The Oklahoma oil and gas regulators have launched an investigation into a series of earthquakes that rocked the area near Oklahoma City overnight and into the early hours of Saturday, according to staff reports. The most significant among the seismic events was a quake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale. The swarm of earthquakes has sparked concerns over the connection between such seismic activities and the local petroleum industry.
1. Oklahoma's oil and gas regulators are investigating a series of earthquakes that occurred near Oklahoma City.
2. The tremors occurred overnight and into the early hours of Saturday.
3. The most severe earthquake in this series measured 4.3 on the Richter scale.
4. The unusual frequency and intensity of the earthquakes have created public concern and scientific interest.
5. The regulators' investigation will seek to understand the potential causes of these seismic activities, particularly any connection to the local petroleum industry.
Oklahoma experienced 903 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or higher in 2015, up from just 109 in 2013, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the state's oil and gas regulators, launched an investigation following an unusual series of earthquakes around Oklahoma City. The tremors occurred overnight and into the early hours of Saturday. The most substantial quake recorded in this swarm reached a magnitude of 4.3, according to staff reports. The uncharacteristically high frequency and intensity of these earthquakes have raised both public concern and scientific interest. As such, regulators have begun an in-depth analysis to ascertain the nature and potential causes of these seismic activities.