Oklahoma Corporation Commission again expands areas for disposal well scrutiny in wake of earthquakes

Oil and gas operators will face additional restrictions on disposal wells linked to manmade earthquakes under an expanded directive from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the agency said Friday.

The commission's oil and gas conservation division also received a $200,000 grant from the Oklahoma secretary of energy and environment to respond to concerns over induced seismicity. The grant comes after a $50,000 grant in March that was used for data collection and analysis.

The updated directive from the Corporation Commission expands the places for additional scrutiny of disposal wells in earthquake "areas of interest." It also requires operators to reduce the depths of disposal wells injecting into the Arbuckle formation, a change from earlier when they could opt to just reduce volumes.

Parts or all of 21 counties in Oklahoma are covered under the directive.