Volume 63, Number 45
Azle News
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
THE
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SMU: Wells cause of earthquakes Injection and extraction along ancient fault lines to blame BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN
A team of scientists led by Southern Methodist University (SMU) researchers released its findings Tuesday, April 21, regarding a series of earthquakes in the Azle, Reno, and Briar area from November 2013 through January 2014. In a nutshell, those scientists say it’s a combination of gas field fluid injection and removal that is “most likely” the cause of the swarm of earthquakes. Heather DeShon, SMU associate professor of geophysics, is one of the lead scientists on the team. She explained that some “ancient faults” in the region are more susceptible to movePressure built around injection wells ment – “near critically stressed” annually. Graphic courtesy SMU report – due to their orientation and
direction. and more than 70 production wells in “In other words, surprisingly small the area that remove both natural gas changes in stress can reactivate certain and significant volumes of salty water faults in the reknown as brine. gion and cause “The model earthquakes,” shows that a DeShon said. pressure differOne such ential develops fault, the Newalong one of the ark East fault faults as a comzone, runs bined result of from the Reno high fluid injecarea northeast tion rates to the across Eagle west and high Heather DeShon Mountain water removSMU professor/scientist Lake. A sepaal rates to the rate antithetic east,” said Mat– an opposing or intersecting fault – is thew Hornbach, SMU associate pronearby. fessor of geophysics. Researchers used a sophisticated 3D “When we ran the model over a model to estimate stress changes from 10-year period through a wide range two nearby wastewater injection wells of parameters, it predicted pressure
“
We can rule out stress changes induced by local water table changes.
changes significant enough to trigger earthquakes on faults that are already stressed.” Don’t blame the drought Model-predicted stress changes on the fault were typically tens to thousands of times larger than stress changes associated with water level fluctuations caused by the recent Texas drought. “What we refer to as induced seismicity – earthquakes caused by something other than strictly natural forces – is often associated with subsurface pressure changes,” said DeShon. “We can rule out stress changes induced by local water table changes. While some uncertainties remain, it is unlikely that natural increases to PLEASE SEE QUAKES, PAGE 2A.
Teen cyclist seriously injured in hit-and-run on FM 730 N BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN The Azle Police Department is asking for help from the public to identify the driver and/or vehicle involved in a hit-and-run accident that occurred at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 in the 12100 block of FM 730 North. A 16-year-old male riding a bicycle northbound with a companion was struck from behind by an unknown
vehicle. That vehicle never stopped, continuing northbound. According to the report filed by Azle police, the rider who was struck was on the paved shoulder of the road, while his companion was next to him in the grass. The vehicle failed to drive in a single lane, veering onto the shoulder, where it struck the cyclist.
Big Fire, Big Loss
The young man was transported to a Fort Worth hospital via CareFlite Air Ambulance in serious condition. His companion said it all happened so fast he didn’t even get a look at the vehicle. If you have any information about this incident, contact Det. Lukowsky at rlukowsky@ci.azle.tx.us or call the The somber sight of a teenager’s shoe still sitting on the shoulder Azle Police Department at 817-444- of FM 730 North marked the site where a bicyclist was struck in a hit-and-run accident April 15. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman 3221.
Open book, open door New APD Chief Pippins talks shop with Rotary BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN The trip from the tiny town of Tye all the way to Azle – by way of Odessa – took more than 30 years for Rick Pippins. After just six weeks on the job as Chief of Police for the city of Azle, Pippins says he’s glad he made it here. Speaking to members of the Azle Rotary Club Thursday, April 16, Pippins easily talked about himself, his
family, his policing philosophy and the Azle Police Department. “Everything good that ever happened to me happened in Odessa,” Pippins said, referring to his wife, son and daughter as well as a “satisfying 30-year career” with the Odessa Police Department. But almost four years ago, when he was a finalist for the Azle Police Chief job, Pippins and family came to check
Azle out and loved it here. “We knew if we ever had another opportunity, we’d come here,” Pippins said. “I redoubled my efforts and this time I got the job – we’re very grateful to this community for giving us this opportunity.” The chief says he’s been mostly taking things in his first few weeks on the PLEASE SEE NEW, PAGE 2A.
Lightning cause of minor AHS fire
Multiple 911 calls directed firefighters from across the area to this residential structure fire in the 7400 block of Elman Lane Wednesday, April 15. The first units on scene found the attic of the home very heavily involved, Tarrant County Deputy Fire Marshal Keith Ebel said. No one was in the home at the time, and Ebel said the damage was so severe there is no way to determine where or how the fire started. He does not suspect foul play, but did say he expects the home to be declared a total loss. Firefighters from Azle, Briar-Reno, LaJunta, Parker County ESD 1, Boyd, Lake Worth, Silver Creek, and Eagle Mountain battled the blaze with help from the River Oaks VFD, which brought its air truck. The American Red Cross was on scene to assist the homeowners as well as firefighters. One firefighter was treated at the scene for a minor burn. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman
BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN A small flash fire on the roof of the Annex building necessitated the evacuation of Azle High School for about 45 minutes Monday morning, April 20. Azle Fire Marshal Kenny Wilson says the cause of the fire appears to be a lightning strike during Saturday’s storms which perforated a flexible gas line. Gas from the perforated line apparently collected in a void space below an HVAC unit, and when a teacher attempted to turn on the heater in a classroom, that gas ignited and “flashed,” leaving a very small fire on the roof. The odor of burning tar on the roof alerted occupants of the school that something was amiss, and a call was made to 911. Wilson said damage to the building was minimal. Buford-Thompson Company – the general contractor for the construction of a new gym and Career and Technology Education Center at the campus – is already making repairs.
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This Week in Azle History
Azle Fire Marshal Kenny Wilson provided this photo of a perforated flexible gas line he believes was damaged by a lightning strike and later caused a small fire on the roof of Azle High School’s Annex Building.
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47 Years Ago In April 1968, you could buy an RCA AM radio with rich sounding “Golden Throat” sparkling reception for $9.95 from C&W Electronics at 117 West Main Street.
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