Oil and gas companies operating injection wells in certain areas must pull back under a new directive from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
The commission expanded its area of interest when it comes to induced seismic activity around the Arbuckle formation.
"For the most part, the biggest area is north central Oklahoma, and it extends east and west from there," said spokesman Matt Skinner. "East into Pawnee County, and west all the way to Woodward."
Energy companies with injection wells near the Arbuckle formation have until August 14 to prove they aren’t injecting fracking wastewater below it.
"If they are, then they have to 'plug back' — that is, reduce their depth to no more than 100 feet above the base of the Arbuckle formation," Skinner said.
Growing evidence points to disposal below the Arbuckle increasing the risk of earthquakes.
The commission issued a directive in March saying high-volume wells had to reduce their operations by half, but earthquakes haven’t slowed.
