OKLAHOMA CITY – While earthquakes are rattling many Oklahomans’ nerves, state leaders say more research needs to be done.
Recently, residents in Oklahoma and Logan counties have filed lawsuits against oil companies due to earthquake damage at their homes.
Public forums have been flooded with angry citizens, demanding a change.
On Thursday, Gov. Mary Fallin announced that she approved the transfer of nearly $1.4 million from the state emergency fund to go toward the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and the Oklahoma Geological Survey.
According to a news release, Fallin recently asked the commission and the Coordinating Council on Seismic Activity to determine what is needed to understand the earthquakes impacting the state.
The group gave her a list of needs that totaled $1.387 million.
“I immediately made arrangements for the Corporation Commission and OGS to receive the money necessary to meet those needs,” Fallin said. “I’m committed to funding seismic research, bringing on line advanced technology and more staff to fully support our regulators as they take meaningful action on earthquakes.”
The $387,000 given to the OCC will provide the following:
- Information technology upgrades
- Two geologists, clerical worker and geophysicist consultant
- Senior-level oil and gas attorney.
OGS will use its $1 million to do the following:
- Installation of additional permanent seismic monitoring stations
- Update seismic monitoring network and software
- Analyze the response of seismicity to regulations placed on water injection wells
- Characterize the properties of the Arbuckle formation and basement rock in a complex fluid reservoir
- Workshops to share research results and define needs for additional studies.
“I am very pleased the Governor identified these funds for urgently needed improvements to the Corporation Commission system for data on salt water disposal wells. This is a good step toward the desperate need to implement 21st century technology at the Corporation Commission. The additional funds for the Oklahoma Geological Survey will hopefully expedite the filling of critical staff positions and provide more research on earthquakes in Oklahoma,” said House Speaker Jeff Hickman. “In addition to ensuring these agencies have this emergency funding, I have filed HB 3158 to make certain there is no doubt that the Corporation Commission has full authority and jurisdiction to take any immediate action necessary in an emergency situation to shut down or reduce volumes at disposal wells. I appreciate the Governor’s action today and I look forward to working on HB 3158 as well as the long-term technology needs at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission during the upcoming session.”