High-rate injection is associated with the increase in U.S. mid-continent seismicity

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 348; no. 6241; pp. 1336 - 1340
• Main Authors: Weingarten, M., Ge, S., Godt, J. W., Bekins, B. A., Rubinstein, J. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington American Association for the Advancement of Science 19.06.2015; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Crystal structure; Earthquakes; Fluid injection; Seismicity; Seismology; Waste water; Water; Wellheads; Wells
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.aab1345

An unprecedented increase in earthquakes in the U.S. mid-continent began in 2009. Many of these earthquakes have been documented as induced by wastewater injection. We examine the relationship between wastewater injection and U.S. mid-continent seismicity using a newly assembled injection well database for the central and eastern United States. We find that the entire increase in earthquake rate is associated with fluid injection wells. High-rate injection wells (>300,000 barrels per month) are much more likely to be associated with earthquakes than lower-rate wells. At the scale of our study, a well's cumulative injected volume, monthly wellhead pressure, depth, and proximity to crystalline basement do not strongly correlate with earthquake association. Managing injection rates may be a useful tool to minimize the likelihood of induced earthquakes.