117 replies to this topic

[AndyN]

 

Quakes are circles. Injection wells are blue down arrows. House in Azle is red star (Actually, Briar but the mailing address is Azle). All the other wells in the vicinity are shown on this Railroad Commission map snippet.

 

This map is missing the 2:05p earthquake from yesterday but does include the 8:30am quake. We felt it but it took many hours before USGS added it its website. This is the second time we've felt a quake that the USGS missed.

Edited by AndyN, 27 November 2013 - 10:13 AM.

[gdvanc]

O/T: Your little red star is about 2 miles from the house where my mom and step-dad lived when I was in high school. Loved that place. Bringing back the memories.

[RD Milhollin]

Thanksgiving day quakes: 3.6 North of Mineral Wells and 2.8 South of Jacksboro. Black Friday tremor 3.1 near Reno. 

 

Area dams are being inspected in light of the recent seismic activity:

 

http://www.star-tele...adlines-default

 

Morris Shepard Dam at Possum Kingdom may be particularly vulnerable. It is an older structure, dating from 1938 and has been leaking for many years now. It is not a concrete-earth fill dam like others of similar  height and length, but uses concrete arch "wing" buttresses, so it is relatively light. At least 25 years ago some repairs to the foundation were attempted with limited success; area boaters active back then will remember the lake level was lowered for a few years while the work and advanced inspection work was being done. In recent years the changed climate has reduced the need for Brazos River Authorities to impose any administrative lake level restrictions. A commenter with Downwinders at Risk states that the last couple of paragraphs may be a little misleading since although a causal link between injection wells associated with modern hydraulic fracturing used in oil and gas extraction has not been "proved" there is significant correlation established by recent studies of the phenomenon.

[RD Milhollin]

S-T Editorial addresses North Texas Quakes and inaction on the part of Railroad Commission:

 

http://www.star-tele...mission-do.html

[RD Milhollin]

20th quake since November 01, again in the Azle area. Schools there are conducting drop-cover-hold drills:

 

http://www.star-tele...es-default?rh=1

 

Earthquakes are a pretty recent phenomenon around here, but I am pretty sure that in areas in which they have been going on for some time people head OUT of the buildings when they start to shake. 

 

This takes me back to elementary school days, when at almost any time of day you could look up and see a fully-loaded B-52 from Carswell ready for the command to turn north and head over the pole to targets in the USSR. We we had to do duck-and-cover drills, euphemistically called "disaster drills" in which the students would crawl under the desks and put their with hands on top their heads and heads between their knees. We (3rd and 4th graders) we were fond of finishing the teacher's instructions with a whispered "… and kiss your ass good-bye".

[RD Milhollin]

Another 3.6 mag Sunday morning near Azle;

 

http://www.star-tele...es-default?rh=1

 

Also, a 4.5 east of Oklahoma City, 25 miles from where the strongest recent OK quake occurred (5.6 mag and linked to injection wells):

 

http://usnews.nbcnew...e-reported?lite

 

http://www.nbcnews.c...quake-2B9113378

[AndyN]

3.7 Monday morning northeast of Mineral Wells.

 

That one on Sunday morning was the most violent motion I have felt (although still relatively small compared to what I imagine a larger quake would feel like).. A very distinct southeast and then northwest jolt.

 

Link to USGS Quake monitoring http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

[dangr.dave]

I live in Springtown and, while I haven't specifically "felt" a quake, I have noticed some strange things such as coming home one day and finding that one of the pictures on my wall was hanging croockedly.  On another occasion, I entered a room and found that one of my children's sippy cups was laying on its side.

[mmiller2002]

How long did it take for "them" to link cancer to cigarettes becuse of the lobby to discredit the research?  However, I think its currently worth it to keep mining natural gas...

[AndyN]

There was one this morning at about 9:39am. It was small and has not yet shown up on the USGS Earthquake map. I was not the only person who noticed it, so I wasn't imagining it.

[AndyN]

USGS finally added it. 2.7 magnitude one km east of Azle.

[RD Milhollin]

8th quake in December:

 

http://www.star-tele...earthquake.html

[johnfwd]

Don't know if I can feel any shaking at my house in southwest Fort Worth near the 183 bridge.  Maybe a book or something falling to the floor when I don't notice.  Does anyone know if this unusual phenomenon (low on richter but the frequency of quakes where you wouldn't expect them) has made the national news?  Maybe an Azle resident calling directly to CBS or NBC, if not as a result of our local affiliates reporting the story to the nets.

[RD Milhollin]

Two more quakes near Reno, and the Railroad Commission (er, Oil and Gas Commission) is coming to Azle.

 

http://www.star-tele...iscuss-the.html

[Volare]

I got to experience my first quake on Christmas Eve while visiting the In-Laws in Edmond OK. It was a 3.7 and the epicenter was less than 5 miles away. It felt and sounded like someone had run into the house next door with a truck. I wouldn't be happy if I felt these things happening at my house in Fort Worth all the time!

[RD Milhollin]

Local frustration with lack of information about earthquakes around Azle apparent in hearing with a Railroad Commission member:

 

http://www.star-tele...kes-yields.html

[RD Milhollin]

From the S-T editorial page; Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter sees himself as both oil and gas regulator AND promoter! I'm sure THAT works just fine.

 

http://www.star-tele...ssion-cant.html

[JBB]

I'm not sure why anyone expected someone from the TRC to break rank and blame this on gas drilling activity at a town hall meeting.

 

And the resident's use of hyperbole - "I'm being driven from my home", "My house is falling down", "This must be what it feels like to be in Iraq or Afghanistan" - doesn't help their case much.

[RD Milhollin]

2.1 Quake near Benbrook. Star-Telegram didn't even carry this… must not be news anymore:

 

http://www.nbcdfw.co...partner=nbcnews

 

Map of recent quakes since November;

 

https://mapsengine.g...Jk.khuVRq6W_y9Q

[RD Milhollin]

Editorial in the S/T advocating less foot-dragging in getting answers for Tarrant residents about cause of earthquakes:

 

http://www.star-tele...-immediate.html

[RD Milhollin]

Texas is going to participate with other states in a conference on the influence of deep injection wells on increased earthquake activity.

 

http://www.bloomberg...ollaborate.html

[RD Milhollin]

Texas' state seismologist is coming online April 1st (no, this is not an April Fools Joke)

 

http://www.star-tele...staff.html?rh=1

 

I think I would feel a little better about this if this scientist was not employed by the Texas Railroad Commission. I don't know if the State General Land Office would be any better with Jerry Patterson in charge (the commissioner who tried to sell Big Bend Ranch State Park to his Dallas hunting buds), maybe the Bureau of Economic Geology within UT would be a better place for non-political science to take place. It may be a bad sign that the seismologist chosen by the TRC is from the Permian oil patch, used to work for Haliburton, and has experience as a "hydraulic frac treater", according to his resume. 

[youngalum]

He also hasn't been a seismologist since 2006 and has been a ranch manager till this job.

 

I question if this guy has the necessary skills since he has been away from this type of science for the last 8 years.

[RD Milhollin]

Azle mayor speaks out about north Texas earthquakes at TRC meeting, urges swift action:

 

http://blogs.star-te...arthquakes.html

[RD Milhollin]

More scientific evidence is pointing to a causal link between hydraulic fracturing of gas wells and earthquakes:

 

http://www.star-tele...g-as-cause.html

 

There is already widespread recognition of public health problems that arise from leaks of poison gasses from the wells, as well as damage to surrounding paved roads from water trucks and depletion of the long-term taxable value of surface property due to construction limits over and around old wellheads. Gas wells would appear to be incompatible with urban living simply due to the potential for failure of the well resulting in massive explosive force and resultant loss of life and property. The long-term effects of wastewater injection deep into the earth are not known, but are allowed to continue just the same, while scarce water resources are used to make the entire process possible. In one Texas city voters stands up and say enough is enough; their quality of life is more important than the exploitative process by large corporations and the short-term gains by landowners:

 

http://www.star-tele...-ok-ban-on.html

 

The corrupt teaming of energy corporation money and the state of Texas, complete with antique 19th century property laws (written by large property owners and oil men), weak legal concern for environment and urban health, and a slick revolving door between oil/gas industry and oil/gas energy regulation, all fueled by nearly unlimited corporate money, is beginning an attack on the people of Denton:

 

http://www.star-tele...ues-denton.html

 

To be continued...

[Volare]

Judging by what happened in the elections the other day, the items you list above are only going to accelerate.

[RD Milhollin]

A magnitude 3.3 in Irving last night, several others in the area recently that did not make the papers...

 

http://www.star-tele...ving-rocks.html

[Austin55]

This one was supposedly noticed by the crowd in attendance at the AAC for the Stars game last night. 

[JBB]

There were also reports on Twitter of it being noticed by people watching high school football at AT&T Stadium. My parents felt it in Everman nearly 30 miles away from the epicenter.

[John T Roberts]

I did not notice it here on the South Side of Fort Worth.

[Dylan]

I didn't feel the earthquake, but that might explain why the small horizontal gap / hole along my bedroom ceiling and wall is wider today than it was just the other day.

[RD Milhollin]

12 quakes since October, most recent today in east Irving, 2.6 magnitude. This has apparently gotten so routine the papers don't report it anymore:

 

http://www.nbcdfw.co...&cm_cat=Article

[renamerusk]

12 quakes since October, most recent today in east Irving, 2.6 magnitude. This has apparently gotten so routine the papers don't report it anymore:

 

 

This is under or next to the future American Airlines Group Headquarters; and is guaranteed to get them some added visibility.

[Austin55]

http://www.wfaa.com/..._medium=twitter

 

Quite a busy day in Irving, I'm sure you've all heard.

[RD Milhollin]

More action in Irving:

 

http://www.nbcdfw.co...&cm_cat=Article

[RD Milhollin]

Another Irving quake today shortly after 5:36 PM; 3.3 Mag.

[JBB]

My wife and I definitely heard and felt the one at 5:36 in Bedford. There was another just after 10:00pm.

[RD Milhollin]

Told Ya:

 

http://www.star-tele...le19146231.html

 

http://www.star-tele...le19258791.html

[cberen1]

meh.  Let me know when somehting bad happens.

[RD Milhollin]

Apparently the RR Commission is aware of the nature of the connection between injection wells and seismic activity, enough so they are considering shutting down the wells closest to the recent quake activity:

 

http://www.star-tele...le19437057.html

[renamerusk]

^Where do you live? I wonder how far outside of the Azle area they can be felt. 

Two more yesterday, a 2.7 and 3.0. Up to 17 for the month.

 

4.0 magnitude today Venus/Mansfield.  Largest yet in North Texas.

Austin, did you feel anything?

[Volare]

4.0 is getting pretty big. I was in a 3.7 in OK that was about 5 miles away, and I thought the house had been run into by a pickup truck.

[renamerusk]

And to know that the current Texas Legislature passed and Abbott will sign a bill to prohibit cities from banning or even regulating "hydraulic fracking".  We will all be paying higher premiums for home insurance.

[Austin55]

I felt nothing, I was driving through far south FW when it happened. I'm disappointed a bit actually, never felt any and what to know what its like. I'd rather they stop altogether though.

[johnfwd]

Latest to be hit is northwest Dallas.  Fault lines are everywhere.  

 

http://www.star-tele...le21340317.html

[RD Milhollin]

XTO is stating that the recent earthquakes in the Reno / Azle area are natural occurrences. Hopefully t5hey will be held to the statnard of showing some scientific evidence for their claims. State seismologist: "No substantial proof" that the North Texas quakes are linked to oil and gas activity. Reno mayor: "The Railroad Commission is too tied to industry to even see how dangerous this is".

 

http://www.star-tele...le23698588.html

[RD Milhollin]

A 2.4 quake in Irving yesterday:

 

http://earthquaketra...x-irving/recent

[RD Milhollin]

1.8:

 

http://www.nbcdfw.co...partner=nbcnews

[RD Milhollin]

Area TxDOT bridge inspectors busy looking for damage from recent quakes in Azle, Venus, and Irving, while engineers are are looking at new design standards to withstand future damage:

 

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article27648586.html 

 

BTW, 2.6 magnitude in Irving Saturday morning.

[RD Milhollin]

Texas Railroad Commission "examiners" have issued a "preliminary" report that says XTO drilling activity, specifically a wastewater disposal well, in the Reno and Azle area was not responsible for the series of earthquakes felt there more than a year ago.

 

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/barnett-shale/article33224445.html