Oklahoma Hit By 4.5 Magnitude natural disaster

OKLAHOMA CITY, July 27 Several earthquakes shook Oklahoma on Monday as the state experiences a sharp increase in the frequency of tremors linked to wastewater disposal from gas and oil drilling, including from fracking, state and federal officials said.

The USGS also recorded two 3.9 magnitude and a 4.0 magnitude quake since Saturday.

Last year, Oklahoma recorded 585 earthquakes greater than a 3.0 magnitude, The Oklahoman reported.

Here is the recording from the USGS website.

Reports from residents of feeling another quake started coming in around 8:20 p.m. and again the USGS confirmed there had been an natural disaster of 4.5 magnitude in the area of Crescent at 8:18 p.m. This quake was later downgraded to a 4.1 magnitude.

“The state of Oklahoma has a duty not only to protect the industry and foster economic development, but also – and more importantly – to protect its resources and citizens”, Williams told the newspaper Wednesday.

In response to the findings, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission Oil and Gas Conservation Division issued new directives this month expanding “Areas of Interest”, parts of the state that have been worst-hit by the quakes, and adding restrictions for 211 disposal wells.

“The Coordinating Council on Seismic Activity continues to evaluate and discuss what next steps should be”, said Michael Teague, Oklahoma secretary of energy and environment.