AUSTIN, TX -- Tim George, Partner, McGinnis Lochridge, led a team of lawyers and experts in successfully defending XTO Energy Inc. (a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation) in a first-ever show-cause proceeding before the Railroad Commission of Texas investigating whether earthquakes were induced by disposal injection.
The Railroad Commission in a unanimous decision on November 3, 2015 found that XTO’s disposal injection well northwest of Fort Worth was not likely to be contributing to a series of earthquakes more than a year ago. The Commissioners agreed that XTO’s permit for the well should remain active without amendment.
In April 2015, a scientific publication identified XTO’s disposal well as a most likely cause of a series of earthquakes near the City of Azle, Texas. At a June show-cause hearing before the Railroad Commission, Tim George led a team of lawyers and technical witnesses in presenting expert geological and engineering testimony and evidence to rebut the publication’s claims, proving that the Azle earthquakes originated miles below XTO’s disposal injection and demonstrating that the earthquakes resulted naturally from deep-seated tectonic forces. In August, the Examiners issued their Proposal for Decision in XTO’s favor, recommending that the evidence does not support a finding that XTO’s disposal injection well is likely to be or determined to be contributing to seismic activity.
McGinnis Lochridge (ML) is a Texas-based law firm serving communities in a number of practice areas for over 85 years. Our seasoned litigators and legal practitioners place our clients first - giving senior-level attention and meaningful action to your needs. From offices in Austin and Houston, the firm provides business, government and litigation counsel to a global clientele across 20 practice areas and industries. For more information, please visit our website at http://mcginnislaw.com.