%A M. Weingarten
%A Shemin Ge
%A Jonathan W. Godt
%A B. A. Bekins
%A Justin L. Rubinstein
%J Science
%T High-rate injection is associated with the increase in U.S. mid-continent seismicity
%X An unprecedented increase in earthquakes in the U.S. mid-continent began in 2009. Many of these earthquakes have been documented as induced by wastewater injection. We examine the relationship between wastewater injection and U.S. mid-continent seismicity using a newly assembled injection well database for the central and eastern United States. We find that the entire increase in earthquake rate is associated with fluid injection wells. High-rate injection wells (>300,000 barrels per month) are much more likely to be associated with earthquakes than lower-rate wells. At the scale of our study, a well’s cumulative injected volume, monthly wellhead pressure, depth, and proximity to crystalline basement do not strongly correlate with earthquake association. Managing injection rates may be a useful tool to minimize the likelihood of induced earthquakes.
%N 6241
%P 1336-1340
%V 348
%D 2015
%I American Association for the Advancement of Science
%R doi:10.1126/science.aab1345
%L epos1758