OCC has released its plan to address central Oklahoma earthquakes.The plan addresses 400 wells in a 5,000 square mile area and addresses earthquakes in Edmond, Perry, Stillwater and other central Oklahoma communities.“The western and central Oklahoma actions combined cover over 10,000 square miles and more than 600 Arbuckle disposal wells.” OGCD Director Tim Baker said.Baker says the goal of the central Oklahoma plan is to reduce the total volume disposed in the area to 40 percent below the 2014 total.“This means a reduction of more than 300,000 barrels a day from the 2015 average injection volumes,” Baker explained.The plan also addresses areas where earthquake activity has not been recorded, but disposal wells exist.“This will result in 118 more Arbuckle disposal wells being covered by so-called “yellow light” earthquake precautions. These include having to prove the well has not been drilled too deep in order to keep operating, and daily and weekly volume recording and reporting requirements,” Baker said. “It also eliminates the possibility of administrative approval of a new Arbuckle disposal well application. The AOI expansion is a proactive move to get ahead of the earthquake activity.“The central Oklahoma volume reduction plan covers an area where we have taken numerous, localized actions over the past 12 months, such as in the Cushing, Crescent, and Edmond areas. But the research and data has grown to provide the basis needed to both expand into a regional approach for volume reduction and increase the size of the AOI. ” said Baker.The central Oklahoma reduction plan will be phased in over two months to address concerns over sudden pressure changes.You can read the OCC's full report here.This is a developing story. KOCO will update with more information as it becomes available.31967416

OCC has released its plan to address central Oklahoma earthquakes.

The plan addresses 400 wells in a 5,000 square mile area and addresses earthquakes in Edmond, Perry, Stillwater and other central Oklahoma communities.


“The western and central Oklahoma actions combined cover over 10,000 square miles and more than 600 Arbuckle disposal wells.” OGCD Director Tim Baker said.

Baker says the goal of the central Oklahoma plan is to reduce the total volume disposed in the area to 40 percent below the 2014 total.

“This means a reduction of more than 300,000 barrels a day from the 2015 average injection volumes,” Baker explained.

The plan also addresses areas where earthquake activity has not been recorded, but disposal wells exist.

“This will result in 118 more Arbuckle disposal wells being covered by so-called “yellow light” earthquake precautions. These include having to prove the well has not been drilled too deep in order to keep operating, and daily and weekly volume recording and reporting requirements,” Baker said. “It also eliminates the possibility of administrative approval of a new Arbuckle disposal well application. The AOI expansion is a proactive move to get ahead of the earthquake activity.

“The central Oklahoma volume reduction plan covers an area where we have taken numerous, localized actions over the past 12 months, such as in the Cushing, Crescent, and Edmond areas. But the research and data has grown to provide the basis needed to both expand into a regional approach for volume reduction and increase the size of the AOI. ” said Baker.

The central Oklahoma reduction plan will be phased in over two months to address concerns over sudden pressure changes.

You can read the OCC's full report here.

This is a developing story. KOCO will update with more information as it becomes available.



