New Earthquake Hotspot: Oklahoma?

This is causing earthquakes. Fantastic.

California is well-known for having lots of earthquakes.  With the San Andreas fault running through the middle of the state, it's to be expected.  In the past couple of years, Oklahoma has experienced hundreds of earthquakes greater than a magnitude of 3.  This is a drastic departure from the thirty year stretch from 1978 to 2008, where the average number of earthquakes was two a year.  Now, it isn't unheard of for earthquakes to strike this section of the country, some of the largest earthquakes ever occurred in New Madrid, Missouri back in 1811.  The earthquakes aren't big, with the biggest so far being a 5.6, but Oklahoma shouldn't be getting this many earthquakes at all.

There is a reason for the increased seismic activity, and that reason is us.  Of course, it all starts with the oil industry.  The wastewater from the extraction process is being injected deep into the ground, which disrupts old, existing faults.  This is known as injection-induced seismicity, and it is a well-documented phenomenon, being known for over 50 years.  While it isn't known for certain why Oklahoma is so vulnerable to this phenomenon when fluid injection is common all across the country, scientists believe that the problem could easily get worse, and potentially threaten major cities.  Sounds like the sort of dire consequence that should dissuade further oil-based endeavors, creating damaging earthquakes.  I'm sure absolutely nothing will change.

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