[EBH]

Another earthquake shook parts of Northwest Arkansas. It’s the third one in as many months.

The most recent earthquake was recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey on Thursday between Springdale and Rogers. It measured a 2.3 on the Richter Scale. Residents however didn’t report feeling the quake.

On May 20, a 2.6 earthquake was recorded near XNA in Benton County. And 2.5 quake shook the same area on April 25th.

In Central Arkansas, 36 earthquakes have been reported since June 2. The largest was a 3.3 on the Richter Scale.

[who knows what evil?]

Could the shifting wall of the oil cavern destabilize the New Madrid fault? How big of a tsunami would be created if the oil cavern collapses?

Zero would have a real mess on his hands if that happens...

[hinckley buzzard]

Sigh. What is the historical record of earthquakes in Arkansas? Does current activity differ markedly from past periods of heightened activity? If not, then what's the point?

[Dallas59]

It’s not a cavern of oil. It’s oil locked inside rock and the humongous pressure squeezes the oil out through the well. Water replaces the oil squeezed out.

[TommyDale]

This is exactly the theory behind a devastating earthquake in Coalinga, California.

[Palladin]

Mere coincidence.

Strategerist, let’s hear your comment.

[Brilliant]

I think this makes about as much sense as the left-wing wacko’s claim that Katrina was caused by global warming. But that’s a line they used, so what goes round, comes round...

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

It wasn't that long ago that the New Madrid fault was
expected to have a massive earthquake because the planets
were lined up.

[Halgr]

Is there a FReeper Geologist around???

[TigersEye]

Could the shifting wall of the oil cavern ...

There is no cavern. The oil and gas is in sedimentary rock. Does the author also worry about Guam tipping over?

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Here are two relevant links:

http://www.aapg.org/explorer/2002/11nov/rift_zone.cfm

http://culturelifesciencenews.blogspot.com/2006/02/52-earthquake-dead-center-in-gulf-of.html

[Hardraade]

A bit overheated. In other news, I see they’re doing brisk business in “evacuation kits”. Or at least trying to.

[Paradox]

Take a balloon, inflate it. Get two books and place one on each side of the balloon opposite each other. Now deflate the balloon and notice what happens to the books. The books shift towards each other.

Sometimes, the models and metaphors just don't do justice to the reality. First, EVEN IF the "cavern" were deflating, the volume escaping is infinitesimal compared to the volume of the earth. Second, as another poster has said, there is no "cavern", its rock, lots and lots of it, porous rock and strata...

[crescen7]

This is retarded. It can only be considered by the numerically illiterate. The volume of oil in the gulf leak is about 1 quadrillionth the volume of water in the gulf. If one were to try to descibe the volume in terms of earthen land mass it would be an order of magnatude less significant.

[Minn]

The source doesn’t say, but I’m guessing the unidentified author is no geologist. One could further speculate that the little illustration with a balloon and books demonstrate a profound ignorance of geology on his/her part.

[Cold Heat]

Good grief! The amount of oil leaking is a pimple on a ants butt compared to the amount extracted over the past 50 years. Where were those Earthquakes?

Geologically speaking, all the oil extracted from the gulf over the past 50 years is a pimple as well.

[PreciousLiberty]

I believe it’s sensationalist BS. First of all, the thousands of other Gulf oil rigs remove more as a matter of course. The leak site has lost something like 2% of its oil so far.

Is it causing a seismologic crisis? Very unlikely...

[hennie pennie]

*ping*

[Viking2002]

Here's how to kill two birds with one stone: backfill it with liberals. Now, there's enough dense, sedentary biomass to plug any hole. And in a few million years, they'll turn into oil, too.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[dragnet2]

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[dajeeps]

I heard that what’s going on at the Horizon site is that it’s a fracture and there are multiple plumes besides the one at the well head. But I can’t make any claim to the veracity of it.

The whole thing has been so politicized that I don’t know what is true. In an election year especially I stick with “Believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see.”