Arkansas earthquakes linked to fracking. 2 gas disposal sites suspended

[Divernan]

http://planetsave.com/2011/03/08/arkansas-earthquakes-linked-to-fracking-two-gas-disposal-sites-suspended/#comments

Arkansas has been rocked with earthquakes and now scientists are investigating their relationship to fracking, as two natural gas companies have agreed to temporarily suspend use of injection wells in central Arkansas where earthquakes keep occurring. The high-pressure wells are used to dispose of waste water from natural gas drilling.

The two drilling operations are Chesapeake Energy and Clarita Operating. They have ceased operation of the wells near Greenbrier and Guy pending a panel meeting on the matter on March 29.

According to the Seattle Times there have been 800 EARTHQUAKES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS WITHIN A TEN MILE AREA, culminating in a 4.7 quake, THE STRONGEST IN ARKANSAS IN 35 YEARS, which hit there February 27th.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014380961_apusarkansasearthquakes.html?syndication=rss

The Arkansas Oil and Gas commission says there is likely a link between the wells and the earthquakes. There have been more than 800 quakes in the area in the past six months. with a magnitude 4.7 quake, the strongest in Arkansas in 35 years, hit there Sunday.

Geologists have been studying a swarm of recent quakes - most of them tiny - in the Greenbrier-Guy area for months in an attempt to determine if there is a connection between the seismic activity and activities of gas-drilling companies in the Fayetteville Shale formation. The area of north-central Arkansas that includes Guy and Greenbrier - less than 10 miles apart in northern Faulkner County - has endured MORE THAN 800 EARTHQUAKES over the past six months. Seismologists say the quakes are not connected to the New Madrid Fault, a historically active fault in northeast Arkansas, more than 200 miles away.

Gov. Mike Beebe said he supported the commission's decision to take a close look at the injection wells.

"I'm going to listen to the scientists, and if the scientists say that it's worth making some changes in the areas where they think changes should be made, then I'm going to listen to our scientists and support them," Beebe told reporters at the state Capitol.