Texas rocked by multiple earthquakes in 24 hours

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Texas has experienced multiple earthquakes over the last day, with the most recent clocking in as a 3.3 magnitude quake.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the tremor at 9:01am ET in the state's western region, 19 miles from Mentone. 

And a 2.3 magnitude earthquake hit the same area about two hours earlier. 

Seismic activity above 2.5 in magnitude can often be felt and cause minor damage. 

However, no damages or injuries have been reported after the 3.3 magnitude earthquake.

The USGS captured an estimated 10 minor tremors in the area over the last 24 hours, ranging from 1.7 to 2.4 magnitude.

While West Texas has several fault lines, the earthquakes were likely caused by induced seismicity—earthquakes triggered by human activities, particularly oil and gas operations.

Those operations cause quakes mainly through wastewater injection, increasing underground pressure and lubricating faults, making them more likely to slip.

Texas has experienced multiple earthquakes over the last day, with the most recent clocking in as a 3.3 magnitude quake 

Texas contributes 42 percent of the nation's crude oil, making it the largest producer in the US.

The state is also known for its extensive use of fracking, or the process of extracting oil and gas from deep underground by blasting large quantities of water, chemicals, and sand into rock formations to crack them open and release the fuels trapped inside.

Fracking is not usually the direct cause of an earthquake, but the process of disposing wastewater produced through fracking that can trigger tremors.

A 2022 study by the University of Texas at Austin concluded that 68 percent of Texas quakes above magnitude 1.5 were 'highly associated' with oil and gas production.

Dr Alexandros Savvaidis recently explained how more drilling could end up leading to more seismic activity in the state.

'Deep injection wells, in particular, are linked to higher-magnitude earthquakes,' Dr Savvaidis told KMID. 

'Whereas shallower injections seem to be less hazardous in terms of large seismic events.'

Data shows that Texas has experienced 406 earthquakes in the past 30 days and 79 earthquakes in the past seven days.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the tremor at 9:01am ET in the state's western region, 19 miles from Mentone

The strongest earthquake reported in Texas was the 6.0quake with an epicenter in Valentine in Jeff Davis County on August 16, 1931.

Newspapers reported shaking was felt as far east as Taylor, just north of Austin, and as far south as San Antonio. 

An alarming seven tremors shook the area that day, some lasting as long as 72 seconds. The series of quakes started early morning and continued to the early afternoon. 

West Texas was hit by a 5.0 magnitude earthquake this past February, near the border of Culberson and Reeves counties.

The USGS reported about 950,000 people felt weak to light shaking.