Quake study by Youngstown well operator stymied

COLUMBUS (AP) — The operator of a Youngstown deep-injection well tied to a dozen earthquakes in the area has yet to receive the state clearance necessary to begin an independent seismic study aimed at re-opening the well.

Documents obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request show D&L Energy sought state permission in February to study vibrations at the North Star-1 well. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has yet to respond.

D&L closed the well after a New Year’s Eve quake reached 4.0 magnitude. A state moratorium on deep-injection drilling near the site has halted regional disposal of millions of gallons of wastewater from hydraulic fracturing and other drilling activity.

A March 9 state report tied the well to the quakes. D&L wants the chance to disprove that finding.