Energy

Oklahoma Quake Decline: Fear Of Drilling, Or Lack Of Demand?

Published October 4, 2016 at 11:45 AM CDT

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This Nov. 6, 2011 file photo, Chad Devereaux works to clear up bricks that fell from three sides of his in-laws' home in Sparks, Okla, after two earthquakes hit the area in less than 24 hours. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

Another earthquake shook Oklahoma today. It measured 3.1 on the Richter scale, and struck just after 7 a.m. near Stroud, 65 miles from Oklahoma City.

That’s one of more than 500 this year, compared to California’s 156. Scientists have linked Oklahoma’s sharp increase in earthquakes in recent years to the underground injection of wastewater during oil and gas production.

Here & Now‘s Robin Young checks in with Joe Wertz, KGOU’s StateImpact reporter, about Oklahoma’s earthquake trends.

With reporting from the Associated Press.

Guest

Joe Wertz, reporter for StateImpact Oklahoma. He tweets @joewertz.