A new study in Oklahoma explains how just four wells plus a lot of wastewater seeps into the ground to cause an earthquake. According to a study published in the journal Science, these wells have appeared to have triggered over 100 small and medium-scale earthquakes in the past five years. Katie, a seismologist at Cornell University in the United States, is the leader of this research.
These wells allow more than 5 million gallons of water to enter one to two miles of underground rock formations each day. The accumulation of fluids creates pressure that has to be triggered. Researchers initially admitted that the passage of underground rock will slow the diffusion of water. But on the contrary, it flows farther away at a faster rate. Studies have shown that the pressure generated can trigger an already existing but not too active seismic fault line, but researchers have not been able to get enough details to explain the specific effects, and only use computer simulations.
The Geological Survey said that Katie’s research confirms what he sees in the area and will help to better understand what’s happening in Oklahoma and strengthen forecasts.