Fracking Linked To Earthquakes In The U.S.

[GoLeft TV]

On the heels of yesterday’s report detailing Cuadrilla Resource’s admission that their fracking practices were responsible for small earthquakes in the U.K., new reports are surfacing that link fracking to earthquakes that occurred in January in Oklahoma. According to a new study by the Oklahoma Geological Survey , fracking is linked to 50 mini-earthquakes that occurred on January 18, 2011 in Oklahoma.

The NRDC describes the events as follows:

The occurrence of so-called “induced seismicity” – seismic activity caused by human actions – in conjunction with fluid injection or extraction operations is a well-documented phenomenon. However, induced earthquakes large enough to be felt at the surface have typically been associated with large scale injection or withdrawal of fluids, such as water injection wells, geothermal energy production, and oil and gas production. It was generally thought that the risk of inducing large earthquakes through hydraulic fracturing was very low, because of the comparatively small volumes of fluid injected and relatively short time-frame over which it occurs. As the controversy over hydraulic fracturing has heated up, however, researchers and the public have become increasingly interested in the potential for fracking to cause large earthquakes.

Full story at DeSmogBlog - http://www.desmogblog.com/fracking-linked-earthquakes-u-s

[slackmaster]

1. So the Haliburton Earthquake Generator isn't just tinfoil hat stuff after all

[StandingInLeftField]

2. Pissed cat looks pissed

LOL!

[TheWraith]

5. Well, considering the fine print that these are microquakes.

The energy of cracking apart rock formations, even under intense pressure, is still microscopic compared to a really big quake.

[slackmaster]

6. I believe that quakes triggered by human activity release energy that was already accumulated...

...and was destined to be released in one or more earthquakes in the future.

The fracking doesn't cause earthquakes, it just changes their timing and magnitude.

[truedelphi]

7. Can you cite the scientific data that proves that?

I haven't heard anyone who would speak on that, from a government agency like the National Geological Society or any other university etc address the issue in that manner.

[slackmaster]

8. I haven't seen any scientific data to suggest that the fracking activity magically creates strain

:shrug:

[FBaggins]

9. Yes... But "the future" could be hundreds/thousands of years away.

Even if an activity only advances a future event, the results are the same.

[truedelphi]

10. I'd love to see slackmaster's theory hold up in court -

Lately spouse and I are perplexed and angry at a neighbor... What to do?

So using slackmaster's argument, I guess we could wait till said neighbor goes on a trip, take out a jack hammer, demolish his driveway, and then point out to the judge hearing our case that sooner or later, the dormant volcano in our area would be re-awakened, and his driveway would have fallen apart then anyway.

And at least our jackhammer activity wouldn't be disrupting the entire water supply for the OCunty, unlike the fracking activity that uses millions of gallons of water, and allows for seepage of frack material into the local aquifers.

[slackmaster]

11. That's a piss-poor analogy. The jackhammer introduces energy into the system.

Specifically the energy that causes the destruction.

[pansypoo53219]

3. WHY can't we use a MODERN for of extraction. i mean,

can't they come up w/ a fucking straw system?

[TheWraith]

4. A "straw" is what they used to use. Fracking is the more modern method. nt