Trumbull County earthquake occurs at site of injection wells
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
A Trumbull County township experienced an earthquake on Aug. 31, though very few people felt it, according to WFMJ.
The 2.1 magnitude earthquake, originally measured to be 1.8 magnitude, was centered in Weathersfield Township at the site of two injection wells. Earthquakes of magnitude 3 or less are generally not felt at all, or are only felt by people who happen to be at the right place at the right time.
Several other earthquakes thought to be connected to fracking have occurred in the Mahoning Valley over the past few years, including a 4.0 magnitude earthquake in Youngstown in late 2011, as well as five in March 2014
Via: WFMJ > Experts now say stronger quake centered at Weathersfield injection wells
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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.