It is time for industry to pay for frackquake damage.
Three papers dealing with frackquakes came out this week, one from University of Colorado Boulder and the United States Geological Survey, another from Stanford University and another from Caltech.
From the University of Colorado Boulder and the United States Geological Survey:
“the entire increase in the number of earthquakes in the U.S. midcontinent is associated with injection wells…” Inside Climate News, Yes, Those Earthquakes Are Caused by Fracking Boom, Studies Confirm
This study links Fracking Waste Injection Wells to 60% of Earthquakes in Central and Eastern U.S.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder found that of the underground wells associated with earthquakes, 66% were used for oil recovery, a type of injection well. Other wells, those involving saltwater disposal, were 1.5 times as likely as oil recovery wells to be associated with earthquakes. Source
From two geologists at Stanford University:
greater seismicity in certain counties in Oklahoma was often preceded by 5- to 10-fold increases in the volume of wastewater injected. Inside Climate News
From CalTech, where they injected only 250 gallons of fluid into a fault where sensors had been installed:
Now, for the first time, researchers at Caltech and other institutions in the United States and France have observed how fluid injection sets off microearthquakes on a sizable, subterranean fault.
Fluid Injection’s Role in Man-Made Earthquakes Revealed
Science is finally catching up to what people who live near fracking have known for years. Fracking causes earthquakes. While science is catching up and industry is denying any responsibility while raking in profit, people are getting hurt.
It’s time for industry to pay for frackquake damage.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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I agree that the O&G industry should pay. Here’s my take on how to do it.
Anybody getting a permit to drill into mother earth deeper than the drinking water aquifers should be charged a fee to help buy an industry insurance policy to protect residents against any damage caused by “earth movements”.
That’s a good idea. The state should also levy heavy fines with CEO jail time for repeat offenders so they will be motivated to stop damaging the public.
Like that will ever happen.
More thoughts–the residential homeowner much have homeowners insurance–and if they refuse to pay for “earth movement” damages under that policy then the owner can file a claim to this state subsidized insurance plan for guaranteed payment.
Earthquake insurance isn’t very expensive. While I don’t think homeowners on the shale should have to pay for it, I think the larger issue isn’t the possibility of a frackquake damaging your home, it’s the the simple fact that the more frackquakes happen in a particular area, the more publicized the quakes are, the more difficult it will be to sell the home. If you have a home in what becomes a quake zone, i don’t think selling it (for what it would be worth or even what you paid for it) is any better than having a drill site in your back yard.This is one of the many issues homeowners have to face when living on the shale.
In Irving people have insurance that costs about $1500 with a $14000 deductible. That’s out of reach for many.