Four of the temblors measured magnitude 4.0 or stronger, and one was the strongest quake recorded in Oklahoma so far this year, according to U.S. Geological Survey records.
Despite all the shaking, there have been no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
The earthquake swarm began at 10:27 p.m. Wednesday with the strongest quakes — measuring magnitude 4.4 and 4.8 — 30 seconds apart at Waynoka, in Woods County. Over the next hour, those were followed by two quakes measuring 3.4 magnitude at Waynoka, and one 3.3 magnitude temblor in the Major County town of Cleo Springs.
According to USGS, the 4.4 magnitude quake was 3 miles deep. It was originally reported to be 4.3 magnitude, but it was later upgraded to 4.7 before being downgraded again to 4.4 magnitude. The 4.8 magnitude quake was 3.7 miles deep. The other temblors were all about 3 miles deep.
In the hours that followed, there were 12 magnitude 3.0 or greater temblors, and 11 measuring below magnitude 3.0.
The two strongest quakes since Wednesday night both measured magnitude 4.0, and both were about 3 miles deep. The first, at 2:37 a.m. Thursday was recorded at Aline, in Alfalfa County. The second occurred at 1:59 p.m. Thursday in Waynoka.
There were two other quakes less than 30 seconds apart in the swarm. A 3.0 magnitude temblor was recorded at 4:48 a.m. Thursday at Waynoka. It was 2 miles deep. A 3.5 magnitude quake followed 24 seconds later, within the same minute, at Waynoka. It was 3 miles deep.
Where fracking is rocking the boat, and pumping is at a feverish pitch because the price of oil is still riding the clutch.