Spring Break
Sizing up seismic activity
By: Julie Rambin
Issue date: 6/25/09 Section: News
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"It's a little unnerving," said Cleburne Mayor Ted Reynolds. "We've had five in recent days."
The earthquakes have been between 2.0 and 3.0 magnitude - just enough to be felt, but not enough to damage property, Reynolds said.
"Some people haven't felt them at all. No damage, no injuries," he said. "Most people are curious rather than scared."
Beneath Cleburne is the Barnett Shale formation, one of the largest onshore natural gas fields in the nation. In the last several years, the city has received between $20 million and $25 million in drilling royalties, and some people are asking whether the drilling and the earthquakes are connected, Reynolds said.
"We have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the drilling company so far," Reynolds said. "We hope that's not what it is."
Geophysicists from Southern Methodist University were interested in the possible causes of the earthquakes, and have begun a research study of the area, said geophysics research projects director Chris Hayward.
"Cleburne was very interested in finding out more about it and we were very interested in doing the research," Hayward said. "We'll try to decide where the earthquakes are, how deep they are. Right now we don't have any evidence one way or another. We just don't know."
There is currently no evidence to show that natural gas drilling causes earthquakes, Hayward said.
"There are some papers in the State of Texas talking about induced seismicity in West Texas, suggesting that if you drill [an oil] field for a long period of time, you might induce earthquakes," Hayward said.
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