Top geologists from Oklahoma and Colorado say scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey were "too quick to conclude that disposal of oil and gas waste is linked to a rise in the number of earthquakes in the middle of the country," reports Mike Soraghan of EnergyWire (a subscription-only outlet). Both states experienced earthquakes last year and were prominent in the USGS findings.
The USGS report didn't link hydraulic fracturing to the earthquakes, but did link them to use of deep injection wells to dispose of fracking waste water, notes Susan Phillips of State Impact. In these wells, waste water is shot deep into the earth under high pressure.
Soraghan reports the state geologiests didn't argue that waste-injection wells couldn't cause earthquakes, just that the data USGS used is not sufficient proof. “It is unlikely that all of the earthquakes can be attributed to human activities,” said Oklahoma Geological Survey Director Randy Keller. “We consider a rush to judgment about earthquakes being triggered to be harmful to state, public and industry interests.”
Soraghan reports the state geologiests didn't argue that waste-injection wells couldn't cause earthquakes, just that the data USGS used is not sufficient proof. “It is unlikely that all of the earthquakes can be attributed to human activities,” said Oklahoma Geological Survey Director Randy Keller. “We consider a rush to judgment about earthquakes being triggered to be harmful to state, public and industry interests.”
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