Seismic activity in southern New Mexico has increased significantly in recent years, attracting the attention of oil regulators and scientists, according to a report by Capital and Main.
Following reports that this increase was possibly triggered by oil and gas industry injection wells in the Permian Basin, Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D-Albuquerque) questioned how long it would be until the oil industry produced more tremors in the state.
"How long can the geologic stratum take all that pressure? Data shows rise in New Mexico earthquakes likely triggered by the oil industry," Lopez wrote in a tweet.
Between 2018 and 2020, minor quakes of magnitude 1 or higher increased from about 40 to around 50, while those of magnitude 2 or greater increased from zero to at least 158, according to statistics from the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources,
Additionally, data shows 158 earthquakes occurred in New Mexico alone between Jan. 7, 2021 and June 28, 2021, with 146 occurring in June alone. The New Mexico Sun had attempted to collect data through Sept. 30, 2021, but it was not available.
