Fracking Causes Environmental Damage: Should Fracking Stop?

Fracking has been halted in England, as reported by an article November 1, 2019 on the Guardian website and by other news sources. Should the United States take similar action?

Fracking Damage

Energy companies that produce oil and natural gas by fracking, and dispose of huge quantities of wastewater containing chemicals as part of the process, seem to be causing a very large increase in the number of earthquakes in areas where fracking occurs.

A June 10, 2015 United States Geological Survey article titled "6 Facts about Human-caused Earthquakes" states "injecting fluid underground can cause earthquakes, a fact that was established decades ago by USGS scientists."

Lawsuits in the United States Over Alleged Fracking/Waste Water Injection Damage

Numerous lawsuits have been filed regarding damage from fracking. A June 12, 2019 piece on the University of Dayton website titled “Hydraulic Fracturing Tort Litigation Summary” discusses numerous cases.

Last year (2018) three oil companies reached a settlement on a class action lawsuit filed regarding earthquakes in Oklahoma allegedly caused by wastewater injection, as reported by CNHI News Oklahoma in a November 30, 2018 article on the Stillwater, Oklahoma News Press website and other news sources.

I am surprised that there have not been even more lawsuits and more outrage over this practice. While widespread availability of relatively cheap oil and natural gas has many benefits, the risks and damages that occur from producing it also need to be considered.

In cases where it is demonstrated that oil and natural gas producers are directly responsible for the large increase in earthquakes and the damages the earthquakes cause, then these companies are presumably liable for reimbursing those impacted by the damages.

Closing Thoughts

I am not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice. But it apparently has been known for decades that injecting fluids into the ground can lead to earthquakes. Furthermore, it is a fact that the number of earthquakes has increased dramatically in areas where wastewater has been injected into the ground in recent years. Therefore, it is logical that this fluid injection is the likely cause of these earthquakes.

I am not stating that all fracking must stop or even that all the disposal of wastewater by injecting it into the ground must cease. But, I strongly support holding these energy companies liable for the damages they are causing. Even if persons feel that the benefits of the oil and gas production via this method justify allowing it to continue, the persons who suffer damages from the earthquakes deserve compensation for their damages as I see it.

The cost of compensating victims of earthquakes should lead to changes such as:

·         finding more environmentally friendly ways of producing the oil or gas

·         raising oil and gas prices to pay for damages and for lawsuits

·         using alternative energy sources.

Oil and natural gas have provided many benefits over the years as energy sources. But these benefits need to be weighed against the negative impacts of the production, transportation, and consumption of this natural gas and oil.

My view is that fracking may not be economically feasible if oil and gas companies are forced to pay for the damages their procedures cause.

NOTE: This article being submitted to Google Blogger on November 3, 2019 is virtually identical to one submitted to Craft News Report on November 2, 2019 that was revised on November 3, 2019. That article was based on one the author submitted to Google Blogger on November 18, 2016 that was last revised on November 19, 2016.