Study: Oil and gas activity probably caused majority of Texas earthquakes
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Researchers from the University of Texas-Austin speculate that over the past 40 years, 9 out of 10 earthquakes that occurred in Texas were caused by oil and gas activity.
Between 1975 and 2015, 162 earthquakes of at least a 3.0 magnitude were recorded in Texas, Forbes reports. The researchers speculate that about 25 percent of those are “almost certainly” believed to be caused by oil and gas, and an additional 33 percent are thought to have “probably” been caused by oil and gas activity. Adding to that, 28 percent of the earthquakes were “possibly” induced by oil and gas activity.
According to the source, the study will be published in the journal Seismological Research Letters.
Read more: Forbes > Oil and Gas Could Be Responsible for Nearly 90% of Texas Earthquakes
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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.