The 5.0 magnitude earthquake is tied for the sixth strongest in state history. Scientists have warned for years that increased fracking in West Texas is causing higher earthquake activity.
Just to mention, so people don’t think this damage will be reversed in 4 years. They’ll likely sell the rights to the data for a pittance after getting their own cut. The buyer will have a franchise to markup the data for 50 years.
100% this. Although it’s a chicken egg situation. There wouldn’t be near as much produced water without fracing since the wells wouldn’t have been drilled in the first place so no need to dispose of produced water. The injection of produced water typically pressures up and lubricates existing fault planes causing them to slip.
Fracking. You can always spot the fracking fields on USGS if you set it to 7 days, all quakes. Like this.
It’s the reason the Trump administration is fighting so hard against science. It’s blocks their ability to make money without consequences.
Texas literally overwhelmingly voted for this
Where’s AVALANCHE when you need em?
Until the USGS no longer exists.
It’ll exist as a data bundle you have to pay for like cable or internet. They’re going to monetize everything.
Just to mention, so people don’t think this damage will be reversed in 4 years. They’ll likely sell the rights to the data for a pittance after getting their own cut. The buyer will have a franchise to markup the data for 50 years.
Technically it’s from water disposal, not fracking. Still oilfield, but it’s not the fracking that causes it.
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/do-all-wastewater-disposal-wells-induce-earthquakes
100% this. Although it’s a chicken egg situation. There wouldn’t be near as much produced water without fracing since the wells wouldn’t have been drilled in the first place so no need to dispose of produced water. The injection of produced water typically pressures up and lubricates existing fault planes causing them to slip.