Assuming fracking causes earthquakes, I have a question. Does it only happen on existing faults? Or create new faults? Or just make the earth move in different ways?
If it’s on existing faults this seems like a good way to avoid “the big one”. It may be letting the faults release their energy slowly over time instead letting the tension build up.
The most likely cause for any earthquakes from fracing would be from the depletion of the reservoir from the producer that would change the stress field in and around the well. These earthquakes are tied back to salt water injection wells, which are disposing the waste water from the producers. There have been similar earthquakes in the Raton Basin of southeastern Colorado.
Oh we can’t be proactive and alter the earth. these folks think reducing risk is messing up the environment.