Stronger earthquakes from oilfield wastewater

Oil wastewater produced by oil companies has been linked to increases in earthquake magnitude in the U.S.
02 August 2019

Interview with

Ryan Pollyea and Martin Chapman

OIL IN WATER

Oil Water

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A research team from Virginia Tech, led by Ryan Pollyea, has found that earthquakes 8 kilometres below the earth's surface are increasing in intensity. Published in the journalNature Communications, the team’s work has found that a super-dense liquid called oilfield wastewater is seeping deep into the sheets of the earth, causing massive pressure changes that could be increasing earthquake intensity. Matthew Hall got into contact with Ryan Pollyea and Martin Chapman from Virginia Tech to see what all the rumble is about...

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