Overview of Oil and Gas Wastewater Injection Induced Seismicity in Hydrocarbon Regions in the United States, Canada, and Europe

Abstract

There has been a tremendous increase in earthquake activity in traditionally non-seismically active areas, such as the American states, such as Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. In Europe, the United Kingdom and The Netherlands experienced seismicity events that were associated with oil and gas development. Studies ensued and are in process to determine the correlations between oil and gas activity and seismicity. Recently, many researchers have identified a correlation between seismic activity and certain oil and gas operations, such as wastewater fluid injection, which is a common practice used to dispose of wastewater generated during oil and gas operations. Oil and gas companies, state regulatory agencies, and local and state governments are proceeding surely, but cautiously, given that most of this activity is occurring in areas with a strong and economically vested interest in petroleum production. This chapter reviews the geologic mechanism, scientific studies, applicable U.S. federal environmental legislation, state and provincial overview of agency work, in addition to a brief review of anthropogenic seismic events in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.