Well Stopped After Central Oklahoma Hit With 3.1 Magnitude Quake

An oil well operator is stopping operations following a small earthquake in central Oklahoma, the fourth such earthquake in less than three weeks.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission says Newfield/Encana paused a well completion operation after a magnitude 3.1 temblor was recorded at 4:39 a.m. Thursday near Kingfisher, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Oklahoma City. Regulators say the company ceased all drilling after the U.S. Geological Survey recorded several more earthquakes in the area while operations were paused.

The USGS says another 3.1 magnitude quake and two 2.6 magnitude quakes were recorded in the same area, all on July 9. No injuries or damage have been reported.

Thousands of earthquakes in Oklahoma in recent years have been linked to the underground injection of wastewater from oil and gas production.