INDUCED SEISMICITY

One unintended consequence of wastewater injection is induced seismicity. While most earthquakes are naturally-occurring geologic phenomena, seismicity can be triggered by injection of fluids into the subsurface, increasing the pore pressure in the rock that effectively reduces the natural friction on a fault. In Colorado, examples include induced seismicity from enhanced oil recovery in the Rangely Colorado oil field in the 1960-70s, brine disposal to control Colorado River salinity near Paradox, Colorado in the 1990s, and liquid waste disposal at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal in the 1960s. More recent earthquakes have been attributed to wastewater disposal wells in Greeley, Colorado and various other states including Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Introduction to Earthquakes A deeper look at what happens deep in the earth for induced seismicity to occur.  Learn more

Oil and Gas IS A small fraction of disposal wells are associated with seismic events in the U.S.  Learn more

Other IS Earthquakes induced by geothermal development, mining, reservoirs, and more  Learn more

Regulating Underground Injection Federal and State regulations of Class II injection wells  Learn more

Seismic Damage and Communities Damage from induced earthquakes and how they affect communities.  Learn more

IS Liability Mitigating impacts of induced seismicity through financial assurances, private insurance, and litigation.  Learn more

Funding for the Induced Seismicity webpages has been provided by the National Science Foundation through the CU Collaboratory for Induced Seismicity