Expert Says Oklahoma Earthquakes Easing Over Last 3 Months

While the number of earthquakes is continuing to skyrocket, the new director of the Oklahoma Geological Survey says there has been a modest decline over the last three months.

Jeremy Boak was one of several experts who testified Friday about the increase in earthquakes in Oklahoma before a joint House and Senate committee. The rise in earthquakes has been linked to disposal wells where wastewater from oil and gas production is injected deep underground.

Boak says the average number of earthquakes of magnitude 2.8 or higher recorded in Oklahoma has dropped from five per day to 3.5 per day over the last 90 days.

Still, Boak says data suggests there is a 42 percent chance of a 5.5-magnitude quake occurring in Oklahoma within the next four years.