@article{ref1,
title="Induced seismicity. High-rate injection is associated with the increase in U.S. mid-continent seismicity",
journal="Science",
year="2015",
author="Weingarten, M. and Ge, S. and Godt, J. W. and Bekins, B. A. and Rubinstein, J. L.",
volume="348",
number="6241",
pages="1336-1340",
abstract="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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0036-8075",
doi="10.1126/science.aab1345",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aab1345"
}