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Minor Quakes In the UK Likely Caused By Fracking

Posted by Soulskill on from the bsg-fans-confused dept.

Stirling Newberry writes "Non-conventional extraction of hydrocarbons is the next wave of production, including natural gas and oil – at least according to its advocates. One of the most controversial of the technologies being used is hydraulic fracture drilling, or 'fracking.' Energy companies have been gobbling up Google ad words to push the view that the technology is 'proven' and 'safe,' while stories about the damage continue to surface. Adding to the debate are two small tremors in the UK — below 3.0, so very small – that were quite likely the result of fracking there. Because the drilling cracks were shallow, this raises concerns that deeper cracks near more geologically active areas might lead to quakes that could cause serious damage."

8 of 318 comments (clear)

  1. Groundwater by vossman77 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Not to mention its potential impact on local groundwater:

    http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/index.cfm

    1. Re:Groundwater by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/09/fracking-methane-flammable-drinking-water-study_n_859677.html

    2. Re:Groundwater by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRZ4LQSonXA

      This isn't what I had in mind when I asked for 'firewater'

      The movie Gas Land has been discredited and this particular water source had Nat gas in it BEFORE fracking began. They are called hissing wells; water wells that are also souces of nat gas. If anything Fracking will improve the water source since it is removing the nat gas. Peddle your propaganda elsewhere.

    3. Re:Groundwater by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

      Notice that the flame is orange not blue. If it were natural gas the flame would be blue, orange indicates that it is either methane or acetylene, neither of which is found in gelogical formations. When found in ground water they are most likely cause by run off that leaches through highly decomosing organic soils.

  2. Ignorance out in full force again... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Oy. Both the EPA and GWPC have said that there is no proven link between fracking and contaminated groundwater. 99% of what is sent into the earth is plain, non-potable water. The other 1% is made up of various chemicals of varying toxicity, the most toxic two chemicals making up about 0.1% of the hundreds of thousands of gallons of liquid sent down.

    The case correlating fracking to groundwater contamination is as strong as Jenny McCarthy's claims correlating vaccines to autism. /Geologist who works for a major oil company.

  3. Re:Quake in DC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    First off, it wasn't a DC quake, it was a Mineral, VA quake that was felt in DC. Second, there is a history of earthquakes in the area dating back to colonial times. Third, there was no fracking going on in the area.

  4. Re:Even with a major earthquake by sycodon · · Score: 4, Informative

    Gas reserves are far below water tables in complete different strata...five thousand to 20,000 feet, far , far deeper than any aquifer.

    But you keep drinking that Kool Aid.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  5. Re:I hope UK Regulates better than TX and USA by pedestrian+crossing · · Score: 2, Informative

    News flash, the Senate Republictards decided that the filibuster would be a great way to subvert democracy.

    --
    A house divided against itself cannot stand.