Wastewater 'triggers US quake surge'

[webfact]

Wastewater from energy extraction 'triggers US quake surge'
Matt McGrath
By Matt McGrath

OKLAHOMA: -- Massive injections of wastewater from the oil and gas industry are likely to have triggered a sharp rise in earthquakes in the state of Oklahoma.

Researchers say there has been a forty-fold increase in the rate of quakes in the US state between 2008-13.

The scientists found that the disposal of water in four high-volume wells could be responsible for a swarm of tremors up to 35km away.

Their research has been published in the journal, Science.

Sudden swarm

There has been increasing evidence of links between the process of oil and gas extraction and earthquakes in states like Arkansas, Texas, Ohio and Oklahoma in recent years.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28128772


-- BBC 2014-07-04

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been deleted.

[shirtless]

1. Its hardly surprising, If you keep fracking the earths crust of course things will fracture.

[ThaiWest]

Folks, the referenced article in the BBC does not mention Texas. And, I live in Texas (have for most of 63 years) and have never known of any 'quakes' here...

[poweratradio]

Who cares!

[siampolee]

I am inclined to agre with shirtles.

We keep on mining these liquid products from under our feet and such deposits as I undertsand are under heavy pressure. So yes something is going to give surely.

The pressure drops tectonic movement begin and the next thing we get is an earthquake.

Could end up with the world in certain areas anyway imploding.

''Thinks'' Remind ones self not to buy property in Texas !!

Second ''thinks.''

All that oil extraction from the North sea might mean Scotland floats away from we English .

Those old sweaty socks wasting all that money on that independence referenbdum when old mother nature might well do the job for them.

Edited July 4, 2014 by siampolee

[Diablo Bob]

I am inclined to agre with shirtles.

We keep on mining these liquid products from under our feet and such deposits as I undertsand are under heavy pressure. So yes something is going to give surely.

The pressure drops tectonic movement begin and the next thing we get is an earthquake.

Could end up with the world in certain areas anyway imploding.

''Thinks'' Remind ones self not to buy property in Texas !!

Second ''thinks.''

All that oil extraction from the North sea might mean Scotland floats away from we English .

Those old sweaty socks wasting all that money on that independence referenbdum when old mother nature might well do the job for them.

The waste water is being pumped back into the oil field, the oil resevoir. Inasmuch as oil has a lesser specific gravity than water, the oil floats.

The pressure in the resevoir will increase not decrease. That being said, an increase in pressure could activate tetonic movement and actually lubricate the fault depending on the porosity of the geologic formation at that location.

I would worry if this was happening along the San Andreas fault (CA), oh wait, it is...... Taft California.

[snarky66]

Lots of amateur geologists on this forum. "Lubricate the fault"

That presupposes you know the depths of all these geologic features.

Most of you sound like climate scientists.

News on this forum is sourced from The Sun or News of the World.

We can conclude from TVF that global warming is real & oil production is bad. Okey.

[Bpuumike]

These minor quakes, if they are the result of frakking, will be superficial and localised and not tectonic events.

Edited July 4, 2014 by Bpuumike

[Diablo Bob]

Lots of amateur geologists on this forum. "Lubricate the fault"

That presupposes you know the depths of all these geologic features.

Most of you sound like climate scientists.

News on this forum is sourced from The Sun or News of the World.

We can conclude from TVF that global warming is real & oil production is bad. Okey.

There is no supposition....

Prior to production drilling, along with seismic surveys, we actually drill and sample the field.

The purpose of the sampling is to determine production drilling times and borehole drilling fluids. I work with the fluids.

[snarky66]

I was just calling out the quacks.

20 years with Halliburton & then 15 more with Baker Hughes.

I am so down with fracing.

I even know how to spell it.

[Diablo Bob]

I was just calling out the quacks.

20 years with Halliburton & then 15 more with Baker Hughes.

I am so down with fracing.

I even know how to spell it.

I am currently in Oman doing research on some new polymer fluids.....for Dairen.

So far it's been great and a disaster, big problems maintaining dispursion in our elevated summer environment. Experimenting on using chilled in-line mixing chamber. Otherwise the stuff works great.

Oh, I am not a geologist, I am actually a Geotechnical Engineer.

Edited July 4, 2014 by Diablo Bob

[BudRight]

I'm pretty sure I read about this study from a different source and the conclusion in the paper was that the increase in quakes was attributable to normal statistical variation.

[bendejo]

US politicians and 'professional political babblers' (a moronic but well-paid profession) are all for fracking because it performs the patriotic act of creating jobs. Anything negative about this practice is untrue because merely suggesting such is un-American.

Not until a person with a high profile in the media (celebrity, politician, exhibitionist, etc) suffers a substantial loss of property or life due to this will the issue be held for re-evaluation.

[ClutchClark]

I was just calling out the quacks.

20 years with Halliburton & then 15 more with Baker Hughes.

I am so down with fracing.

I even know how to spell it.

Simply working for the O&G Industry does not make one an expert of all things O&G related, although it does give you whats called a "vested" interest.

So far, you have established that you:

1) Are down.

2) Were employed in O&G

3) You know one way to spell it. http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/12/23/is-it-fracking-or-fracing/

When are you going to give us your insight on the supposition made in the OP.

;-)

[impulse]

When are you going to give us your insight on the supposition made in the OP.

Okay, I'll give you mine, as long as we all realize I'm taking the proverbial piss...

In 1811-1812, the New Madrid earthquake hit the center of the USA, with a ferocity that could kill millions if it happened today.

So the fact that we're now seeing multiple small earthquakes could be good news. Instead of the energy building up for "the big one", it's being dissipated in a bunch of small, harmless earthquakes.

All compliments of the oil companies. Betcha didn't think they were that magnanimous.

Ready now for the flaming responses....

[Bpuumike]

I am inclined to agre with shirtles.

We keep on mining these liquid products from under our feet and such deposits as I undertsand are under heavy pressure. So yes something is going to give surely.

The pressure drops tectonic movement begin and the next thing we get is an earthquake.

Could end up with the world in certain areas anyway imploding.

We could only hope that the world implodes in that area where the biggest part of the worlds oil is pumped.

A lot of people think oil and gas is found in big caverns which is not they case. They are in the pores of rocks (think a very solid sponge) and as they are produced are replaced with other fluids and the pressures are not substantially altered.

Tectonics is movement of major blocks of the earth at much greater depths than ever reached by drilling, which basically only scratches the surface.

[coldmike]

Where to start... First thaiwest, I've never felt an earthquacke either, so they must not exist. And Texas is a pretty big state too. Impulse, the New Madrid and San Andreas, luckily are not near fracking sites so they don't get the 'benefit' of small prepatory quakes. Lucky Pennsilvania, West Virginia, and New York State are near where a lot of fracking goes on so they do get a lot of 'helpful?' fracking quakes as well as mud slides and horribly polluted ground water. Lots of fresh water is wasted pumping into these wells and gets mixed with chemicals which make the left over water toxic which then mixes with the nearby DRINKING water to, enhance the flavor? I like my oil and gas, but there has to be some boundaries!

Edited July 5, 2014 by Scott

[poweratradio]

What a loud of armchair beer induced swillin this total thread full of no it all's and holier than thou's opinions based on documentaries and Nature of Things with David Suzuki science hour.

Wake up Geo techs the earth plates are floating on molten lava and anything can cause quakes and tremors.

This old wives tale has been around since the deep coal mine days too. Make a big hole and it weakens the earth ha ha ha

[Chicog]

I'm more concerned about the crap they are pumping into the environment, so filthy that in the States they bought the politicians to ban having to publicise what's in this noxious mix they are pouring into water tables.

[impulse]

What a loud of armchair beer induced swillin this total thread full of no it all's and holier than thou's opinions based on documentaries and Nature of Things with David Suzuki science hour.

Wake up Geo techs the earth plates are floating on molten lava and anything can cause quakes and tremors.

This old wives tale has been around since the deep coal mine days too. Make a big hole and it weakens the earth ha ha ha

I'm in the biz over 30 years. Proud of it.

We have done immeasurable harm to the environment, including sinking parts of Long Beach California by over 26' (http://www.longbeach.gov/oil/subsidence/story.asp). Some damage was because we didn't understand what was happening, some because it was a different world 80 years ago, and some out of plain old greed.

But we're not alone, as the withdrawals of water for agriculture, industrial, and domestic use has probably done a lot more damage- along with hard rock and coal mining and their waste products. And of course, the users of these products (taht's all of us) do their own damage that dwarfs any harm we did extracting them from the ground.

There is, in fact, convincing evidence that what's being done in the oil, mining and water industries is creating seismic events. But as I kidded about on a previous post, that may just be accelerating events that were going to happen anyway. The jury is still out.

On your "make a big hole and it will weaken the earth", you really need to do some research before poo-pooing the idea. There are regular surface collapses in areas around the world that have significant mining tunnels, not to mention whole mountains that have been on fire for decades, and surface subsidence all over from groundwater withdrawals. And they all result in seismic events- AKA earthquakes.

[ClutchClark]

What a loud of armchair beer induced swillin this total thread full of no it all's and holier than thou's opinions based on documentaries and Nature of Things with David Suzuki science hour.

Wake up Geo techs the earth plates are floating on molten lava and anything can cause quakes and tremors.

This old wives tale has been around since the deep coal mine days too. Make a big hole and it weakens the earth ha ha ha

I'm in the biz over 30 years. Proud of it.

We have done immeasurable harm to the environment, including sinking parts of Long Beach California by over 26' (http://www.longbeach.gov/oil/subsidence/story.asp). Some damage was because we didn't understand what was happening, some because it was a different world 80 years ago, and some out of plain old greed.

But we're not alone, as the withdrawals of water for agriculture, industrial, and domestic use has probably done a lot more damage- along with hard rock and coal mining and their waste products. And of course, the users of these products (taht's all of us) do their own damage that dwarfs any harm we did extracting them from the ground.

There is, in fact, convincing evidence that what's being done in the oil, mining and water industries is creating seismic events. But as I kidded about on a previous post, that may just be accelerating events that were going to happen anyway. The jury is still out.

On your "make a big hole and it will weaken the earth", you really need to do some research before poo-pooing the idea. There are regular surface collapses in areas around the world that have significant mining tunnels, not to mention whole mountains that have been on fire for decades, and surface subsidence all over from groundwater withdrawals. And they all result in seismic events- AKA earthquakes.

Thank you...finally someone who has both eyes open.

[Scott]

Off-topic posts and replies deleted.

[impulse]

Thank you...finally someone who has both eyes open.

Can't make it better if you won't face up to it.

We as an industry do better this year than last year and better last year than the year before. But no business, including farming is without its environmental costs. Don't get me started on farming- as much as I dearly love to eat.

Edited July 5, 2014 by impulse

[ClutchClark]

Thank you...finally someone who has both eyes open.

Can't make it better if you won't face up to it.

I worked O & G in my own backyard...the Western States back in the 70's & 80's before the bust.

Anyone who thinks Big Oil is their friend or that Big Oil is responsible and the Industry has no adverse environmental effects is not being honest...they are just protecting their paycheck.

The whole "Drill Baby Drill" mentality first voiced by that crazy woman in Arizona will only cause irreversible environmental degradation. We need to practice responsible exploitation and that is exactly what you are talking about.

Talk to Western ranchers about the damage the Industry has done...they aren't treehuggers but you might think they are by some of the things they have to say.

Cheers

[impulse]

Talk to Western ranchers about the damage the Industry has done...they aren't treehuggers but you might think they are by some of the things they have to say.

Yeah, and if you talk to some folks about the damage done by western ranchers, you'll be absolutely convinced they aren't tree huggers.

Look at photos of the Big Bend area of Texas before the ranchers, and you'll see green fields of tall grass. Today, it's desert. Overgrazing.

Drive in Wyoming today and look at the hills next to the road. On the road side of the fence, tall grass. On the ranchers' side of the fence, nothing but scrub and sage. Overgrazing.

No industry is without it's environmental costs, and very few businesses put being a good neighbor above their bottom line. Oil and gas, no different. But we're pretty tightly regulated nowadays.

Edited July 5, 2014 by impulse

[ClutchClark]

Talk to Western ranchers about the damage the Industry has done...they aren't treehuggers but you might think they are by some of the things they have to say.

Yeah, and if you talk to some folks about the damage done by western ranchers, you'll be absolutely convinced they aren't tree huggers.

Look at photos of the Big Bend area of Texas before the ranchers, and you'll see green fields of tall grass. Today, it's desert. Overgrazing.

Drive in Wyoming today and look at the hills next to the road. On the road side of the fence, tall grass. On the ranchers' side of the fence, nothing but scrub and sage. Overgrazing.

No industry is without it's environmental costs, and very few businesses put being a good neighbor above their bottom line. Oil and gas, no different. But we're pretty tightly regulated nowadays.

Could be but most of that overgrazing occurred back before the Grazing Act of 1934 when there was still "Open Range". Most ranchers in my region of CO/WY have owned that land since it was first patented--well, owned some and leased grazing rights for the rest. Its a culture for them and they are in it for the long haul.

Oil companies aren't. They are in it up until the moment its sucked dry and then they are gone.

[impulse]

Could be but most of that overgrazing occurred back before the Grazing Act of 1934 when there was still "Open Range". Most ranchers in my region of CO/WY have owned that land since it was first patented--well, owned some and leased grazing rights for the rest. Its a culture for them and they are in it for the long haul.

Oil companies aren't. They are in it up until the moment its sucked dry and then they are gone.

Yup, and then we're gone. The land is returned to its original state, and you can't even tell we've been there. (Okay, we're not perfect, but it works pretty well that way nowadays- like ranching, it wasn't always that way).

Ranchers kill off every predator (including wolves that cost millions to relocate), and often deny access to the "public" land where all they're really entitled to is grazing their cattle.

If they were held to the same standards that we are, wolves would be abundant, streams would run clear of cow crap (reference to California's problems), the groundwater wouldn't be a natural fertilizer (California dairy industry), and the land on their side of the fence would look just like the land on the other side. Even today, 80 years after the Act, it's not even close.

I'm not holding the ranchers out as any kind of demons. Most of them are responsible people with a few minor "overlooks" when it suits them. Just like every business out there.

Edit: But in fairness, (and to get back to topic), I doubt there have ever been any earthquakes attributable to grazing cattle. Global warming from cow farts, absolutely. But no earthquakes.

Edited July 5, 2014 by impulse

[Chicog]

Thank you...finally someone who has both eyes open.

Can't make it better if you won't face up to it.

I worked O & G in my own backyard...the Western States back in the 70's & 80's before the bust.

Anyone who thinks Big Oil is their friend or that Big Oil is responsible and the Industry has no adverse environmental effects is not being honest...they are just protecting their paycheck.

The whole "Drill Baby Drill" mentality first voiced by that crazy woman in Arizona will only cause irreversible environmental degradation. We need to practice responsible exploitation and that is exactly what you are talking about.

Talk to Western ranchers about the damage the Industry has done...they aren't treehuggers but you might think they are by some of the things they have to say.

Cheers

34 years in O&G here, and if anyone says the energy industry does any more than pay lip service to environmental issues is barking.

They do the bare minimum necessary to avoid any impact on the bottom line. If they're caught, they will bury it in legal action and "lobbying" (better known as bribes) to get away with the minimum penalties.

[Bpuumike]

Thank you...finally someone who has both eyes open.

Can't make it better if you won't face up to it.

I worked O & G in my own backyard...the Western States back in the 70's & 80's before the bust.

Anyone who thinks Big Oil is their friend or that Big Oil is responsible and the Industry has no adverse environmental effects is not being honest...they are just protecting their paycheck.

The whole "Drill Baby Drill" mentality first voiced by that crazy woman in Arizona will only cause irreversible environmental degradation. We need to practice responsible exploitation and that is exactly what you are talking about.

Talk to Western ranchers about the damage the Industry has done...they aren't treehuggers but you might think they are by some of the things they have to say.

Cheers

34 years in O&G here, and if anyone says the energy industry does any more than pay lip service to environmental issues is barking.

They do the bare minimum necessary to avoid any impact on the bottom line. If they're caught, they will bury it in legal action and "lobbying" (better known as bribes) to get away with the minimum penalties.

That's very true.

They only do it due to legal/environmental pressures.