The number of earthquakes in the central United States rose “spectacularly” near where oil and gas drillers disposed of wastewater underground, according to a new study.
The new report from the US Geological Survey comes just days after a UK report confirmed a causal link between fracking and seismic activity at a drilling site in Blackpool, England.
However, the US research doesn’t tie the seismic activity to the high-pressure hydraulic fracturing process itself, but to the sites where wastewater pumped after use in fracking.
Both reports have received media coverage in New Zealand, where fracking continues to be an issue of public interest and debate. Exampes include:
US Report
Stuff.co.nz: Spectacular increase in human-made quakes
Radio New Zealand: Human-made earthquakes reported in central US
UK Report
Otago Daily Times: Fracking found to cause quakes
NZ Herald: Fracking causes quakes – but small ones
MSN News: Small quakes caused by fracking: UK report
Stuff.co.nz: British Report Finds Fracking Causes Small Quakes… |
Idealog: Report: Fracking causes small earthquakes
TVNZ News: Fracking study offers ‘some reassurance’ to NZ – expert
Radio Live: Fracking confirmed to have caused small Earthquakes in England