Was Canada’s Latest Earthquake the Largest Fracking Quake in

Was Canada’s Latest Earthquake the Largest Fracking Quake in

Postby Oscar » Sun Jan 17, 2016 9:42 am

Was Canada’s Latest Earthquake the Largest Fracking Quake in the World?

[ http://ecowatch.com/2016/01/14/alberta- ... 8-85909581 ]

Lorraine Chow | January 14, 2016 8:22 am |

A 4.8-magnitude earthquake [ http://ecowatch.com/2015/12/17/bc-fracking-earthquake/ ] has indefinitely closed fracking [ http://ecowatch.com/news/energy-news/fracking-2/ ] operations in northern Alberta, an area that has experienced a spate of tremors in recent months.

While it is too soon to tell if the temblor was triggered by fracking, if fracking is indeed the culprit, Canada will once again set a world record [ http://ecowatch.com/2015/12/17/bc-fracking-earthquake/ ] for the largest earthquake triggered by the controversial drilling process. [ http://ecowatch.com/2016/01/11/fracking ... -oklahoma/ ]

The earthquake was reported Tuesday at 11:27 a.m. approximately 30 kilometres west of Fox Creek, Alberta.

Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has ordered the shutdown of the site operated by multinational energy company Repsol Oil & Gas, CBC News reported. The regulator automatically shuts down a fracking site when any seismic activity registers above a 4.0.

“The company has ceased operations … and they will not be allowed to resume operations until we have approved their plans,” AER spokeswoman Carrie Rosa said.

A statement from Repsol confirmed that Tuesday’s earthquake occurred during fracking operations.

“Repsol immediately shut down operations and reported the event to the AER and other local authorities,” the statement said.

“The company is investigating the event, which includes reviewing and analyzing available geological and geophysical data, as well as the onsite seismic monitoring data. Operations will not resume at this location until a full assessment of the event has been completed and approval has been received from the AER.”

Jeffrey Gu, associate professor of geophysics at the University of Alberta, explained to CBC News that the area surrounding Fox Creek has seen hundreds of quakes ranging between 2.0 to 3.0 in the last six months. There were two two fairly large quakes in the area, including a 4.4 in January 2015, Gu said. He added that it was “highly probable” the earthquakes were caused by fracking.

Alberta’s provincial energy regulator also said at the time that the quake was likely caused by hydraulic fracturing.

Gu also told CBC News that if fracking induced Tuesday’s 4.8 quake, it would be the largest such quake in Canada’s history. Actually, such a quake would be the largest such quake in the world.

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[ http://ecowatch.com/2016/01/14/alberta- ... 8-85909581 ]

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Oscar
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Re: Was Canada’s Latest Earthquake the Largest Fracking Quak

Postby Oscar » Sun Jan 17, 2016 9:43 am

EPA Scientists Call Foul on Fracking Study, Say Findings ‘Inconsistent With Data Presented’

[ http://ecowatch.com/2016/01/08/epa-call ... ing-study/ ]

Lorraine Chow | January 8, 2016 9:25 am |

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) advisors are calling foul on the agency’s highly controversial study [ http://ecowatch.com/2015/06/04/epa-frac ... ing-water/ ] that determined hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has not led to “widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources in the U.S.”

This specific conclusion is being called into question by members of the EPA Science Advisory Board, which reviews the agency’s major studies, Bloomberg reported.

MORE:

[ http://ecowatch.com/2016/01/08/epa-call ... ing-study/ ]

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EPA Science Advisors Balk at Fracking Study

[ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... s-disagree ]

by Jennifer A Dlouhy t jendlouhyhc January 7, 2016 — 4:00 AM CST Updated on January 7, 2016 — 2:33 PM CST

A landmark study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that concluded fracking causes no widespread harm to drinking water is coming under fire [ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... m-fracking ] -- this time, from the agency’s own science advisers.

The EPA’s major finding in June’s preliminary report, that there’s no evidence fracking has led to "widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water," was seen as a vindication of hydraulic fracturing [ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... regulation ] . A repudiation of the results could reignite the debate over the need for more regulation.

Members of the EPA Science Advisory Board, [ http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabpeople.n ... ry%20Panel ] which reviews major studies by the agency, said in a report released Thursday the agency’s main conclusion "is ambiguous and requires clarification."

The major findings "are inconsistent with the observations, data and levels of uncertainty" presented in the rest of EPA’s water study, the 31-member panel said. The panel will deliberate over the draft recommendations it issued Thursday during a public teleconference Feb. 1, and possibly further revise them before sending final advice to EPA.

The scientific panel’s recommendations aren’t binding and the EPA is not required to change its study to accommodate them. But they already are raising questions about the most comprehensive assessment yet of a practice that has driven a domestic oil and gas boom but also spawned complaints about water contamination.

An EPA spokeswoman said the agency will use comments from the scientists and the public to "evaluate" possible changes to the report.

MORE:

[ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... s-disagree ]
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