2 Wastewater Disposal Wells Closing After Crescent Area Earthquakes

In response to recent earthquakes in the Crescent, Oklahoma, area, operators of oil and gas wastewater disposal wells closest to the earthquake activity are taking new actions, including closing two disposal wells. 

According to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC,) after being contacted by the Commission’s Oil and Gas Division, operators of two of the wells are shutting down operations, while the third well farthest from the activity will reduce its injected volume by 50 percent.

OCC officials said operators of the wells took the actions voluntarily. No directives were necessary.

On Monday, multiple earthquakes rumbled in the Crescent, Oklahoma, area, ranging from 4.0 to 4.5 in magnitude. At 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, another 3.1 magnitude earthquake was recorded three miles north, northeast of Crescent.

7/27/2015 Related Story: Crescent Homeowner Gets More Than Rumblings From 4.5-Magnitude Earthquake

7/27/2015 Related Story: Three Sizable Earthquakes Rattle Central Oklahoma

News 9 spoke with a homeowner in Crescent, who said the 4.5-magnitude earthquake that stuck there at about 1:10 p.m. Monday knocked pictures from the walls and damaged other walls.