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Oklahoma Earthquake Felt From Texas To Nebraska; Disposal Wells Shut Down

Doualy Xaykaothao
/
KERA News
A Guralp seismic monitoring system helps SMU scientists locate earthquakes in North Texas. SMU seismologists have been studying an earthquake swarm in and near Azle -- and they also surveyed Irving earthquakes.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has directed dozens of wastewater disposal wells within an approximate 500-square-mile radius of the epicenter of the Oklahoma earthquake to shut down.

The commission says about 35 wells are included in the directive, which was issued following the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Saturday morning about nine miles northwest of Pawnee in north-central Oklahoma.

The number of magnitude 3.0 or greater earthquakes has skyrocketed in Oklahoma, from a few dozen in 2012 to more than 900 last year.

Commission spokesman Matt Skinner says the wells were directed to shut down due to scientific links that the increase to the underground disposal of wastewater from oil and gas production induces earthquakes. The commission has previously asked producers to reduce wastewater disposal volumes.

The earthquake ties the record for the strongest earthquake in recorded Oklahoma history. No major damage was reported, and there was one minor injury.

Oklahoma earthquake ties 2011 record quake

The United States Geological Survey said that the 5.6 magnitude earthquake happened at 7:02 a.m. Saturday in north-central Oklahoma. The U.S.G.S. also reports a 3.6 magnitude aftershock in the same area at 7:58 a.m.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin says that crews are checking bridges and structures for damage after the earthquake, which ties a 2011 temblor for the biggest on record in the state.

Fallin tweeted Saturday morning that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is checking bridges in the Pawnee area for damage. Pawnee is about 60 miles northwest of Tulsa.

Fallin also tweeted that state officials want structural engineers to look at building safety in the wake of the quake.

Pawnee County Emergency Management Director Mark Randell says a man protecting his child suffered a head injury when part of a fireplace fell on him. Randell says the man was treated at a hospital and released.

Randell said the Saturday morning quake did cause cracks and damages to city buildings, some of which date to the early 1900s.

Felt across the Great Plains

Saturday's earthquake rattled a swath of the Great Plains from Nebraska to North Texas.

People in Kansas City, Missouri; Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Norman, Oklahoma, all reported feeling the earthquake. Dallas TV station WFAA tweeted that it felt the quake, too.

Sean Weide in Omaha, Nebraska, said he'd never been in an earthquake before and thought he was getting dizzy. Weide said he and one of his daughters "heard the building start creaking" and said it "was surreal."

Officials at a nuclear power plant in the southeast corner of Nebraska say tremors from the Oklahoma earthquake were felt at the plant. Nebraska Public Power District's Cooper Nuclear Station south of Brownville declared an "unusual event" just after 7 a.m. because of the minor tremors.

Officials say there was no damage to the plant or equipment, and no threat to the public or plant personnel occurred. The plant continued operating Saturday, but station personnel increased monitoring of plant equipment, per the plant's policy.

Station emergency preparedness manager Jim Stough says the nuclear station was built to withstand some earthquakes and other scenarios that are likely to occur in the region.

Officials say local, county, state, and federal agencies were notified of the event.