Oil, gas industry warns against moratorium

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)- Representatives of the oil and natural gas industry warn that issuing a moratorium on wastewater disposal wells could hurt Oklahoma’s economy.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is investigating whether the wells are triggering earthquakes in the state.

The Oklahoman reports that Oklahoma recorded 585 earthquakes last year. The Oklahoma Geological Survey says there have been more than 500 earthquakes so far this year.

The commission has designated part or all of 21 counties as "areas of interest," where operators have been told to reduce the depth of disposal wells in the Arbuckle formation, which is the deepest layer of sedimentary rock.

Representative Cory Williams says that current efforts don’t go far enough. He has called for a 12-month moratorium on disposal wells within the "areas of interest."