Seismic Activity in the Permian Basin in New Mexico

Abstract

While most earthquakes in New Mexico are due to tectonic forces associated with the Rio Grande Rift and the Socorro Magma Body, in recent years seismic activity has increased in areas where fluid injection is ongoing, raising the possibility that these earthquakes are induced by human activity. The two regions of New Mexico that have seen the largest rise in activity are the Raton Basin, which spans the New Mexico-Colorado border in northeastern New Mexico, and the Permian Basin, which spans the New Mexico-Texas border in southeastern New Mexico. I will discuss the recorded history of seismicity in the Permian Basin in New Mexico, as well as past and ongoing efforts to better understand its causes.