The USGS map of quakes registered 2.5-magnitude and above in just the past 30 days
Sunday morning a 3.3-magnitude earthquake rumbled through the outskirts of Azle. There was a repeat Monday morning.
The U.S. Geological Survey says that at 7:11 a.m., another 3.3-magnitude quake occurred one mile southwest of Azle. At this point, you would be forgiven for having lost count of the number of quakes that have occurred near Eagle Mountain Lake since November 1. It’s at least the 29th; some have put the number above 30, taking into account minor quakes registering below 2.5 on the Richter magnitude scale.
This one was felt from Azle to Boyd to Fort Worth to Weatherford.
Earlier this month Southern Methodist University announced that seismologists are deploying monitors in and around Azle to study the seemingly nonstop parade of quakes. ““How long the monitors remain depends on continued seismicity,” said associate professor of geophysics Heather DeShon, who will be leading the research team. “We’re thinking a few months.”
Many have speculated that the cause of the quakes are the injection wells used to dispose of wastewater from gas drilling. The Texas Railroad Commission — which regulates the oil and gas industry — isn’t ready to accept that answer, despite the fact these quakes are occurring in a particularly busy stretch of the Barnett Shale.
“When earthquakes are reported, our staff will determine if saltwater disposal wells are nearby and then inspect the facilities to ensure that they are in compliance with their Railroad Commission permit conditions,” commission spokeswoman Ramona Nye said in a statement issued earlier this month. “Please keep in mind, that some reported earthquake epicenters in Texas have not been near saltwater disposal or injection wells.”