By The Canadian Press

Research finds some answers to questions around fracking and earthquakes

Jan 18, 2018 | 3:17 PM

EDMONTON – Scientists say they have figured out how hydraulic fracking causes earthquakes in northern Alberta.

But they have a way to go before they can predict if fracking will cause temblors in other areas.

Hundreds of earthquakes have shaken the Duvernay oil and gas field since 2013 and rattled homes in the nearby community of Fox Creek.

Those quakes have long been linked with hydraulic fracking used to release oil or natural gas in the ground, but researchers didn’t understand how it worked.

Research now suggests a combination of a certain kind of geology and drilling practices seem to be the cause.

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If the right kind of underground faults are in place, injecting too much fluid into a well will cause a quake.

Ryan Schultz of the Alberta Geological Survey says it’s tough to know in advance if an area is susceptible to quaking.

He says the next step is to look for other signs of whether an area is at risk.

(The Canadian Press)