Chesapeake Energy announced the closure of two re-injection wells, one in Cleburne, as a precautionary measure related to recent area earthquakes, according to CBS 11.
The wells, also known as salt water disposal wells, are used to dispose of excess salt water, which is used to fracture, or frac, ground in the gas well drilling process.
The second well is located on the south end of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
Several quakes have rocked areas in and around Cleburne, Grand Prairie and Irving in recent months.
All have been minor, resulting in no recorded damage or injuries.
The incidents caused some to question whether gas well drilling activity might have caused the quakes. Researchers from Southern Methodist University subsequently installed seismographs around the affected towns to study the incidents.
SMU researchers said on Thursday that their findings so far are preliminary, and they have reached no conclusions.
Dr. Brian Stump, SMU chairman of geological sciences, said operations at the [DFW Airport] re-injection well seem more likely to be the cause of quakes in that area than does the fracing process used in drilling wells.
The well at DFW is located about 2,400 feet from a fault line, according to reports.
The Cleburne well also lies near a fault line.
Re-injection wells usually run 10.000 feet or more deep compared with gas wells, which run 6,000 to 7,000 feet deep.
SMU researchers continue to study the Cleburne area and the re-injection well and have yet to draw any conclusions, Stump said.
Chesapeake decided to shut both wells down as a precaution, a move that will not affect gas production, said Julie Wilson, Chesapeake spokeswoman.
“Preliminary results have indicated there is no correlation between natural gas drilling and fracturing activities and the minor earthquakes that have occurred over the last several month in north Texas,” Wilson told Bloomberg news.
Chesapeake decided to shut both wells down as a precautionary measure although the research remains inconclusive, Wilson said, given that researchers have indicated a potential correlation between the DFW well and the quakes, she said.
Cleburne Mayor Ted Reynolds stressed that no findings of possible correlations between earthquakes and the Cleburne well have been announced.
“There seems to be some confusion about that,” Reynolds said. “We haven’t received any data from SMU, and I think they’re going strictly on info from the well out at DFW.”
Cleburne
Chesapeake shuts two re-injection wells down as a precaution
Earthquake research continues
- Cleburne
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
The first-team offense included Alvarado quarterback Kenny West and Burleson quarterback Barrett Cain. -
Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
The second-team offense was led by Cleburne’s Quade Coward and Godley’s Rhett Brawner as the second-team quarterbacks. -
Cleburne pulls away from Burleson, 62-48
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Lady Jackets pick up first District 7-4A win
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Up-and-down Yellow Jackets split Friday’s matches at Little Elm Tourney
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Tuesday marks property tax payment deadline
Johnson County Tax Assessor Scott Porter said that Tuesday is the deadline to pay 2011 property taxes without penalties or interest.
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Lady Jackets setting the bar high in powerlifting
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Cleburne ready for district swim meet
Both Cleburne swim teams are headed to the Mansfield ISD Natatorium on Saturday for the District 15-4A swim meet.
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Number of sex offenders increases
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Council approves trash truck purchases
City plans to switch trash collection from a manual to an automated system should begin in about six months, Cleburne Assistant City Manager David Esquivel said Tuesday night.
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