Corporation Commission To Detail New Developments In Pawnee Earthquake

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission’s Oil and Gas Division is holding a news conference at 3 p.m. today to detail new developments regarding the Pawnee earthquake area response.

The U.S. Geological Survey upgraded the magnitude of the September 3, 2016, earthquake from a 5.6 to a 5.8 on the Richter Scale on September 7.

9/7/16 Related Story: USGS Upgrades Pawnee County Earthquake To 5.8 Magnitude

The OCC is in the process of implementing a mandatory directive to shut down all Arbuckle disposal wells within a 725-square-mile area, based on the location of the Pawnee earthquake, according to the OCC website.

The area includes 211 square miles of Osage County, which is outside of OCC jurisdiction, but it's working with the Environmental Protection Agency, which has sole jurisdiction over disposal wells in Osage County.

The EPA has confirmed there are 17 Arbuckle disposal wells in the 211 square mile area under EPA jurisdiction, and that all the wells are being shut down.  

9/3/16 Related Story: Disposal Wells Near Pawnee Earthquake Ordered To Shut Down

The USGS reports the quake struck at 7:02 a.m. about eight miles northwest of Pawnee. 

The News On 6 continues to follow this story and will have updates at NewsOn6.com.