Earthquakes trigger new rules on disposal wells

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is imposing new guidelines on oil and natural gas disposal well operations near the recent earthquakes.

"They have been briefing me and discussing a brainstorming different issues," said Governor Mary Fallin.

The amount of wastewater from oil and gas operations will no be reduced to a level below the 2012 totals by about 2.4 million barrels.

"I think we all know now that there is a direct correlation between the increase of earthquakes that we've seen in Oklahoma with disposal wells."

Logan and Oklahoma counties had the sharpest rise in earthquakes beginning in late 2012.

The Oklahoma Geological Survey says earthquakes are likely triggered by disposal wells.

Operators will now have 60 days to cut disposal volumes by 38 percent below last year. That’s about 3.4 million barrels.

"They have been briefing me and discussing a brainstorming different issues."

Two earthquakes shook parts of northern Oklahoma Tuesday.

The U.S. Geological Survey says a 3.1 magnitude temblor was recorded at about 4:00 Tuesday morning eight miles northeast of Cherokee in Alfalfa County.

The second was recorded at 1:16 Tuesday afternoon about three miles west-northwest of Medford in Grant County. The magnitude 3.4 temblor was recorded at a depth of about two miles.

No damage or injuries was immediately reported.

Geologists say earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 to 3.0 are generally the smallest that are felt by humans.

Damage is not likely from earthquakes below magnitude 4.0.