I am constantly surprised on an emotional level when some folks dont make a scientific connection that I feel innately. Intellectually I understand thats just because I am a little anal like that, and its not very mature of me to expect others to see connections as easily as I do.
I've seen many comments in what I will describe as CT diary and the resulting snark diary, claiming that no one has made a real, serious rebuttal of the claim that fracking or fracking fluid injection wells may have caused yesterdays Virginia earthquake.
There is no connection.
The Epicenter of yesterdays quakes is listed by the USGS as being about 5 miles SSW from Mineral VA.
From the USGS website, showing the epicenter of the quake, and reports of where it was felt. More Maps from the USGS about this event. Notice that the quake epicenter is equidistant from the Western Virginia border and the Atlantic Ocean.
Notice the Marcellus shale formation ends just about at the Western Virginia border.
So i went to google maps and found that a town fairly close the border named Rawley Springs Va, which is about 80 miles from the epicenter of the quake. It should be noted that the south western edge of the Marcellus shale formation is quite shallow, 100 ft or less, and no fracking occurs at that depth its just too shallow, fluid would leak out very easily. But its very clear that nearest gas shale in the Marcellus formation is an easy 80 miles away. Google map.
Marcellus Shale – Geologic Controls on Production*
Gregory Wrightstone1
Search and Discovery Article #10206 (2009)
Posted September 22, 2009
the vast majority of the permitted and drilled Marcellus wells are located in areas where the drilling depth exceeds 5000 feet.
http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/...
Mr Wrightstone cites fracking well activity in northern and western West Virginia. It can be assumed that Shale found at shallow depths is not viable. TO further this point lets go to the next map
One would have to travel nearly 120 to 140 miles to get into land that might yield moderate quantities of nat gas. In fact the prime areas of nat gas production in the Marcellus formation are on the order of 200 miles from the epicenter of yesterdays quake.
There is no connection between fracking for nat gas and the Virginia Earthquake of 2011. In fact for our purposes, the Marcellus shale formation is on the wrong side of the Appalachian Mountains. Lets please put this to bed.
6:08 PM PT: It appears that the Rescue Rangers withdrew publishing to Community Spotlight of the so called CT diary claiming that the quake was man made. And the Diary was republished to TROLLS. Dear Rescue Rangers, next time you're not sure, drop me a line. I can spot the farce from a mile away.
10:52 PM PT: Obviously the Justice @ Dkos, is unbalanced, but it is what it is. Thanks for all those with kind words, dont forget to follow me, cause you will get some high quality articles and original research from me.