A wastewater disposal well operator has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit filed after two earthquakes in 2016 caused damage near Pawnee and Cushing.
Although it disputes and denies the allegations made by the plaintiffs, Eagle Road Oil LLC agreed to pay $850,000 to settle its portion of the lawsuit brought by commercial and residential real estate owners following the two earthquakes, one of which set a state record for the largest magnitude quake.
Pawnee County Associate District Judge Patrick Pickerill granted preliminary approval of the proposed class-action settlement on Thursday.
A lawsuit filed Nov. 17, 2016, alleged that a swarm of seismic activity in the Pawnee and Cushing areas were caused by wastewater disposal well activity.
A state-record 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Pawnee on Sept. 3, 2016, damaged hundreds of structures in the area.
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The settlement agreement also covers damage caused by a 5.0 quake near Cushing on Nov. 6 that year.
After the 5.8 quake, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and federal Environmental Protection Agency enacted restrictions that indefinitely shut down 32 wastewater disposal wells and reduced volumes at another 35 wells.
The settlement resolves all claims against Eagle Road Oil resulting from earthquakes between November 2014 and Nov. 6, 2016.
The class of plaintiffs includes anyone who suffered damage from the earthquakes within a 50-mile radius of Pawnee.
The lawsuit will continue against the remaining defendants, Cummings Oil Co., Territory Resources LLC and EnerVest Operating LLC.
Pickerill will consider final approval of the settlement following a Sept. 15 fairness hearing.
Those who had earthquake damage during the time and area in question may join the lawsuit by submitting a claim by Dec. 29 at kccsecure.com/PawneeEarthquakeSettlement/Claimant.
Those who object to the proposed settlement may do so by Sept. 5, which is also the deadline to opt out of the settlement agreement.
For more information regarding the settlement, call 1-888-890-6717.
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Throwback Tulsa: Milestone 5.7 earthquake recorded in Oklahoma
On Nov. 6, 2011, a milestone 5.7 magnitude earthquake recorded in Lincoln County in central Oklahoma.
It was topped five years later by a 5.8 magnitude temblor on Sept. 3, 2016, which led then-Gov. Mary Fallin to issue a state of emergency for Pawnee County, and state oil and gas industry regulators to order the shutdown of disposal wells in a more than 700-square-mile area near the quake’s epicenter.
Insurers paid out $1.5 million in claims related to the 2011 Prague earthquake, which at the time was the most in seismicity damages paid in Oklahoma for a single event, according to Insurance Department data analyzed by the Tulsa World.
Here are the largest earthquakes in the state by county, according to the Oklahoma Geological Survey.
1. Pawnee
1. Pawnee County, Magnitude: 5.8
Date: Sept. 3, 2016
2. Lincoln
2. Lincoln County, Magnitude: 5.7
Date: Nov. 6, 2011
3. Canadian
3. Canadian County, Magnitude: 5.5
Date: April 9, 1952
4. Woods
4. Woods County, Magnitude: 5.1
Date: Feb. 13, 2016
5. Payne
5. Payne County, Magnitude: 5
Date: Nov. 7, 2016
6. County n/a (southeastern Oklahoma)
6. southeastern Oklahoma, Magnitude: 4.9
Dates: Oct. 22, 1882
7 (tie) Lincoln
7. (tie) Lincoln County, Magnitude: 4.8
Dates: Nov. 5, 2011 and Nov. 8, 2011
9 (tie) Woods
9. (tie) Woods County, Magnitude: 4.7
Date: Jan. 7, 2016
9 (tie) Alfalfa
9. (tie) Alfalfa County, Magnitude: 4.7
Dates: Nov. 19, 2015
9 (tie) Grant
9. (tie) Grant County, Magnitude: 4.7
Dates: Nov. 30, 2015
12 Garfield
Magnitude: 4.6
Dates: April 7, 2018
13 (tie) Grant
Magnitude: 4.5
Dates: May 17, 2019
13 (tie) Logan
Magnitude: 4.5
Dates: July 27, 2015
13 (tie) Oklahoma
Magnitude: 4.5
Dates: Dec. 7, 2013
13 (tie) County n/a Panhandle
Magnitude: 4.5
Dates: Feb. 15, 1974
17 (tie) Grant
Magnitude: 4.4
Dates: June 9, 2018 and Oct. 10, 2015
17 (tie) Woods
17. (tie) Woods County, Magnitude: 4.4
Date: July 9, 2016
17 (tie) Alfalfa
17. (tie) Alfalfa County, Magnitude: 4.4
Dates: July 20, 2015 and Nov. 23, 2015
17 (tie) Payne
17. (tie) Payne County, Magnitude: 4.4
Date: Oct. 10, 2015
17 (tie) Logan
17. (tie) Logan County, Magnitude: 4.4
Dates: Aug. 19, 2014
17 (tie) Lincoln
17. (tie) Lincoln County, Magnitude: 4.4
Dates: April 16, 2013
17 (tie) Cleveland
17. (tie) Cleveland County, Magnitude: 4.4
Dates: Oct. 13, 2010
17 (tie) Hughes
17. (tie) Hughes County, Magnitude: 4.4
Dates: June 1, 1939
The Tulsa World is where your story lives
The Tulsa World newsroom is committed to covering this community with curiosity, tenacity and depth. Our passion for telling the story of Tulsa remains unwavering. Because your story is our story. Thank you to our subscribers who support local journalism. Join them with limited-time offers at tulsaworld.com/story.
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Curtis Killman
Tulsa World Staff Writer
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