Quakes Related to Disposal of Waste Water
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Academic
The Lawrence Journal-World Reported the Disposal of Waste Saltwater from Hydraulic Fracturing Could Be to Blame for a Sharp Increase in Earthquakes in South-central Kansas, According to a Geophysicist with the Kansas Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey said a 2.7 magnitude quake was reported about 3:50 a.m. Monday near Caldwell in Sumner County. A few minutes later a quake measuring 3.9 was reported about eight miles east-northeast of Anthony in Harper County.
Meanwhile, The Lawrence Journal-World reported the disposal of waste saltwater from hydraulic fracturing could be to blame for a sharp increase in earthquakes in south-central Kansas, according to a geophysicist with the Kansas Geological Survey.
Rick Miller's comments are the first by a state official to clearly suggest a link between hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, and the earthquakes that have rattled the area in the last two years.
The state recorded more than 120 earthquakes last year, up from none in 2012.
During hydraulic fracturing, a mixture of saltwater and chemicals pumped into the ground to break up rock formations and release oil and gas. Operators then inject the waste water deep into disposal wells.
"We can say there is a strong correlation between the disposal of saltwater and the earthquakes," Miller said.
Rex Buchanan, director of the Kansas Geological Survey, stressed that it is likely disposal of the waste water, not the fracking itself, which causes seismic movement.
"If someone were to say these earthquakes were caused by fracking, there might be one or two, but there is no evidence for it," Buchanan said. "The issue of saltwater disposal is completely different."
A task force appointed a year ago by Gov. Sam Brownback to study the problem said in a report released in September that not enough evidence existed to link the two.
A leader of the Sierra Club Kansas criticized Buchanan and other state officials for their response.
Source: cjonline.com
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