Earthquakes in Central U.S. ‘Almost Certainly’ Tied To Fracking

NASDAQ ^ | 4/13/12 | Amir Khan

[BigEdLB]

Over the past few years, the number of earthquakes in the usually seismically calm central United States has skyrocketed. Now scientists are pointing the finger at hydraulic fracturing, better known as "fracking," as the culprit.

Fracking is a method of extracting natural gas, the cleanest fossil fuel, from underground rocks. Proponents of natural gas say it could reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil since vast majority of it comes from within the country. Natural gas is also more plentiful and cheaper than oil.

Read more: http://community.nasdaq.com/News/2012-04/earthquakes-in-central-us-almost-certainly-tied-to-fracking.aspx?storyid=133445#ixzz1rvY1bGUP

[BigEdLB]

Obamaworld, and their Evirofacists have found a new way to try and slow energy search and production.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Thank God we won’t have to worry about increasing domestic energy production, the anti-human “scientists” have figured out a way to demagogue it.

[dirtboy]

"Our scientists cite a series of examples for which an uptick in seismic activity is observed in areas where the disposal of wastewater through deep-well injection increased significantly," David Hayes, the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior, said in a blog post .

Seems to me they are crossing up terms.

[Huebolt]

The EPA is so full of sh*t they squeak. Number 1 on the list to DEFUND, DEFUNCT.

[dirtboy]

And just how strong are all of these earthquakes? And why do we not see them in places such as PA, where fracking is widespread?

And what of the VA earthquake, where no fracking is happening?

This is yet another lame effort to alarm the public against domestic energy development, since AGW has become such a propaganda failure.

[DocRock]

I will gladly pay$200 to fill up my SUV instead of $100 if it will stop these unprecidented 3 and 4 magnitude quakes. /sarc

[Rearden]

Are we drilling for gas and oil along fault lines? While I am certainly not an expert in the field, I have always understood that an earthquake occurs on a fault line when two plates push against one another. Looking for enlightenment.

[capt. norm]

They must have pulled some of their paid-for scientists off the global warming thing and deployed them on the relatively new human-induced earthquake field.

[gimme1ibertee]

OK....now,how about a dissenting opinion?
USGS? Care to weigh in?
I think they know a little more about seismic activity,and what causes it,than someone from the Dept of Interior Motives (DIM).

[LostPassword]

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.

[dirtboy]

While I am certainly not an expert in the field, I have always understood that an earthquake occurs on a fault line when two plates push against one another. Looking for enlightenment.

You can have faults just about anywhere. The biggest ones happen to be along plate boundaries, but a good example of a strong fault system not at a plate boundary is New Madrid.

[dfwgator]

Earthquakes in Central U.S. ‘Almost Certainly’ Tied To Fracking,

BULSH!

[UCANSEE2]

Earthquakes are actually being caused by the vibrations from all those giant wind turbines.

[Texas Fossil]

Your observation is credible.

Where I live, the best long term oil production is near apparent fault lines. Short distances either side of the line (not straight) and huge differences in production. Indicating existing faults at some depth. Most of the wells here are 5-6,000 feet deep.

[thackney]

I see most the confusion lies with the posters on these articles.

Hydraulic Fracturing does not cause this nor do they claim it does. Waste Water disposal wells where million and millions of gallons are routinely injected into the same well over and over are being considered the source of the earthquakes.

Hydraulic Fracturing is the source for some, not all, of that water. But there are other choices, some areas are recycling the water. A bit more expensive but it allows hydraulic fracturing to continue without this concern.

[onedoug]

Any USGS data is suspect these days tied as it is to the Administration. Collaboration from several different and disparate sources is warranted.

[Rearden]

I was born and raised in what is now known as the Marcellus Shale belt of PA. The family farm where I grew up is still owned and operated by members my family. We had a couple of gas wells that were drilled ( and fracked) when I was a young boy. I understand that a few more wells have been drilled on the property since I was last there years ago.

Almost every relative I have in the area, and many, many friends who still live there have gas wells on their property. To my memory, all gas wells were, and still are, fracked. I don’t ever remember an earthquake occurring anywhere in the area, and I don’t remember anyone dying because of fracking, and I don’t remember anyone lighting their kitchen sink on fire. I do remember water issues occurring with old, abandoned deep coal mines.

I now live in VA. We have minor tremors and quakes frequently and I don’t know anybody around here who has a gas well, unfortunately.

I’m calling BS here.

[cripplecreek]

Plenty of evidence to support injection induced earthquakes....BUT, no evidence of fracking induced earthquakes.

http://www.nyx.net/~dcypser/induceq/induceq.html

My real problem is with the panic induced over earthquakes that are less damaging than a heavy truck passing on the road.

[boomop1]

Frack away piss off a liberal.

[glennaro]

Spawns a new phrase for those living in active seismic zones: “It’s another fracking earthquake!”