Prior to 2015, there were only a handful of documented cases of hydraulic fracturing induced seismicity in the world. More recent research has demonstrated hydraulic fracturing induced seismicity is more common than previously thought and has included damaging earthquakes. In China, hydraulic fracturing induced earthquakes have caused millions of dollars in property damage and may have resulted in fatalities. Hydraulic fracturing in Canada has caused earthquakes as large as M 4.6. We have found that hundreds of stimulations in Oklahoma have induced M < 4 earthquakes. Given the sequences in China and Canada, should we expect M > 4 earthquakes to be induced in the United States in the future, or have they already occurred? How can we reduce the likelihood of these events happening? What could we expect to happen in the future? With a focus on the United States, Rob Skoumal (USGS) will discuss a wide range of successes and ongoing challenges related to hydraulic fracturing induced seismicity.
| Last updated | Key Points |
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| 2019-03-27 |
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