Moroccan gas work returns after seismic event

CORK, Ireland, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A natural gas pipeline in Morocco, interrupted by seismic activity, has been completed and related production has resumed, a company said Friday.

Circle Oil said in a statement it was "pleased to announce the completion of gas pipeline repairs in Morocco."

The company, which has its headquarters in Ireland, temporarily cut back on natural gas production rates at its operations in Morocco in August after an "earth movement" resulted in the closure of a pipeline used to transport natural gas from its Sebou field.

Morocco holds about 20 trillion cubic feet of recoverable shale oil and natural gas reserves, though remains a net importer of fossil fuels. Circle Oil said about 30 percent of its regional production was impacted by the August disruption.

"The repair was carried out by Circle without incident, on schedule and slightly under budget," the company said. "Production was restarted through the repaired pipeline on Thursday."

Circle Oil is working at inland shale deposits in Morocco. A report early this year from the U.S. Geological Survey found central U.S. states that are rich in shale oil and gas reserves have experienced a dramatic increase in seismic activity over the past six years because of operations associated reserve exploitation.

The U.S. state of Oklahoma enacted tighter control measures after one of its strongest earthquakes ever recorded occurred near shale oil and natural gas operations in the state.