Environment

Fracking Earthquakes

Posted by JM Ashby

As if more reasons were required to be skeptical of the gas-drilling technique known as "fracking," now the practice has been linked to causing earthquakes in addition to other forms of mayhem such as flammable drinking water.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Two natural gas companies have agreed to temporarily suspend use of injection wells in central Arkansas where earthquakes keep occurring.

Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy and Clarita Operating of Little Rock told the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission on Friday that they've stopped operation of the wells near Greenbrier and Guy pending the panel's next regular meeting on March 29.

The commission says there is likely a link between the wells and the earthquakes. There have been more than 800 quakes in the area in the past six months and a magnitude 4.7 quake – the strongest in Arkansas in 35 years – hit there Sunday.

What could possibly go wrong? See -- Gasland