Liquids injected into fracking can cause periodic earthquakes

2016/11/18 Etxebeste Aduriz, Egoitz - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Geologia
• Ingurumena

Liquids that are injected into fracking or hydraulic fracture can produce periodic earthquakes for months. To this conclusion they have come in an investigation carried out in the Canadian west. This work has given the keys to better understand the relationship between fracking and the earthquake. Published in the journal Science.

Canadian researchers have analysed the earthquakes that occurred between December 2014 and March 2015. These were earthquakes caused by the activity of six fracking points, the last and largest occurred two weeks after the completion of the hydraulic fracture. In these fracking sessions, less than usual of the injected liquid was recovered. This liquid was therefore buried, which increases the underground pressure. Researchers believe that when this pressure migrates to fault zones it can cause periodic earthquakes. And they conclude that the risk of earthquakes of this type can be extended to several months.

Besides these Canadian countries, at the moment there are no other earthquakes caused by hydraulic fracture. In fact, those occurred in the center of the US. They have not been directly caused by hydraulic breakage, but by wastewater.