West Texas Earthquake Damages Historical Building Hundreds of Miles Away

Picture shows a seismograph monitoring seismic activities. Getty Images

A strong earthquake rattled West Texas, causing damage to buildings hundreds of miles away in San Antonio.

The 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck near the border of Culberson County at 3:34 p.m. local time on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake’s epicenter hit about 23 miles south of Mentone in the Delaware Basin.

The Delaware basin is part of the greater Permian Basin, an area known for its oil and gas wells.

Shocks were reportedly felt as far as Austin and damaged a 105-year-old historic building in downtown San Antonio.

The Robert B. Green historic building was deemed unsafe after the earthquake, University Health said in a release. The building has been closed until further notice.

Initially, the earthquake was measured at magnitude 5.3 but was later upgraded to 5.4 by the USGS. It is believed to be among the largest to hit the state of Texas.

In March 2020, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck near the same area. The largest recorded earthquake in the state took place in the town of Valentine, near Marfa, in 1931.

The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) sent inspectors to the area on Thursday to monitor injection wells near the site of the quake. RRC regulates the oil and gas industry in Texas.

“The agency is monitoring seismic data from the United States Geological Survey, the TexNET Seismic Monitoring Program, and private operator monitoring stations and will take any actions necessary to protect public safety and the environment,” the RRC said in a news release.

“RRC inspectors are examining disposal activity at injection wells in the area, and staff is also reviewing permit requirements and operators’ seismic response plans in the Northern Culberson-Reeves Seismic Response Area (SRA).” (pdf)

The SRA was established in 2021 to reduce seismic activity in the Delaware Basin.

It includes an Operator Led Response Plan with “an objective ‘to rescue the occurrence of high-magnitude seismicity such that recurrence of 3.5 magnitude events is decreasing by Dec. 31, 2023,” the release said.

Following an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 or greater, the OLRP requires all deep disposal wells within a 5.5-mile boundary to shut in for 24 months.

Approximately 1,000 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or higher have occurred within 31 miles of Wednesday’s event, according to USGS.

There have been no reported injuries caused by the earthquake.