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Reactivated faulting near Cushing, Oklahoma: Increased potential for a triggered earthquake in an area of United States strategic infrastructure
Author(s) -
McNamara D. E.,
Hayes G. P.,
Benz H. M.,
Williams R. A.,
McMahon N. D.,
Aster R. C.,
Holland A.,
Sickbert T.,
Herrmann R.,
Briggs R.,
Smoczyk G.,
Bergman E.,
Earle P.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2015gl064669
Subject(s) - induced seismicity , seismology , geology , moment tensor , fault (geology) , slip (aerodynamics) , spatial distribution , cauchy stress tensor , oceanography , physics , deformation (meteorology) , remote sensing , classical mechanics , thermodynamics
In October 2014 two moderate‐sized earthquakes ( Mw 4.0 and 4.3) struck south of Cushing, Oklahoma, below the largest crude oil storage facility in the world. Combined analysis of the spatial distribution of earthquakes and regional moment tensor focal mechanisms indicate reactivation of a subsurface unnamed and unmapped left‐lateral strike‐slip fault. Coulomb failure stress change calculations using the relocated seismicity and slip distribution determined from regional moment tensors, allow for the possibility that the Wilzetta‐Whitetail fault zone south of Cushing, Oklahoma, could produce a large, damaging earthquake comparable to the 2011 Prague event. Resultant very strong shaking levels (MMI VII) in the epicentral region present the possibility of this potential earthquake causing moderate to heavy damage to national strategic infrastructure and local communities.