Geology:

Geology Case study Fracking as a cause of Earthquakes Earthquakes, also known as tremors, refer to thecreation of seismic waves occurring mainly due to the sudden release of energy in the earth’s crust. Many factors have been said to cause earthquakes, however for environmentalists, hydraulic fracturing, or fracking is the greatest cause. However, such an opinion is subject to debate and can only be justified through proof. Based on such a perspective, this paper addresses the aspect that despite the fact that fracking indeed causes earthquakes, it does so to limited extent as compared to other causes such as reservoir-filling.
Fracking, which is also the hydraulic fracturing process used to access oil and gas from rock and shale has caused a significant number of earthquakes in the past, however, it is nothing compared to the manmade causes of the same that have ideally caused great damage. The manmade causes attributed to earthquakes include mining, geothermal activity and reservoir water storage (Bakhsh). Research has revealed that earthquakes occur in magnitudes that range between 1. 6 and 5. 6 (Bakhsh), whereas reservoir filling can cause tremors of magnitudes of up to 7. 9, which is significantly a very high magnitude. In the instances in which earthquakes are caused because of striking the oil and gas-rich regions, the magnitude felt usually range between 1. 5 and 3. 2. This is a clear show that despite the fact that fracking causes earthquakes; it does so to a significantly limited extent as compared to the other causes.
From the above perspective therefore, it is clear that fracking is indeed a cause of earthquakes, however, it is not as gross as it is perceived because there are other factors that cause gross damage as compared to other factors. It is therefore conclusive that indeed fracking causes earthquakes.
Work Cited
Bakhsh, Nidaa Fracking Doesn’t Cause Significant Earthquakes, Study Says; 04-10-2013.
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