What is fracking in nc

The term induced seismicity or induced seismology refers to seismic events that occur at higher than normal rates due to human activity. Induced seismic events e.

In , the U. Geological Survey concluded the following: [24] [28] [29]. Geological Survey found that wastewater disposal, rather than fracking, was the main cause of an increase in earthquakes throughout the central United States from to According to the agency, wastewater disposal wells raise pressure levels more than fracked wells.

Larger amounts of fluid are used in wastewater disposal wells than in fracked wells; thus, wastewater disposal wells are more likely to produce induced seismic events than fracked wells. A study by the Environmental Protection Agency EPA identified three factors needed for a disposal well to induce seismic activities: sufficient pressure buildup due to the disposing of fluids, a fault of concern a fault that is significantly stressed , and a path allowing increased pressure to move from a well to a fault.

According to the EPA, as of few disposals wells had produced earthquakes with a magnitude above 4 on the Richter scale for comparison, an earthquake with a magnitude of 3 is similar to the passage of a nearby truck. For more information on fracking and seismic activity, see this article. The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms North Carolina fracking. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Fracking in North Carolina - Google News. Energy policy in North Carolina. Fracking in the United States. Environmental policy in North Carolina. Ballotpedia features , encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers.

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Share this page Follow Ballotpedia. What's on your ballot? Jump to: navigation , search. File:Hydraulic Fracturing-Related Activities. To nominate another study on hydraulic fracturing, contact us at editor ballotpedia. File:Frac job in process. Although hydrocarbons can exist in low-grade metamorphic systems, the fluids often migrate as part of this process 4.

While it remains unlikely that there are any recoverable hydrocarbons left in most of the rocks that have been metamorphosed under the conditions that the Ocoee Supergroup sediments were subjected to during mountain building, more research on metamorphic hydrocarbon mobility certainly needs to be done.

According to Dr. Originally, DENR was tasked with testing the rocks in parts of western NC for the available organic carbon content, since the presence of certain metamorphic minerals indicates that the rocks may or may not have reached the thermal conditions that are best for hydrocarbon development and storage. It is important to note that this exploration and testing was requested by the NC legislature prior to the budget revisions.

To my knowledge there have been no oil or gas companies who have been interested in developing the Precambrian rift sediments in western NC. What about Ashe County? I've heard there's going to be gas exploration and development in the northwestern part of the county. The rocks in Ashe and Watauga counties are completely unfit for gas development.

They are a mix of very old, high grade metamorphic rocks like the Cranberry Gneiss, Blowing Rock Gneiss, and Ashe Metamorphic Suite, among others and lower grade volcanic rocks the Mt. Rogers Formation. Any fears about fracking in the High Country are totally unfounded. More information specific to the fracking rumors in Ashe County can be found in the Jefferson Post. Fracking in itself causes very minor seismicity. However, injection of fracking fluid byproducts back into the ground has been known to be a seismic hazard since the late s.

To avoid surface groundwater contamination one of the disposal methods of this fluid is to inject it back deep underground where it came from.

However, care must be taken that injection wells are located in regions that do not contain old faults that can be reactivated as part of the process. The injection-associated earthquakes are not very strong certainly not as strong as earthquakes seen around plate boundaries, like in California or Japan or Chile , but in areas that are not usually seismically active they do pose a danger, as microfaults or old faults that are normally locked up become "slippery" with injection fluids.

The extent of injection well induced seismicity can be a serious hazard, as seen in the earthquake swarms in Oklahoma. As long as there are proper regulations in place, and these regulations are actually enforced , I think it can be done safely.

Natural gas is less polluting than coal for electricity, and far more efficient. But like any extractive industry, there is always going to be some environmental impact. I think it's important to have a national energy policy that balances local environmental impact with the economic needs of a region, and that communities who are going to bear the brunt of the environmental impact are compensated adequately. The methane gas stirred loose during the drilling process can end up in tap water, causing it to ignite.

In North Carolina, the drinking water for at least 2. Some state leaders are suggesting fracking as far west as the Nantahala National Forest—putting precious mountain streams at risk. Pat McCrory and state lawmakers have enacted a new law to allow fracking permits as soon as May Take action now to keep N.

Check out our fracking expose to learn more about the consequences of fracking across the country. Screen Shot at Your financial support gives us the resources to research, lobby and organize more citizen support to win.

Your letters, emails and phone calls put pressure on lawmakers to enact a moratorium on fracking in the first place. By taking action and sending a message to North Carolina decision-makers, we can show them North Carolinians don't want fracking in our state. Berger, CVS N. Skip to content. North Carolina.