Advertisement OCC: SandRidge Energy agrees to reduce disposal volume, use wells for research Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission's Oil and Gas Conservation Division announced Wednesday that SandRidge Energy has agreed to a plan regarding disposal wells as earthquakes continue in Oklahoma.The OCC said that the plan will involve the reduction of volume of wastewater injected in the Medford and Cherokee/Byron areas, and the use of some wells for research operations.Officials hope the plan will allow researchers to develop "more proactive approaches to the earthquake issue."“Under the plan, SandRidge has agreed to remove seven wells from disposal operations, and cut back its total volume for the areas in question by 40 percent, or approximately 191,000 barrels a day,” OGCD director Tim Baker said. “Of the seven wells that will stop disposal, three will cease operation entirely, while the remaining four will be used as monitoring wells in an Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS) research project. Also, a well that has been unused will be given to researchers, making for a total of five wells dedicated to research.”Officials said the agreement puts an end to a possible court battle between the OGCD and SandRidge.“We had prepared and were about to file a case to force compliance to the two plans we had issued for the areas in December,” Baker said. “SandRidge was willing to try and work out an agreement. I think the result is superior to the plans originally issued. There is still a very significant cutback in volume, and the company has agreed to provide resources for this critically needed OGS research program.”