Railroad Commission of Texas said it will suspend permits to inject wastewater deep underground by oil and gas operators in an area of west Texas where there was a 5.3 magnitude earthquake. The new rule will take effect Friday after the quake south of Mentone Nov. 8. Commission staff said deep injection “is likely contributing to recent seismic activity.”
Houston Chronicle said the rule closes a key injection area for operators such as Chevron and Coterra, “forcing them to reconsider how to handle their wastewater … to maintain valuable oil and gas production in the region.” Laura Capper, director of the Produced Water Society and principal of the consulting firm EnergyMakers Advisory Group, told the Chronicle the new ban displaces about 106,000 barrels per day of wastewater injection.