http://ecowatch.com/2015/10/28/earthquakes-kansas-fracking/
[images and links in on-line article]
Alarming Uptick of Earthquakes in Kansas Linked to Fracking With 52 in
Just Last Two Weeks
Lorraine Chow | October 28, 2015 10:57 am
Just like in Oklahoma, Kansas is seeing a shocking uptick in earthquakes
connected to the underground disposal of wastewater from the hydraulic
fracturing, or fracking, process.
The Washington Post reports that Kansas has recorded more earthquakes in
the past two weeks alone than there have been in the years between 1990
and 2013. According to the Kansas Geological Survey, between Oct. 15-26,
there were 52 quakes, most with a magnitude between 2.0 or 3.0. That’s a
huge increase from the 19 earthquakes recorded in the state between 1990
and 2010.
In all, the number of earthquakes in the state jumped from four in 2013
to 817 in 2014, the Post reported.
In recent years, Kansas has seen an energy boom-and-bust due to
technological advancements in fracking and horizontal drilling. However,
this quest for oil and gas has produced mixed results, from harmful
waste spills to an increase in seismic activity.
Earlier this year, the Kansas Corporation Commission, which regulates
the state’s oil and gas industry, decided to limit the underground
injection disposal of saltwater from oil wells mainly in Harper and
Sumner Counties. The decision reportedly tamped down on the number of
earthquakes in the area, according The Wichita Eagle.
However, one can only wonder if the recent spate of tremors in the state
has anything to do with the commission’s regulations expiring Sept. 13.
Fracking involves shooting highly pressurized liquid into underground
rock and shale formations to release trapped oil and gas. This large
quantity of leftover liquid from the fracking process is then injected
into underground wells. Multiple studies have said that this action has
been triggering long dormant fault lines.
Kansas currently has 7,000 permitted waste wells, compared to the 2,000
it had 15 years ago, the Post observed.
Besides Kansas, other oil-and gas-rich states such as Oklahoma,
Arkansas, Colorado, Ohio and Texas have all observed more earthquakes
that are linked to wastewater injection activity, according to IBTimes.
“Activities that have induced felt earthquakes in some geologic
environments have included impoundment of water behind dams, injection
of fluid into the Earth’s crust, extraction of fluid or gas, and removal
of rock in mining or quarrying operations,” the U.S. Geological Survey says.
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