A 5.0 magnitude earthquake shook the grounds of West Texas on a recent Friday evening, marking one of the most powerful seismic events in the state's recorded history. The quake had an epicenter approximately 33 miles northwest of Toyah, Texas, near the border of Culberson and Reeves counties, striking at 11:23 p.m. CST according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Reports indicate that the tremor was felt more than 150 miles away, extending its reach all the way to El Paso and even some cities in eastern New Mexico, as noted by CBS Austin.
Despite the quake's magnitude, there have been no immediate reported deaths or injuries, and economic impacts are expected to be minimal. Shaking intensity varied across the region ranging from "weak" to "light," impacting an estimated 950,000 individuals. Three smaller aftershocks followed the initial earthquake, with the National Weather Service El Paso querying the public about their experience via social media platform X approximately 20 minutes after the major seismic event occurred, according to the Texas Tribune.
This seismic event ties in with the sixth strongest earthquake in the history of Texas, as indicated by data from the website Earthquake Track mentioned by CBS Austin. It follows closely behind two magnitude 5.1 earthquakes that hit the region within the last six months, both recorded as the fifth strongest in the state. A pattern is emerging with increasing numbers and intensities of earthquakes in West Texas, including one in November 2023 that matched the fourth strongest with a magnitude of 5.2.
Increasingly, scientists are linking the rise in earthquake activity in the Permian Basin to hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. This process known for enhancing oil and gas extraction in the most productive region of the state introduces high-pressure water into the ground, influencing fluid pressures within faults which, may, in turn, lead to more frequent seismic activities, CBS Austin reports. The deposition of wastewater from the fracking process is likely a significant contributor to the uptick in tremors since 2000, as detailed in a 2021 study by the USGS and University of Texas researchers. Furthermore, The Texas Tribune notes, that there are over 20 deep injection wells in an area that has seen a slight decrease from 2022, owing to the Railroad Commission of Texas' efforts to mitigate seismic risks related to oil and gas operations.
Post-event, the Railroad Commission, which oversees the state oil and gas industry, has intervened to address the potential link between industry practices and seismic events. The Commission's staff expanded areas where water injections could be restricted and has requested companies to reduce the volumes of water they inject underground, particularly after large quakes challenge the resilience of West Texas, as The Texas Tribune reported.
