Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: thedoc on 16/09/2013 14:23:45

Title: Does fracking cause earthquakes
Post by: thedoc on 16/09/2013 14:23:45

Fracking has been linked to earth tremors in Blackpool, but should that be a source of concern?
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Title: Re: Does fracking cause earthquakes
Post by: DevilsMaxCry on 19/09/2013 17:45:03

no fracking does not cause earthquakes. Convection currents do

Title: Re: Does fracking cause earthquakes
Post by: alancalverd on 19/09/2013 22:31:25

I've felt the earth move a few times in Blackpool. Ah, the golden days of youth! But we didn't call it "fracking" when I was a lad.

Title: Re: Does fracking cause earthquakes
Post by: Bass on 20/09/2013 02:02:02

There is a recent article in the journal "Geology"  (June 2013) that links wastewater injection from fracking wells to a 5.7M earthquake and aftershocks in Oklahoma.

Title: Re: Does fracking cause earthquakes
Post by: TectonoGirl on 21/10/2013 18:54:23

Any form of drilling and extracting/replacing fluids under the surface can effect earthquake activity.  Drilling water aquifers depletes pore fluid pressure and increases stresses on grain contacts and could cause failure.  Fracking is thought to induce some seismicity for the opposite reason though.  Fracking increases pore pressure to fracture the rocks, and this may act as "lubricant" along some fault surfaces and cause them to rupture.  Although, releasing small earthquakes and relieving stresses along a fault could prevent future and much larger earthquake ruptures.  Think of it like a soda bottle.  You could shake it up and open it in tiny increments to slowly release the pressure, or shake it up and open it all at once resulting in a much larger pressure-releasing event.