A powerful earthquake in the Permian Basin of West Texas – the second in a month – shook the region last Friday, and regulators were inspecting injection well sites for clues.

The 5.4 magnitude seismic event struck an area about 12 miles north of Midland in Martin County. The region is in the Gardendale Seismic Response Area (SRA), the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) said. 

The Permian, which straddles West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, is the most active exploration and production (E&P) region in the country. Personnel were “activated” Friday, said RRC, and inspectors “will be examining disposal activity at injection well sites near the earthquake…”

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