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Earthquake In South Texas


Fracking In Karnes CountyAt 12:24 UTC there was an earthquake in South Texas. Here is the location on googlemaps.

Was it due to fracking? Fracking has been proven, in multiple cases, to cause quakes. But we don't know yet the cause of this one. The quake is in the vicinity of the Balcones Fault, but there is also a great deal of fracking in this area: see this photoset (start at this photo and move forward) of mine taken just outside of Karnes City and Kenedy, Texas.

Whatever the cause, ask yourself what kind of unseen damage it takes to create an earthquake? Is it worth it?


Sean Paul Kelley October 20, 2011 - 10:16am
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( categories: Environment | Global Energy | USA: Texas )

how common are quakes in that area historically?

I'd heard of the occasional shake further west, but not in south TX. Might be good to wait and see where USGS localizes it once all their seismometer data comes in.

Chances are you're probably closer to the truth than you might like..

"It's no longer IOKIYAR....It's OK If You're A Republican, but IOKBYAR--It's OK BECAUSE You're a Republican." -- Me

justadood October 20, 2011 - 11:41am
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They are pretty rare at that magnitude. Of course

they do occur in West Texas at that level, from time to time, but in South Texas? No, it's exceptional. There was a 4.3 in 1993. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Quake-rattles-S-A-area-2227763.php

There have only been ten since 1973 that were all much smaller.

Bad decisions make good stories.

Sean Paul Kelley October 20, 2011 - 11:51am
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Seismicity map suggests...

...that there's more activity there.

"In combat one should be very suspicious of painless moral choices. When you are confronted with a seemingly painless moral choice, the odds are that you haven't looked deeply enough." ~ Karl Marlantes

JustPlainDave October 20, 2011 - 2:20pm
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my first thought was about the water

supply.

Tina October 20, 2011 - 12:02pm
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It seems

that earthquaques in zones usually not prone to them, are occuring with increased frequency. But I doubt that even the USGS would dare to tie them with shale gas extraction and it's fracking. So much money to be made.

Jelco Cathlon October 20, 2011 - 1:20pm
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Weren't

there a bunch of people saying that the earthquakes in Arkansas might be related to fraking? I thought I remembered and then found an article at huff post which said the quakes eased off after the fraking stopped:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/15/arkansas-earthquakes-2011-fracking_n_835868.html

pihwht October 20, 2011 - 2:50pm
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Is it worth it?

Hell's Bells, fellers, we're just gettin' started here.

Some fine day, when when our great grandkids are all living in underground colonies to hide from the crazy weather and solar radiation and nasty air, why, they'll be fracking for methane miles below where we are now.

Earthquakes are the new normal, doncha know.

Antifa October 20, 2011 - 4:32pm
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I used to wonder why we didn't do more geothermal

After hearing about the earthquakes in Calif. caused by geothermal experiments there (apparently not inconsequential ones, either -- we're talking MM 6+!), now I know.

"I shall continue to be an impossible person as long as those who are now possible remain possible."

-- Mikhail Bakunin

spaceman_spiff October 22, 2011 - 10:37pm
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