Although the disposal of fracking-generated wastewater may create tremors, fracturing is often not the direct source of earthquakes.
According to a 2022 research by the University of Texas at Austin, oil and gas extraction was “highly associated” with 68 percent of Texas earthquakes larger than 1.5.
Dr. Alexandros Savvaidis has described how increased seismic activity in the state might result from increased drilling. “Higher-magnitude earthquakes are associated.
With deep injection wells in particular,” Dr. Savvaidis told KMID.”However, in terms of significant seismic events, shallower injections appear to be less dangerous.”
The epicenter of Sunday’s strong 5.4 magnitude earthquake was also the location of Monday’s 3.6 magnitude earthquake. The lesser earthquakes occurred at the New Mexico border in the northeast.
The epicenter of Sunday’s earthquake was at least 200 miles distant. El Paso residents posted footage of the streets trembling during the earthquake.
More than 1,500 individuals reported feeling the effects of the earthquakes, but no deaths or damage have been recorded as of yet. Few individuals said they felt the tremors on Monday.
