Our Planet
The latest news related to fracking,as we discuss in our last post, is from UK.The shale gas drilling process causes a minor earthquake with the intensity of 1.5 on Richter scale in the sea side town Blackpool.The people of Blackpool may have barely felt a shudder, but the repercussions could be wide-reaching.
Now the UK’s only ‘shale’ gas drilling project has been suspended after it emerged that the controversial technique may have caused the tremors.Shale gas drilling – known as 'fracking' – is the process of fracturing rock deep underground using high-pressure water to extract gas.The company behind the scheme, Cuadrilla, confirmed that it had been doing this just 1.2 miles from the epicentre of the tremor and has downed tools to investigate.
Experts believe the process could be behind the earthquake, which could have severe repercussions for drilling in the UK.It follows a 2.3 magnitude earthquake at the beginning of last month, which also occurred near to the site at Preese Hall, near Blackpool.
Now the UK’s only ‘shale’ gas drilling project has been suspended after it emerged that the controversial technique may have caused the tremors.Shale gas drilling – known as 'fracking' – is the process of fracturing rock deep underground using high-pressure water to extract gas.The company behind the scheme, Cuadrilla, confirmed that it had been doing this just 1.2 miles from the epicentre of the tremor and has downed tools to investigate.
Experts believe the process could be behind the earthquake, which could have severe repercussions for drilling in the UK.It follows a 2.3 magnitude earthquake at the beginning of last month, which also occurred near to the site at Preese Hall, near Blackpool.
WHAT IS 'FRACKING'?
- It is a mining technique commonly used to get gas or oil from under land rather than under the sea.
- To get the gas out, companies drill down into shale and form a well. They then inject wells with water, small amounts of chemicals and sand to create tiny cracks in the rock, allowing natural gas and sometimes oil to flow upwards into the well.
- The technique could add about 40 per cent to previous estimates of global recoverable gas resources, with the largest known reserves are in China, the United States, Argentina and Mexico.
- However, It is now feared the process could be the cause of small earthquakes
