Most human induced earthquakes not caused by fracking: study
Posted Jun 10, 2015 12:07 pm.
Last Updated Jun 10, 2015 12:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A University of Calgary professor is among a network of seismologists across the continent that is highlighting a need to address myths about an increase in earthquakes triggered by human activity.
A collaborative journal released Wednesday suggests a need for a better understanding of the link between industrial activities, induced seismicity, and regulatory frameworks.
David Eaton is a professor of geophysics at the U of C, and one of the journal’s authors.
He agrees there has been an increase over the last seven or eight years of moderate earthquake activity in North America which has been caused by fluid injection.
He adds there are a number of misconceptions about the process, and one is that all this earthquake activity is caused by fracking.
“In places in the U.S. such as Oklahoma, where it’s very prominent, the main cause of this is actually disposal of waste water which is produced during oil production, rather than hydraulic fracturing.”
However, Eaton points out there is evidence that fracking can cause magnitude four quakes.
He says it’s key that transparent information on the topic is clearly communicated to the public.
