“Frackquakes”: The after-effects of wastewater injection
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
As fracking activity increases, so have small-scale and medium-scale earthquakes in areas across the U.S. where shale oil and gas are booming industries.
Injection wells used for fracking are suspected to be at the root of more than 2,500 earthquakes recorded in Oklahoma since 2009.
Leftover water is injected into the ground after it is used in the fracking process. This water can travel along fault lines and even make the fault lines larger. It is speculated that this water is affecting fault lines, and thus causing earthquakes.
In Youngstown, Ohio, wastewater injected into the earth was linked to over 100 earthquakes in 2011. In Texas and Colorado, many earthquakes were more than likely caused by wastewater injection in 2011.
Due to the number of earthquakes that have occurred in connection to fracking, the U.S. government is planning to trace the risks from the earthquakes in hopes of better preparing for future building.
Related stories: Texas residents urge action on earthquakes
Via: Think Progress > 2,500 Oklahoma Earthquakes Linked To Fracking, Scientists Say
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.