A hydraulic fracturing operation in Alberta has been shut down indefinitely after an earthquake hit the area Tuesday.
The energy company has stopped operating in a part of Alberta that is subject to heavy hydraulic fracking after the province’s energy regulator reported the area’s largest earthquake in more than a year.
The magnitude 4.8 quake was reported at 11:27 a.m., said the Alberta Energy Regulator, which ordered the shutdown of the Repsol Oil & Gas site near Fox Creek.
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CBC news reports:
Carrie Rosa, spokeswoman for the regulator, says “the company has ceased operations … and they will not be allowed to resume operations until we have approved their plans.”
Rosa added the company is working with the energy regulator to ensure all environmental and safety rules are followed.
In a statement, Repsol confirmed the seismic event and said the company was conducting hydraulic fracturing operations at the time it happened.
“Repsol immediately shut down operations and reported the event to the AER and other local authorities,” the statement said.
“The company is investigating the event, which includes reviewing and analyzing available geological and geophysical data, as well as the onsite seismic monitoring data. Operations will not resume at this location until a full assessment of the event has been completed and approval has been received from the AER.”
There were no reports of injuries or damage to the site, Rosa said.
Alta., has been shut down after an earthquake hit the area Tuesday.
Niamh Harris
we know fracking causes earthquakes, or at least some.
we know fracking causes earthquakes, or at least some.
The first question I would have is how close was this quake to the known faults of the Circum-Pacific earthquake belt? Do we know for a fact that quake was related to the actual fracking operations? Wastewater disposal associated with fracking is known to be the main earthquake risk element. I don’t think we should make fracking an all or nothing issue, but we need much stronger regulation of wastewater disposal. If we ban fracking outright that means much heavier dependence on oil imports as well as much higher gasoline prices.