Edmond Residents Latest to Sue Oil and Gas Companies Over Earthquake

• Joe Wertz
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Joe Wertz was a reporter and managing editor for StateImpact Oklahoma from 2011-2019. He reported on energy and environment issues for national NPR audiences and other national outlets. He previously worked as a managing editor, assistant editor and staff reporter at several major Oklahoma newspapers and studied journalism at the University of Central Oklahoma.

A Devon Energy disposal well near Stillwater, Okla.

Fourteen Edmond residents filed a lawsuit Monday against a dozen oil and gas companies, “claiming their saltwater disposal wells were in part to blame for earthquakes that hit central Oklahoma in recent weeks,” The Oklahoman‘s Paul Monies reports.

The lawsuit, filed in Oklahoma County District Court, said the companies acted negligently and their use of disposal wells constituted an “ultrahazardous activity.” The nine homeowners said disposal wells operated by the companies “caused or contributed” to earthquakes.

The companies named in the lawsuit: Devon Energy Production, Grayhorse Operating, Marjo Operating Mid-Continent, New Dominion, Northport Production, Pedestal Oil, Rainbo Service, R.C. Taylor Operating, Special Energy, Sundance Energy, TNT Operating and White Operating.

The lawsuit stems from widely felt 4.3 and 4.2-magnitude earthquakes that struck near Edmond on Dec. 29 and Jan. 1 near Edmond. In their petition, the companies of operating disposals near Edmond and Oklahoma City “under conditions that Defendants knew or should have known would result in an increased likelihood that earthquakes or other adverse environmental impacts would occur, thereby unreasonably endangering the health, safety and welfare of persons and property, including Plaintiffs and others.”

Monies:

The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to stop the use of 16 saltwater disposal wells operated by the energy companies.

“Mother Earth has spoken, and Oklahoma is in a dangerous, dangerous position,” said attorney Garvin Isaacs, who represents the Edmond-area homeowners along with David Poarch. “We must address this.”

Scientists say most of Oklahoma’s earthquake surge is linked to wastewater pumped into disposal wells.

The lawsuit adds to a growing list of quake-related court actions in Oklahoma, including two cases making their way through state courts: a personal injury and a property damage case stemming from the 5.6-magnitude quake near the town of Prague in 2011.

Additionally, the Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club and national environmental defense group Public Justice in October sent letters to four energy companies warning of a federal lawsuit over earthquakes they say are violating national pollution laws.