Fracking is triggering earthquakes and we should be worried

Yes, you read that right.

We’re not trying to scare you but just recently fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, caused a 4.4 magnitude earthquake in northeastern BC. This is one of the world’s largest earthquakes ever triggered by this process.

If you’ve read our articles posted last week, you’ll know the process of fracking means drilling a large well and blasting it with water and chemicals to release gases. Funny enough, BC’s Oil and Gas Commission declined a taped interview about the incident and only provided background information through email. They mentioned that Progress Energy has been ordered to reduce the volume of fracking fluid being used and that new seismic equipment has been set up in the area.

Is this enough though?

Just last year Oklahoma alone experienced roughly 585 magnitude 3+ earthquakes compared to 109 earthquakes recorded the previous year (2013). Basically, the state is having an average of 2.5 earthquakes every DAY when it used to only average 1.5 a YEAR. Those are crazy stats if you ask us and when the research was done one of the main causes in this rise was from fracking.

Scientists are saying that the problem isn’t solely based on drilling. It’s the disposal of a wastewater byproduct of the drilling. Most companies dispose of this byproduct thousands of feet underground and when you mix all of the harmful chemicals with the earths faults you start to get earthquakes. So what can be done with this wastewater instead of leaving it inside our earth? No one is quite sure yet, because in all honestly, no one wants the wastewater at all.

Unfortunately scientists are also unable to predict exactly which wastewater injection sites are likely to pose risks to buildings or critical structures. The newest research on the matter can predict which disposal wells are capable of affecting earthquake faults though. I guess they’re making some progress; it’s better than nothing.

We highly recommend watching the video “Gasland” and reading more about the making of it here.

– K