Why did Lubbock feel two earthquakes in one week?

LUBBOCK, Texas — If you're wondering why so many earthquakes have been felt in the area lately, you're not alone. Recent seismic activity has raised concerns and questions among residents of Lubbock and the surrounding area.

A 4.9-magnitude earthquake on Monday marked the start of a series of seismic events in northeastern Scurry County and northwestern Fisher County. As of 12:15 p.m. Friday, a total of 71 earthquakes had been recorded. According to KLBK Chief Meteorologist Jacob Riley, Friday’s 5.1-magnitude quake was the 62nd earthquake of magnitude 1.0 or greater to occur in the area in the past week.

Residents in Snyder and Hermleigh reported damage to their homes from Friday's quake, and others reported feeling tremors in Lubbock and surrounding areas.

Lubbock Mayor Issues Statement Regarding Decision to Cut Funds for First Friday Art Trail

According to Robert Skomal, a research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, the quakes are likely caused by oil and gas operations in the area. Lubbock and the surrounding area have a long history of earthquakes caused by oil and gas operations, dating back at least to the 1970s.

“The earthquakes in the region were first triggered by a process called ‘water dumping’, where water is injected into fields where production has declined. The purpose of water dumping is to raise fluid pressure and allow additional oil production,” Skomal said. “The earthquakes of the early 2000s are thought to have been triggered by a similar process where carbon dioxide (instead of water) was injected to further boost field productivity.”

Dr. Harold Gurrola of the Department of Geosciences at Texas Tech University explained how oil and gas activities can trigger earthquakes. He said: “Oil and gas extraction methods can trigger earthquakes by injecting fluids into the ground, which lubricates faults and reduces friction, allowing the release of accumulated stresses in the form of seismic activity.”

City officials say feedback on Lubbock's spray pads has been positive since opening.

Although human activity is a significant factor, it is not the only cause. The recent 4.9 magnitude earthquake occurred at a depth of 7 km, deeper than usual for human activity, suggesting natural fault movement rather than a direct result of oil and gas extraction.

Gurrola pointed to several critical factors:

The limited understanding of the fault systems in the Lubbock area makes it difficult to fully predict and understand the dynamics of these induced earthquakes. When a section of fault breaks, it transfers stress to deeper parts of the fault, which can lead to more seismic activity. The increase in earthquake frequency over recent decades may have been influenced by modern oil and gas extraction methods, but it is not due to a single factor. Human activity can trigger an earthquake, but it is the result of stresses that have built up over time.

“The actual danger to humans may be more related to the type of building than to the size of the earthquake that is likely to occur here,” Gurrola said.

The most durable structures are those built of steel, wood, or concrete with reinforcing bars, while the least durable are those built of brick (real brick, not wood with brick veneer).

Although the recent earthquakes are believed to be the result of natural fault movements and human activities, further analysis is needed to determine the exact cause. The combination of these factors complicates the situation, requiring ongoing study and monitoring to understand and mitigate the risks associated with seismic activity in the region.

“However, given the absence of natural seismic activity in the area and the long history of induced earthquakes, it is likely that these recent earthquakes were also caused by oil and gas operations,” Skomal concluded.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos