Texas Seismological Network recently reported that earthquakes in the Texas section of Permian Basin declined 10 percent in 2023 from 2022’s record high.  Bloomberg said the frequency of earthquakes declined “after regulators cracked down on the practice of burying toxic wastewater from oil drilling.”  There were 194 quakes last year of at least 3.0 magnitude in Permian in Texas (not including quakes in New Mexico).

Railroad Commission of Texas asked drillers in late 2021 to restrict oilfield activities by limiting the amount of wastewater disposed of underground.  And shale drillers are boosting wastewater recycling.

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