Three minor seismic events were recorded near the shale reserve areas in Oklahoma in the past 24 hours, data for the U.S. Geological Survey show.
USGS data show the strongest of the three seismic events was a magnitude-2.9 tremor recorded shortly after midnight in southern Kansas, a few miles from the state border with Oklahoma. A magnitude-2.5 event was recorded in Fairview, Okla., early Sunday afternoon.
State researchers said wastewater injection, not from hydraulic fracturing operations but producing wells, poses the largest potential risk for seismic events in Oklahoma. A 15,000 square-mile "area of interest" was established to monitor recent seismic events and their association with the state oil and gas sector.
State regulators last week ordered the closure of two wells included in the area of concern in an effort to reduce the seismic activity associated with wastewater. The order followed a magnitude-4.0 tremor recorded Wednesday in the area.
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