Magnitude 4.5 near Stanton Texas raises concerns of regulators

Shakemap intensity example for salt water disposal well monitoring - courtesy of USGS https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/tx2021zjsk/shakemap/intensity

Update in response to the earthquake and article referenced below (ie Stanton Texas Magnitude 4.5): An area of the Permian Basin has been categorized as a “Seismic Response Area” (SRA) after a recent magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Stanton, Texas. As a result of the earthquake, 33 disposal wells surrounding Midland, Texas had permits suspended, according to a Reuters news article Texas weighs earthquake curbs on another 72 oil-related well permits.

Texas Railroad Commission plans on reviewing disposal wells near Stanton, Texas, after a Magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred on December 27, 2021, according to a Reuters news article Latest quake in top U.S. oilfield to hike scrutiny of drilling waste injections. This earthquake is of concern because, at this level, there is the possibility of light damage caused by ground shaking that can affect structures. Operators of disposal wells can monitor for earthquakes and improve their performance by using advanced monitoring equipment (TexNet approved) and scientific tools that ISTI provides as a commercial service (salt water disposal well monitoring).