Scientists at the Oklahoma Geological Survey said the sinkhole could have been caused by drought conditions, the dissolving of salt or rock formations, or draining of an old coal mine.

Or fracking....which also caused the earthquakes.

Maybe the sinkhole leads to Asgard.

On the case.

"Glad my house wasn't over it," neighbor Tony Bills told the station.

Well, duh.

That's what passes for journalism these days? My average post is longer than that article.

So it could be:

1). Space Aliens
2). Fracking
3). Draining of the Ogallala Aquifer
4). Speaking the Lord's name in vain
5). Christians were raptured and everyone still here is experiencing <cue ominous music>the end times</cue>
6). A natural string of earthquakes which have occurred at least more than once within the Oklahoma region in the last several billion years

I'm leaning towards #6, but what does Mr Occam know?

Between 1977 and 2008 there were only 28 earthquakes in Oklahoma. In 2009 that number spiked. In 2010 they had 1,047 of them. What changed?

In Lincoln County, Oklahoma there are now 181 injection wells.

These wells pump wastewater often much deeper underground, all day and all night, for years. The weight and pressure from all of this fluid has been known to cause relatively large earthquakes, including recently in Arkansas, home to another large shale gas field.

After a swarm of small earthquakes hit north-central Arkansas near a formation called the Fayetteville Shale, the state issued a temporary moratorium last year on new injection wells. The state found that three wells were operating near an unknown fault and were likely contributing to earthquakes. The state shut those wells and banned future ones near the fault.

USGS Report: Link Between Fracking and Oklahoma Earthquakes

The United States Geological Survey has released a report that links a series of earthquakes in Oklahoma last January to a fracking operation underway there. Evidently, a resident reported feeling some minor earthquakes, spurring the USGS to investigate. They found that some 50 small earthquakes had indeed been registered, ranging in magnitude from 1.0 to 2.8. The bulk of these occurred within 2.1 miles of Eola Field, a fracking operation in southern Garvin County.

WELCOME TO OKLAHOMA. HOME OF AMERICA'S NEWEST GATEWAY TO HELL.

Trust me, signs will provide relief to people who have to drive across Oklahoma for some stupid reason. Too bad the earthquake wasn't in Nebraska or Kansas, which really need a Gateway to Hell for the sake of the tourist industry.

Well...
We're goin' to the hole,
To the hole in the medder,
To the hole in the cold dark ground,
We're goin' to the hole,
To the hole in the medder,
Gonna throw ourselves right down.

We got us an Injun,
He's a real Injun,
He's gonna find Mel's hole,
Got us an Injun,
Honest Injun,
Ain't even on the dole!

Weeellll...
We're goin to the hole,
To the hole in the medder,
To the hole in the cold dark ground,
Goin' to the hole,
To the hole in the medder,
gonna throw ourselves right down!

Gateway to Hell Check List

1. What caused the Gateway to Hell to open?

a) Teenagers farking around with the occult;
b) Adults farking around with explosives
c) An Act of God such as an earthquake
d) other

2. Can magic or religious rites be used to close the Gateway to Hell before it does any more damage?

a) Yes, what magic and superstition did, magic and superstition can undo
b) No, it was God's Will
c) No, it was natural causes and prayer doesn't work well on geology.
d) other

3. Are people and things falling into the Gateway to Hell?
a) Yes, serves them right if they're stupid enough to approach a Gateway to Hell
b) Yes, it is unstable and growing.
c) Yes, but not as much as when it first opened.
d) No, it is stable and has been cordoned off.
e) other

4. Is anything or anybody coming out of the Gateway to Hell?

a) Yes, it has unleashed the evil dead or demons or both
b) Yes, vast swarms of bats, locusts, etc. are pouring out
c) Yes, it is full of aliens
d) Yes, it is emitting a lot of smoke, steam, lava, or gas
e) No, it is relatively uninteresting
f) other. Please describe what is coming out of the Gateway to Hell and whether it poses a threat.

5. Has anybody tried lighting a match?

a) Yes, but it was only to cover a fart.
b) Yes, and the Gateway to Hell exploded and is now in flames
c) Yes, but it didn't help the smell much.
d) No, we were worried about methane, hydrogen or other flammable gases
e) other

6. Has anybody been foolish enough to attempt to enter the Gateway to Hell?

a) Yes, teenagers are holding a rave about 200 feet down.
b) Yes, a team of scientists is investigated with the help of a man/woman estranged from his/her ex-spouse and children
c) Yes, a heroic team of adventurers are currently attempting to discover the Lost World of whatever
d) No, you couldn't get anybody in there for all the tea in China and all the computer chips in Japan.
e) other. Give details of the expedition thus far, if known.

7. Which Government or non-Government authorities have taken charge of the Gateway to Hell?

a) some damned greedy rednecks are selling admission to tourists
b) some damned deranged rednecks are sacrificing tourists to the Elder Gods
c) the local police have the matter in hand--or do they?
d) the State and Federal authorities have cordoned off the Gateway to Hell and deny that there is any problem whatsoever. What Gateway to Hell?
e) mysterious non-government authorities have shown up and nobody has a clue what is going on
f) other. Describe the forces that are in charge of the Gateway to Hell. For example, are they Satanic, Divine, Natural, Scientific, Commercial, etc.?

8. Are there any plans to deal with the Gateway to Hell?

a) Yes, we are planning to blow it up.
b) Yes, we are planning to divert a river into it and drown those evil feckers once and for all
c) Yes, missionaries have been dispatched to convert the heathen man-eating Dero races who dwell in darkness
d) Yes, we have made it a natural park and plan to build hotels and interpretation centers as soon as the Federal monies start coming in.
e) Yes, we have called in experts in Gateways to Hell and they will prepare a full report.
f) Yes, the Gateway to Hell will really solve the garbage disposal problem through to the year 2104.
g) No. Nobody around here has a clue what to do about a Gateway to Hell.
h) other. Please explain.

9. Do you have any further comments or suggestions regarding the Gateway to Hell? Was your visit to the Gateway satisfactory, good, great or other?

10. Have you been possessed by demonic or other-worldly parasites, monsters, entities, or other Gateway to Hell-related things? Is it the end of the world as we know it? Do you feel fine?

I like how we're such a litigeous society that someone had to put up a sign that says "It ain't my fault if you fall in this big ass hole".