Oklahoma, EPA shutting down 32 disposal wells

Oklahoma state and US Environmental Protection Agency regulators said 32 disposal wells in northeastern Oklahoma must shut down following the discovery of a fault line believed to have caused a 5.3-magnitude earthquake on Sept. 3.

The newly discovered fault is near the town of Pawnee, farther east than most previous Oklahoma earthquake activity. The fault has yet to be named.

Jim Marlatt with the oil and gas division of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission said the latest action means wastewater being injected in the area will be reduced to 35,000 b/d from 75,000 b/d.