Canada quake sparks fresh fracking fears

CAMPAIGNERS have called for a halt to fracking after an earth tremor incident in Canada.
The Cuadrilla exploration drilling site in Balcombe, West Sussex. See letterThe Cuadrilla exploration drilling site in Balcombe, West Sussex. See letter
The Cuadrilla exploration drilling site in Balcombe, West Sussex. See letter

British Colombia was shaken by a quake of magnitude 4.6 on the richter scale last week which is being linked to a previous 4.4 quake blamed on fracking near Fort St John.

The Fylde was hit by tremors of up to 2.3 on the scale in 2011 which were linked to energy company Cuadrilla’s fracking test at Preese Hall, Weeton.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Now campaigners say fracking should not be allowed in the light of the Canadian incident. Elizabeth Warner from the Roseacre Awareness Group said: “All agencies and departments are mindful of the potential impact of fracking following the earth tremors in 2011.”

Gayzer Frackman who said his house was affected by the tremors in 2011 said the incident showed fracking was not safe. He said: “I think it is now time to accept that the evidence coming out of the fracking states of America and Canada have now to be taken seriously. The earthquakes are just another problem the fracking companies would have you believe do not exist.”

John Hobson from Defend Lytham said although the UK was to have a traffic ight monitoring system it was still a worry. He said:“The news from British Columbia is very concerning as it appears that this significant earthquake was caused by fracking itself, and not by the injection of waste fluids into disposal wells, which is the other major cause of induced seismicity related to fracking.”

But a Cuadrilla spokesman said: “We are often asked about the likelihood of fracking causing earthquakes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“People should be reassured that a comprehensive 3D geographical Survey of Fylde was completed in 2012 which gives us an understanding of the area’s subsurface geology including fault lines so that any work can be properly targeted.

“In addition, the Government introduced stringent planning and monitoring requirements controlling activities that might lead to induced seismicity. There is a ‘traffic light’ monitoring system which will reduce the risk of any seismic activity caused by fracking and prevent seismicity of sufficient magnitude to constitute any risk.”

Related topics: