SMU Scientists Link Earthquakes to Oil & Gas Exploration

The exact conclusion of the scientists: “high volumes of wastewater injection combined with saltwater (brine) extraction from natural gas wells is the most likely cause of earthquakes occurring near Azle, Texas, from late 2013 through spring 2014.” Scientists like details.

Multiple scientists from multiple organizations participated in this publication, including scientists from:

  • SMU’s Department of Earth Sciences in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
  • the U.S. Geological Survey
  • the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics and
  • the University of Texas Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering. 

That’s a lot of very big brains that made very big news.

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