Fracking - Possible Cause of Fox Creek Quake
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Academic
A geophysicist is looking at whether hydraulic fracking caused a 4.4-magnitude earthquake recorded on Saturday near Fox Creek, Alta
"We have to take time to analyze the records," said Jeff Gu, an associate professor at the University of Alberta.
"But from earlier events in the same area ... we found a strong correlation between the timing of these events, early events from late 2003, with three injection wells west of the town of Fox Creek."
"These earlier earthquakes related to Fox Creek were most likely, with a 99 per cent possibility, related to fracking."
In January, Fox Creek recorded two earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.8 and 4.4. The Alberta Energy Regulator said theJan. 22 quakewas likely caused by hydraulic fracking.
Gu said the magnitudes of earthquakes seem to be getting larger.
If the latest quakes are found to be caused by fracking, Gu said the industry may have to take more precautions.
Alberta Geological Survey now requires a temporary shutdown of operations after events of magnitude 4.0 or greater.
Source: CBC
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