Arkansas Suspends Drilling of Injection Wells after Earthquake Swarm

Arkansas Suspends Drilling of Injection Wells after Earthquake Swarm

After months of earthquakes, including the largest felt in 35 years, the state of Arkansas has ordered a temporary moratorium on the drilling of new injection wells related to natural gas-related drilling, which some locals believe are causing the seismic activity. More than 700 small earthquakes have been recorded in north-central Arkansas in the last six months.

Although the earthquake swarm might be a natural occurrence, it is also possible that it has been a consequence of the natural gas drilling technique known as “hydraulic fracturing” or “fracking.” The process entails injecting millions of gallons of chemicals, sand or fluids into a well to crack open the rocks and allow easier access to the natural gas. The problem in Arkansas appears to be related not to the drilling itself, but to the disposal of wastewater from the drilling by forcing it back into the earth into injection wells.

The Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission imposed an emergency stoppage on the drilling of new injection wells in the central part of the state after a 4.7 quake shook the area near Greenbrier on February 27.

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A very interesting development.

See also:

WAITING FOR THE BIG ONE: A connection between Deepwater, Earthquakes, and other Deep-Well Drilling?

Earthquake Swarm in Arkansas Intensifies. Memphis, Tennessee could be epicenter for the next big one

(Arkansas) Geologist urges residents to be prepared for quakes

Arkansas Supervolcano, New Madrid Subduction Zone, Yellowstone, BP Oil Disaster

UPDATE: Earthquake Swarm in Arkansas and the New Madrid Fault

I have been watching the eqs in a small area of Arkansas.
Check out the last week alone

MAG DATE-TIME LATdeg LONdeg DEPTHkm LOCATION
MAP 2.2 2011/03/02 11:59:02 35.240 -92.370 6.4 2 km ( 1 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.5 2011/03/02 09:53:11 35.281 -92.334 2.9 5 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.2 2011/03/02 09:12:50 35.231 -92.386 6.5 0 km ( 0 mi) ENE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.3 2011/03/02 09:05:42 35.290 -92.323 4.0 4 km ( 2 mi) SSE of Guy, AR
MAP 2.5 2011/03/02 08:25:23 35.229 -92.383 6.3 1 km ( 0 mi) E of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.2 2011/03/02 04:17:37 35.264 -92.344 4.0 6 km ( 4 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.0 2011/03/01 23:10:28 35.268 -92.341 4.2 6 km ( 4 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.2 2011/03/01 21:44:39 35.257 -92.354 3.8 4 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.4 2011/03/01 16:29:26 35.279 -92.343 2.2 5 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.1 2011/03/01 16:18:19 35.231 -92.379 5.1 1 km ( 1 mi) ENE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 3.3 2011/03/01 16:03:05 35.240 -92.391 5.0 1 km ( 1 mi) N of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 3.3 2011/03/01 15:58:46 35.237 -92.384 5.7 1 km ( 1 mi) NNE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.0 2011/03/01 11:46:28 35.276 -92.341 2.6 5 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 1.9 2011/03/01 11:12:40 35.272 -92.344 4.3 6 km ( 4 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 3.2 2011/03/01 10:56:20 35.289 -92.340 2.4 4 km ( 2 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.6 2011/03/01 10:04:55 35.269 -92.346 2.4 6 km ( 4 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.7 2011/03/01 03:35:29 35.254 -92.359 4.8 4 km ( 2 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.0 2011/03/01 02:18:18 35.263 -92.359 3.1 5 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 1.7 2011/02/28 23:47:54 36.401 -89.566 10.0 8 km ( 5 mi) WNW of Tiptonville, TN
MAP 2.0 2011/02/28 22:17:11 35.267 -92.344 4.6 6 km ( 4 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 1.7 2011/02/28 22:15:46 35.259 -92.352 5.3 5 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 1.8 2011/02/28 22:09:50 35.268 -92.350 5.0 6 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.1 2011/02/28 18:45:50 35.260 -92.350 5.2 5 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.2 2011/02/28 16:31:36 35.263 -92.350 2.4 5 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.5 2011/02/28 14:08:51 35.281 -92.338 4.1 5 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.5 2011/02/28 13:15:53 35.274 -92.338 3.7 6 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 3.0 2011/02/28 13:06:46 35.271 -92.341 3.1 6 km ( 4 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.1 2011/02/28 12:51:40 35.295 -92.329 3.2 3 km ( 2 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.1 2011/02/28 12:46:58 35.267 -92.343 4.4 6 km ( 4 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.2 2011/02/28 12:43:52 35.266 -92.343 4.4 6 km ( 4 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.2 2011/02/28 12:11:40 35.272 -92.342 4.2 6 km ( 4 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.6 2011/02/28 09:56:26 35.288 -92.325 6.1 4 km ( 3 mi) SSE of Guy, AR
MAP 2.5 2011/02/28 09:55:50 35.288 -92.321 6.0 4 km ( 3 mi) SSE of Guy, AR
MAP 2.0 2011/02/28 09:14:22 35.261 -92.342 3.7 6 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 3.4 2011/02/28 08:46:11 35.282 -92.341 2.5 5 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.4 2011/02/28 08:13:15 35.275 -92.341 3.8 6 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.0 2011/02/28 08:04:09 35.271 -92.339 3.9 6 km ( 4 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.4 2011/02/28 07:23:29 35.264 -92.342 4.2 6 km ( 4 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.3 2011/02/28 07:08:32 35.241 -92.350 4.9 4 km ( 2 mi) ENE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.5 2011/02/28 06:32:44 35.276 -92.335 4.8 5 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.2 2011/02/28 06:04:36 35.261 -92.351 5.0 5 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 3.8 2011/02/28 05:18:00 35.270 -92.374 4.2 5 km ( 3 mi) NNE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.4 2011/02/28 05:09:06 35.294 -92.334 2.5 3 km ( 2 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 4.7 2011/02/28 05:00:50 35.265 -92.344 3.8 6 km ( 4 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.5 2011/02/28 01:44:03 35.270 -92.361 4.8 5 km ( 3 mi) NNE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.0 2011/02/27 04:31:24 35.269 -92.344 5.7 6 km ( 4 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 1.8 2011/02/27 04:30:15 35.277 -92.341 4.1 5 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 1.6 2011/02/27 03:36:34 35.258 -92.358 3.9 4 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 1.4 2011/02/27 02:55:43 35.275 -92.341 4.2 6 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 1.1 2011/02/27 02:17:01 35.259 -92.351 5.6 5 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 1.4 2011/02/27 01:08:43 35.278 -92.336 4.4 5 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 1.5 2011/02/27 00:31:33 35.260 -92.354 6.0 5 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 1.8 2011/02/27 00:26:24 35.276 -92.340 4.0 5 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 1.9 2011/02/27 00:22:54 35.261 -92.359 3.9 4 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 1.7 2011/02/27 00:11:58 35.260 -92.357 3.1 4 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 3.4 2011/02/26 14:35:02 35.276 -92.349 2.9 6 km ( 3 mi) SSW of Guy, AR
MAP 2.3 2011/02/25 16:17:47 35.278 -92.336 4.1 5 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.4 2011/02/25 14:32:22 35.261 -92.341 4.6 6 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.3 2011/02/25 14:05:26 35.243 -92.351 4.8 4 km ( 2 mi) ENE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.3 2011/02/25 14:05:13 35.249 -92.348 4.0 4 km ( 3 mi) ENE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.5 2011/02/25 13:16:48 35.249 -92.353 3.8 4 km ( 2 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 3.5 2011/02/25 09:49:01 35.278 -92.374 5.9 6 km ( 3 mi) NNE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.4 2011/02/25 08:57:11 35.242 -92.346 4.1 4 km ( 3 mi) ENE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 3.1 2011/02/25 08:49:57 35.259 -92.374 6.2 4 km ( 2 mi) NNE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.8 2011/02/25 08:16:26 35.275 -92.341 2.6 6 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.4 2011/02/25 07:10:10 35.275 -92.341 3.9 6 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.4 2011/02/25 04:36:30 35.259 -92.345 4.5 5 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.5 2011/02/24 17:28:13 35.262 -92.347 4.5 5 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.2 2011/02/24 16:30:53 35.280 -92.338 4.9 5 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.1 2011/02/24 16:23:56 35.263 -92.341 3.9 6 km ( 4 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.7 2011/02/24 15:07:11 35.271 -92.333 4.5 6 km ( 4 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.4 2011/02/24 15:01:17 35.262 -92.342 4.6 6 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.8 2011/02/24 12:18:49 35.295 -92.350 4.1 4 km ( 2 mi) SSW of Guy, AR
MAP 2.6 2011/02/24 11:12:22 35.282 -92.336 4.9 5 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.4 2011/02/24 10:21:26 35.273 -92.331 4.5 6 km ( 4 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.5 2011/02/24 09:57:28 35.286 -92.349 4.3 4 km ( 3 mi) SSW of Guy, AR
MAP 2.7 2011/02/24 09:12:16 35.285 -92.347 4.6 5 km ( 3 mi) SSW of Guy, AR
MAP 3.2 2011/02/24 07:35:24 35.340 -92.315 4.7 2 km ( 2 mi) NE of Guy, AR
MAP 2.5 2011/02/24 05:43:26 35.271 -92.339 5.4 6 km ( 4 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.5 2011/02/24 04:43:17 35.292 -92.344 5.1 4 km ( 2 mi) SSW of Guy, AR
MAP 2.4 2011/02/24 04:30:13 35.241 -92.365 4.6 3 km ( 2 mi) ENE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.2 2011/02/24 04:03:40 35.267 -92.346 5.4 6 km ( 4 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.8 2011/02/24 04:03:04 35.244 -92.377 6.0 2 km ( 1 mi) NNE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.4 2011/02/24 01:11:54 35.259 -92.342 3.9 5 km ( 3 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR
MAP 2.3 2011/02/24 00:32:56 35.275 -92.343 3.9 6 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 2.6 2011/02/24 00:29:03 35.275 -92.332 5.2 6 km ( 3 mi) S of Guy, AR
MAP 3.4 2011/02/24 00:24:45 35.287 -92.356 3.9 5 km ( 3 mi) SSW of Guy, AR
MAP 2.0 2011/02/23 21:34:55 35.267 -92.338 3.8 6 km ( 4 mi) NE of Greenbrier, AR

USGS Recent EQ Map

reply to post by stephinrazin


The entire situation is impressive.

Then to add to the paranoia, there is this: FEMA Call-up for drill in April: New Madras Fault

reply to post by loam


Very good post.............................S&F

It makes me wonder..........How unusal is this earthquake activity in Ark.?

Is there any past history that can account for this just being a natural occurence?

I just don't remember Ark. being a haven for earthquakes???

Now that they have stopped, I would not be surprised to see a sudden drop in EQ activity in Ark.

But if that happens, of course they will deny any correlation between the two.

For clarification!

They have ONLY stopped drilling NEW wells.

The wells that are in place are still being used.

As for the history of quakes in AK, there was the The Enola Swarm in the 80's. Info on that here.

You will find lots of info on the fracking and injecting here.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Its all so Fracking messed up!

Watch "Gasland" the documentary if you havent.

reply to post by Robin Marks


I did a big thread on fracking too: The Conspiracy Before Your Nose: A Fracking Disaster in the Making!

I have been keeping up with Robin's post on the earthquake swarm in Arkansas and am of the opinion that the damage has already been done. I agree with Robin, in that this fracking can and probably has already started a chain reaction due to the composition of the soil there and the fact that this is an inland seismic area, very unlike say, the San Andreas. My own personal belief is that it is just a matter of time now until the pressures that have been building up finally give way to a major earthquake. I am very afraid for the people who live in the New Madras zone.

you know it may be a little too late for that now ,, the big quake could very well still hit the area at any given time ...

not only that but its also a known weak spot ..

I have a friend living in Arkansas, and he texted me this morning about all of the recent quakes. ( I've been watching it very closely for the last two years) He knew nothing of the New Madrid Fault, the Wabash Valley Fault or anything about fracking. I told him to go to the CUSEC website and look at the info there. He was very suprised that all of this info has been kept quiet on the news all these years.


CUSEC

reply to post by SUICIDEHK45


It's hard to imagine you could live near the fault and not know about it.



reply to post by alysha.angel

Originally posted by alysha.angel
you know it may be a little too late for that now ,, the big quake could very well still hit the area at any given time ...

not only that but its also a known weak spot ..

Let's hope that is not the case.

Key Word "New"

Existing will keep "Fracking"

Contaminating the water supply

3-15-11

Originally posted by SUICIDEHK45
I have a friend living in Arkansas, and he texted me this morning about all of the recent quakes. ( I've been watching it very closely for the last two years) He knew nothing of the New Madrid Fault, the Wabash Valley Fault or anything about fracking. I told him to go to the CUSEC website and look at the info there. He was very suprised that all of this info has been kept quiet on the news all these years.


CUSEC

More people need to know about this procedure and the dangers it presents concerning ground water pollution and possible seismic instability. Sneaking things like this under the public's radar is the typical corporate way, though.

Well,it has stopped,maybe because of the collective minds of ATS.
Baby steps,just keep it up.
Corporations and goverment go hand and hand.
It's is the right of the people to stand up against
them,and say"No More"
We need to expose them for what they are,
no longer laying down and taking it.

reply to post by kdog1982


It hasn't stopped. I'm in Pa. and they have NO regulations with them. My main concern, for my area has been the water/wells and the Deleware river. Our new Govener refuses to tax them. On the premise, for business, I agree. They need to be taxed to regulate the whole operation. IMO, I see no benefit for any citizen directly.
The only benefits go to landowners(ok), government, and Gas companies.
.

While this is GOOD NEWS, I have a feeling the damage is done.
Let's just hope that the swarm stops soon.

I just have a bad feeling it helped wake up the New Madrid Fault a bit... (And now we have a few in Texas).

reply to post by Pharyax


Every small victory adds up to a bigger one. This is wonderful news, nonetheless.