Latest US Geological Survey Risk Map Show Oklahoma has Highest Chance of Man-Made Earthquakes to Occur

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According to the latest US Geological Survey (USGS) report, Oklahoma has the highest risk of suffering a man-made earthquake. Besides Oklahoma, the USGS quake risk map also shows that parts of central California have 5 to 12 percent chance of damaging earthquakes to occur in 2017.

The Daily Mail reports that Oklahoma, based on the annual national earthquake outlook released by US Geological Survey or USGS, is the most at risk location in America for man-made earthquakes caused oil and gas drilling. The man-made earthquakes are caused by human activities involving huge volumes of wastewater from oil and gas drilling.

According to SHTFplan.com, Oklahoma, as per past US Geological Survey or USGS reports, ranked at the second lowest level. That is before the Obama Administration permitted the expansion of oil industry in certain parts of the US.

The data from US Geological Survey USGS from 1980 to 2000 reveals that earthquakes having a 2.7 magnitude or higher in Oklahoma occur only twice a year. The latest report, however, shows that the number increased dramatically, from 2500 in 2015 to 4000 in 2015. Because of this, the forecasted chance of damaging ground-shaking quake in Oklahoma is similar to the chances of natural earthquakes to occur in high-hazard areas in California.

Seismologists suggest that Oklahoma's earthquake activities coincides, and are likely triggered, by the increase in wastewater injections from oil and gas drilling. Mark Petersen, seismic hazard chief of USGS, says that the recent regulation in Oklahoma regarding the waste water injection aims to reduce the risk of man-made earthquakes in the region.

The injection of fluids causes changes in pressure which weaken a fault, bringing the fault closer to failure. However, most injection wells do not trigger felt earthquakes suggesting that there are a number of likely combinations that trigger these man-made quakes.

The annual US Geological Survey USGS report states that San Francisco Bay area near Gilroy has the highest natural risk of a huge earthquake due to the San Andreas fault. A number of naturally elevated quake risk are situated through portions of California, Seattle, and the location in which Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Illinois come together.