Fracking wastewater injection likely increased Okla. earthquakes

By on July 23, 2014
Earth and Atmosphere News


Researchers at Cornell University studying the effects of fracking wastewater on seismicity say the injection of the substance is the likely cause for an increase in earthquakes in Oklahoma since 2009, according to a release from the university.

From 2008 to 2013, scientists found that earthquakes in Oklahoma made up close to half of all the seismic events recorded in the central and eastern United States. They found that many of those earthquakes occurred in areas of high-rate water disposal.

Researchers also determined that earthquakes occurred more than 30 kilometers from disposal wells, which beats the previous distance believed to be susceptible to extra seismicity, 5 kilometers.

Full results of the study are available in the journal Science.

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