Official: Oklahoma is now No. 1 earthquake area in the world

ENID, Okla. – In recent years, Oklahomans have become accustomed to a bit of rocking and rolling in the form of earthquakes.

Now, Oklahoma appears to be the earthquake capital of the world, according to a spokesman with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

“This is an Oklahoma issue that is an earthquake issue. It is nothing more and it’s nothing less,” said Matt Skinner, Oklahoma Corporation Commission spokesman. “For us, it’s an oil and gas issue as well, because that’s what we have jurisdiction over that the seismologists say pertains to earthquakes.”

In February, the Center for Investigative Reporting revealed that Oklahoma had three times as many earthquakes as California in 2014.

Earlier this year, Gov. Mary Fallin acknowledged there is a direct correlation between increased seismic activity and disposal wells.

Scientists say it’s not hydraulic fracking that’s causing the earthquakes. They say it’s wastewater disposal.

With the jump in the number of earthquakes, the corporation has ordered several wells to reduce the amount they inject.

“Based on the data, it would appear that even if you do the right thing. It’s going to take a long time. There’s no quick off switch,” Skinner told the Enid News & Eagle.