Cuadrilla Resources Halts Fracking In U.K. Fearing Possible Earthquake Connection

LONDON -- A mining company has halted drilling for shale gas in England after scientists said two small earthquakes might be linked to the controversial process, known as "fracking."

The British Geological Survey recorded a 1.5 magnitude quake Friday near Blackpool in northwest England, within 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) of the gas exploration site. A 2.3 magnitude quake was recorded last month.

The geological survey's head of seismology, Brian Baptie, said Tuesday that the two quakes appeared to have "a similar location and mechanism."

Cuadrilla Resources said it had stopped hydraulic fracturing, or fracking – the process of extracting gas by pummeling rocks deep underground with high-pressure water, sand and chemicals – while it studied data from the quakes and consulted with experts.

"We expect that this analysis and subsequent consultation will take a number of weeks to conclude and we will decide on appropriate actions after that," said chief executive Mark Miller.

Shale gas extraction, pioneered by the U.S. and Canada, is forecast to boost global recoverable natural gas resources by 40 percent. But ecologists are alarmed by its environmental impact.

The biggest worry is that cancer-causing compounds used in the process could pollute water supplies. High levels of methane gas also have been found in tap water near some U.S. drilling sites, with YouTube videos showing people apparently setting fire to tap water.

Like the United States, European nations are keen to reduce their reliance on imported oil and gas. But they have been wary of fracking.

Poland has announced a major investment in shale gas to break free of dependence on Russian gas imports, but France put a similar project on hold and has taken a first legislative step toward banning shale gas extraction. Germany has some test projects, but many in the country have concerns about the environmental impact.

Last week British lawmakers said the country should develop its shale gas resources to reduce reliance on imported energy supplies. The House of Commons Energy and Climate Change committee said there was little risk to underground water aquifers as long as drilling wells were constructed properly.

The Cuadrilla exploration scheme, which began in March, is currently Britain's only shale gas project.

Comments

[The last sane American]

07:14 AM on 06/05/2011

Our friend from 'down-under', chrismead, wrote

"Although it has been out for a while, I only watched the documentar­y Gasland last night. I was appalled at not only the number of these facilities in the U.S. but how much suffering was caused to the people who live nearby. How on earth the spokespers­ons for the companies who own and operate these facilities can deny the harm being done to the environmen­t leaves me speechless­. They ought to hang their heads in shame."

Before anyone spends money to watch, I suggest googling it for free and discovering what a great "fictionentary" it is.

[vietveter]

12:17 PM on 06/05/2011

Happy that you woke-up.

There is a reason that oil billionaire T. BOONE PICKENS is buying water rights everywhere he can; when the
Fracking Gas Holes finish poisoning the water supply what water is left will be worth more than oil.

Water is different than oil in that YOU MUST HAVE WATER or you will die.

Do a search on the HuffPost main page - "fracking" and you will see how hidden this problem is.

Raise hell and tell everyone you know about this issue.

Now that you are UP . . . have a cup of coffee ;~)

[The last sane American]

08:48 PM on 06/05/2011

So what is the use of rights to poisoned water?

Everything when it is not actually poisoned but alleged to be.

[vietveter]

12:20 PM on 06/05/2011

It is only a "fictionen­tary" if you don't have a well close to a fracking gas hole

[Scotishpinkocommie]

01:45 PM on 06/02/2011

yeah my biggest problem with fracking is the use of carcinogenic chemicals. Why are the chemicals needed and cant we use less deadly chemicals?

[dminore]

08:12 AM on 06/02/2011

Hydraulic fracturing is about as wrong as a company (Halliburton) can get. Watch "Gasland" and wake up. There's very little uncontaminated American fresh water left and there are no regulations or enforcement in place to keep such a powerfully wreckless and relentless monster of a company like Halliburton in check. They have their eye on the Delaware River Basin and the Great Lakes. Stop the monster. They will destroy the world for profit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3VIRF1jf-g

http://pelham.patch.com/articles/state-attorney-general-sues-federal-agency-over-hydrofracking-5

[The last sane American]

07:21 AM on 06/05/2011

Where in the article did you see mention of Halliburton?

[dminore]

09:01 AM on 06/05/2011

It's not in the article.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/01/dems-oil-gas-drillers-inc_n_816821.html

http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2010/world/epa-and-halliburton-skirmish-promises-of-safer-fracking-fluid/

http://www.ogfj.com/index/article-display/7981797565/articles/oil-gas-financial-journal/unconventional/international-unconventional/halliburton-performs.html

[themodernleader]

06:19 AM on 06/02/2011

The humans being born demand a modern standard of living. Satisfying such demands appear to be damaging the balance of nature, the operations , the cycles of nature. May I suggest that we would best spend some of exploratory money on those mechanisms and persuasions that stop this outrageous over-population of our species? Humans must deal with the real problems or these problems will be dealt with by nature in a more harmful way.

[Yorksgal]

01:03 AM on 06/02/2011

Good for them - now about this country......

There has not been enough research done to know just what harm this brings to people and to the earth. We can not keep on destroying this planet so we can keep on using the natural resources as if there is no tomorrow. Nature is giving us a warning - we need to take heed and fast.

[Trittydi]

12:47 AM on 06/02/2011

Very good.
*

[MikeDu]

10:53 PM on 06/01/2011

Oh well, there goes the much touted scheme for 'clean coal' cabon sequestration as well. I'magine pumping tons of carbon miles underground, it would be like an overpressurized seltzer bottle.

[tjconkster]

08:33 PM on 06/01/2011

Oh...Pish-posh....

[blackgrl71]

05:13 PM on 06/01/2011

Not us. Not only will we keeping 'fracking away', laughing at any and all scientific evidence indicating how harmful it is, because that's the "american way."

[Malcolm Hensley]

06:53 PM on 06/01/2011

By scientific evidence you mean what?

I've read several report on fracking have not seen any evidence. There was the Duke University report, there was the discredited Cornell University report that was critical written by a marine biologist and an aerospace engineer whose claim to fame was he could not understand why Southwest 737's were cracking.

As a former senior scientist at a major chemical company I'm just surprised what passes as scientific evidence for most people "you-tube" - a movie! Please!!! Please!!! Say it's not so!

[blackgrl71]

09:04 PM on 06/01/2011

So what all the people who've directly suffered from fracking, brain damage, neuro-vascular damage, failed crops and livestock, people's drinking water so toxic you can light it on fire, groundswell. I personally know people who're living w/ some of these conditions that weren't there BEFORE they started fracking in the immediate area... Are you saying it's a "stretch" to suggest that fracking has something to do w/ it?! Granted, perhaps the whole earthquake thing needs a great deal more study, but to completely dismiss it would be erroneous at best, and dangerously irresponsible at least.

As for your background, you're right what's being passed in place of science these days, particularly around global-warming or evolution is appalling.

[PotomacOracle]

10:26 PM on 06/01/2011

Then tell us why won't the gas drillers, the frackers allow tests on their sites, tests of their chemical cancer causing cocktail and tests of the geological impact at their sites closest to recent earthquakes in Arkansas?

[bluejoni2525]

03:46 PM on 06/01/2011

Well not HERE !!! HeII we'll frack right next to a nuclear power plant !!!! Science is lost on the masses and the corporations don't care, that's a recipe for disaster !!

[Mickey Markoff]

03:42 PM on 06/01/2011

Edgar Cayce, the "sleeping prophet" predicted that the major part of Japan would sink under the sea and that northern Europe would change as in the "twinkling of an eye". I can see why. Icelandic volcanoes covering the UK wasn't bad enough; they seem to be looking to destroy themselves.

[PotomacOracle]

10:43 PM on 06/01/2011

Oh, it's not just the Euros. It's anywhere the oil and gas psychopaths have bored through the earths crust or into permafrost. Google methane hydrate dissociation, Lake Biakal, Methane hydrates and the Beaufort Sea. Also, oil and gas exploration in the "Ring of Fire."

http://oilbeseeingyou.blogspot.com/2010/08/methane-hydrate-risk-in-our-pursuit-of.html

Visit the USGS earthquake center and look at the hundreds of "quakes reported around the site of Japan/s nuclear diaster.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/

These are mostly methane hydrate dissociations creating quake magnitudes of 3.5 to 5.5. Not only will Japan suffer the horrors of fallout, but also the subsidence of the northern portion of the Island as has already been noted by the USGS.

http://oilbeseeingyou.blogspot.com/2010/08/methane-hydrate-risk-in-our-pursuit-of.html

[realityCheckInTheMail]

01:29 PM on 06/03/2011

Go to Ft. Worth and see the devastation. 1500 wells frac-ed wells in Ft. Worth alone. People dying in the city. Ft. Worth municipal water lights on fire!

Oh wait, never mind.

[Bee NotEvil]

03:25 PM on 06/01/2011

Did you see this new video of Gasland director admitting he didn't show the full story - http://youtu.be/e9CfUm0QeOk

[William J Unverferth Sr]

02:54 PM on 06/01/2011

These explanations that are given are what turns me off to the 'greens' it's all intellectual dishonesty. Just say you are against it because it makes fossile fuels cheaper and easier than wind/solar. Stop making up non existant problems and just admit you hate fossile fuels you will look far more honest. Natural gas is non-toxic in ground water though it does present mechanical and explosive threats that need to be countered but no groundwater has ever been contaminated by fracking. There has been contamination through surface spills and by well seals but NOT by the frack which is the only unique aspect of process.

[Malcolm Hensley]

02:59 PM on 06/01/2011

From there arguments it becomes apparent that anti-frackers are less technically competent than climate change deniers.

[vietveter]

12:29 PM on 06/05/2011

True story. I only know that the well water is not drinkable anymore

[Doug Watt]

08:30 PM on 06/01/2011

You come close to not possibly being more wrong:

“This report shows that these companies are injecting millions of gallons of products that contain potentially hazardous chemicals, including known carcinogens. I urge EPA and DOE to make certain that we have strong protections in place to prevent these chemicals from entering drinking water supplies.”

http://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?q=news/committee-democrats-release-new-report-detailing-hydraulic-fracturing-products

[The last sane American]

02:54 PM on 06/01/2011

NIMBY, NIMBY and more NIMBY

[Preraphaelite]

02:46 PM on 06/01/2011

There is a little science fiction book called "Blackpool Vanishes" by Richard Francis.
I hope Blackpool wont vanish down it's own fracking hole.
Just stop this nonsense and find a less invasive form of energy.