Sandridge Energy Inc., Oklahoma City, agreed to reduce the volume of wastewaste going into disposal wells in the Medford and Cherokee-Byron areas. After negotiating with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC), Sandridge agreed to convert some disposal wells to research.
OCC has issued numerous directives to various disposal well operators in response to frequent earthquakes in the state. The agreement reached with Sandridge adverted legal actions against the company, OCC said.
In December 2015, Sandridge refused a request from regulators to close 7 disposal wells. But the company now plans to stop using those wells by early February.
Three disposal wells will be closed entirely, OCC said. Four other wells, plus another previously unused well, will be monitored by the Oklahoma Geological Survey for earthquake research.
In addition, Sandridge also agreed to reduce the amount of wastewater injected into about 40 other wells, OCC said.
Separately, Sandridge Exploration & Production LLC was named in a lawsuit filed by two homeowners from Guthrie and Choctaw. The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in Oklahoma State District Court in Logan County, also named Chesapeake Operating LLC, New Dominion LLC, and Devon Energy Production Co. LP.
The residents said their real estate property suffered damages from earthquakes, which they blamed on injection well operations. In a class-action lawsuit, they asked for compensatory and punitive damages and a jury trial.
A different lawsuit filed in Oklahoma State District Court in Oklahoma County named Devon Energy Production Co. LP, Sundance Energy Oklahoma LCC, Grayhorse Operating Inc., Pedestal Oil Co. Inc., New Dominion LLC, RC Taylor Operating Co. LLC, TNT Operating Co., White Operating Co., Rainbo Service Co., Marjo Operating Mid-Continent LLC, Special Energy Corp., and Northport Production Co.
That lawsuit was filed by several individuals also claiming property damage from earthquakes. The lawsuit said defendants used disposal wells in an unsafe manner.
In asking for permanent injunctive relief along with damages, the lawsuit claimed negligence, saying the disposal wells are near faults in proximity to populated areas.