Oklahoma agency reveals new well plans in the Cushing area

     CUSHING, Okla. (AP) – The Oklahoma Corporation Commission says it is imposing new operating guidelines for oil and gas wastewater disposal wells in an area of north-central Oklahoma that has experienced frequent earthquakes.

      The commission says the plans were developed following an analysis of disposal well and seismicity data in the Cushing area. Officials say the guidelines will change the operation of certain oil and gas wastewater disposal wells in the area and may be altered as more data becomes available.

      The plan calls for two disposal wells to cease operations entirely and for three others to reduce their disposal volumes.

      The Oklahoma Geological Survey has said it is likely that many recent earthquakes in the state have been being triggered by the injection of wastewater from oil and natural gas drilling operations.