The Permian’s Proactive Approach to Seismicity

Wed, October 02, 2024

Understanding seismic activity in the Permian Basin has been a longstanding focus for regulators, academics and the oil and natural gas industry. Researchers have linked various human activities to induced seismicity, including infrastructure and construction projects, energy production, and activities during large population gatherings. For example, the construction of dams and water reservoirs has been associated with seismicity due to the increased water pressure exerted on the ground. While oil and gas activities are also connected to induced seismicity, it is important to note that Permian oil and gas operators work diligently to reduce the risk of seismic events.

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a well-stimulation method used in approximately wells across the United States. This process has been instrumental in enabling the industry to meet rising energy demands. Over several decades, hydraulic fracturing has also become more efficient, using innovation and advanced technologies to refine its technique and overall safety.

Oil and gas wells stimulated by fracking tend to produce large amounts of oilfield brine or produced water. Regulators, academics, and industry have collaborated to improve the disposal of produced water. To date, the safest and most common disposal method in the Permian remains reinjecting produced water above or below the oil and gas-bearing formations. While research has determined that this method has the potential to induce seismic activity, the risk is low for injection-induced seismic events thanks to mitigation efforts by Texas industry to protect surrounding communities without limiting critical energy development.

For example, the Texas Seismological Network and Seismology Research (TexNet) – a state-funded agency at the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology that is staffed by the university – was created to monitor seismic activity in the state and work to prevent earthquakes in the future. The data collected by the program has helped guide industry practices to mitigate and reduce the effects of potential injection-related seismicity. Valuable tools such as the TexNet Injection Volume Reporting Tool have enabled transparency surrounding injection wells and provided real-time data to the industry, academics, and the public. Additionally, the Railroad Commission of Texas has developed seismic response plans to provide guidelines for response and to investigate seismic events to inform regulatory decisions.

Texas oil and natural gas operators are doing their part through continued investment and actively mitigating seismicity. A prime example is the industry’s holistic approach to water management, under which, according to the Texas Produced Water Consortium, companies recycle produced in the Delaware and Midland basins daily—reducing reliance on freshwater sources. Operators, academic researchers, and regulators also collaborate in the to collect high-quality data on earthquakes in Texas, analyze induced seismicity and its associated risks, and develop robust application for mitigation. The group brings together academics alongside more than 30 Permian operators, the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division of the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, and the Railroad Commission of Texas.

With Texas leading the world’s energy production, Texas producers understand their role in continuing to produce needed energy sources in a responsible way. More importantly Texas producers are ready to meet the challenges ahead to further reduce risks. While induced seismicity is a possibility, the industry remains confident that seismicity can be managed through continued collaborative efforts with regulators and academics.