- More than 200 dead in Ecuador earthquake
- Dozens missing, 15 dead in Taiwan earthquake
- Alaska hit with aftershock after 7.1 earthquake
- Two more earthquakes in two days in Irving
- 2.7-magnitude earthquake rattles Irving area
- As quakes shake North Texas, bridge inspectors check…
- 2.6-magnitude earthquake rattles Irving
- 3.3 earthquake hits near Irving
- 2.7 magnitude quake shakes Dallas area
North Texas Earthquakes
North Texas isn’t known for earthquakes, but all that has changed. Since 2008, there have been more than 120 here, according to researchers at Southern Methodist University, who are working with the U.S. Geological Survey to determine what’s causing them. One theory is that they are manmade, a result of underground fault lines lubricated by “frack waste,” or chemical-laden salt water produced as a by-product of hydraulic fracturing. Millions of gallons are injected miles underground in North Texas daily, according to government oil and gas permits. Scientists have linked the injection of fluid underground to seismic activity since the 1960s, resulting in bans of injection wells in some parts of the country. But the Texas Railroad Commission, which oversees oil and gas operations, has said there is no evidence at the present time to prove a relationship. There are about 7,500 disposal wells in Texas, compared to approximately 180,000 oil wells and 103,000 natural gas wells statewide.
Using RRC data, we have plotted active injection disposal wells in seven counties: Denton, Ellis, Hood, Johnson, Parker, Tarrant and Wise (there are none of these type wells in Dallas County). We have also added an inactive well on DFW Airport property that began operation in January 2008 and ended its permit in September 2013. (That well was plugged May 23, 2014.) In addition to location, we have also included information on the amount of fluid the wells are permitted to inject daily, at what pressures and at what depths. Through the U.S. Geological Survey, we have also mapped earthquakes of magnitude 1 and greater occurring in North Texas from 2008 through January 2015, which includes quake clusters near DFW Airport, Cleburne, Azle and most recently near the old Texas Stadium site in Irving.
North Texas Earthquake Map
=Earthquake Epicenter | =Active Injection Site | =Inactive Injection Site |
More Earthquake and Fracking Headlines
Updated 12:36 AM. CDT
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- Earthquakes
Strong quake rocks Papua New Guinea, tsunami possible
Strong quake rocks Papua New Guinea, tsunami possible The quake struck Tuesday about 140 kilometers (90 miles) south of the town of Kokopo- Earthquakes
- Earthquakes
Two days, four earthquakes in North Texas
Two days, four earthquakes in North Texas A 2.7-magnitude earthquake rattled North Texas Monday morning.- Earthquakes
- Earthquakes
3.2 magnitude quake rattles North Texas
3.2 magnitude quake rattles North Texas "My apartment just shook," tweeted WFAA anchor Marcus Moore. "Not fun!"- Earthquakes
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Railroad Commission to consider shutting down injection wells
Railroad Commission to consider shutting down injection wells The consideration comes in the wake of an SMU study that linked 27 quakes to nearby wells.- Earthquakes
- Earthquakes
Geologists release details of Azle earthquakes study
Geologists release details of Azle earthquakes study The seismology team led by SMU that has been researching local earthquakes believes it's found a cause for the ones that hit Azle a couple of years ago.- Earthquakes
- Earthquakes
Earthquake study is vindication for some in Azle, Reno
Earthquake study is vindication for some in Azle, Reno "We have a right to say that we don't want earthquakes"- Earthquakes
- Earthquakes
Epicenter of 3.3-magnitude quake in Irving neighborhood
Epicenter of 3.3-magnitude quake in Irving neighborhood Most of the Irving quakes have been in commercial or industrial areas, but Thursday evening was centered in a cul-de-sac.- Earthquakes
- Earthquakes
Small earthquake rattles Dallas-Irving area
Small earthquake rattles Dallas-Irving area A 2.6 magnitude earthquake struck in Northwest Dallas at 2:31 a.m. Saturday- Earthquakes
- Earthquakes
2.4 magnitude quake centered in Northwest Dallas
2.4 magnitude quake centered in Northwest Dallas Initial information places the epicenter along Walnut Hill Lane, just west of Interstate 35E.- Earthquakes
- Earthquakes
2.3-magnitude quakes rumbles near Irving
2.3-magnitude quakes rumbles near Irving Saturday night's quake epicenter is roughly a mile away from the old Texas Stadium site.- Earthquakes
- Earthquakes
The Fault Line: Does drilling cause earthquakes?
The Fault Line: Does drilling cause earthquakes? Geologists say the number of earthquakes in the Central U.S. is up 1,000 percent in the last 30 years- Earthquakes
RIGHT NOW WEATHER
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2.6-magnitude earthquake rattles Irving
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3.2 magnitude quake rattles North Texas
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Railroad Commission to consider shutting down injection wells
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15298 hour ago 6:42 p.m.
Geologists release details of Azle earthquakes study
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15299 hour ago 5:49 p.m.
Earthquake study is vindication for some in Azle, Reno
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Epicenter of 3.3-magnitude quake in Irving neighborhood
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16219 hour ago 9:16 a.m.
Small earthquake rattles Dallas-Irving area
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2.4 magnitude quake centered in Northwest Dallas
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2.3-magnitude quakes rumbles near Irving
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17154 hour ago 9:29 a.m.
The Fault Line: Does drilling cause earthquakes?
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Earthquakes on the rise in North Texas