 
American Association of Petroleum Geologists, American Energy Society, American Geophysical Union, American Institute of Professional Geologists, Association of American State Geologists, Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists, Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society, Environmental Defense Fund, Seismological Society of America, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, U.S. Geological Survey.

CEU Credits

To earn CEU credits, please complete the associated on-demand GOLI course that was developed from this webinar with a grade of 70% or higher and then submit your application for CEUs. CEUs are awarded from the American Institute of Professional Geologists. To view the full list of on-demand GOLI courses, please browse the GOLI course catalog.

Resources to learn more:

•  View this webinar's Question & Answer session
•  Short video showing the increases in wastewater injection volume and earthquake activity in the Fort Worth Basin, Texas, from 2005-2016.
• Oklahoma Geological Survey:  Oklahoma Earthquakes in 2016, interactive map viewer
• Oklahoma Geological Survey:  Class II Saltwater Disposal for 2009-2014 at the Annual-, State-, and County- Scales by Geologic Zones of Completion, Oklahoma, Open-File Report (OF5-2015)
• EARTH Magazine: Ground-shaking research: How humans trigger earthquakes
• Walsh, F. R., and Zoback, M. D. (2015) Oklahoma’s recent earthquakes and saltwater disposal. Science Advances.
• Ohio Seismic Network (OhioSeis) website
• TexNet Seismic Monitoring Program

Search the Geological Surveys Database for reports and factsheets about induced earthquakes.