AMÉRICANO. Geological Survey researchers have said that a series of earthquakes across the middle of the United States might be the result of “fracking” to release natural gas and not a natural occurrence.

According to statistics being released at the Seismological Society of America conference next week, the USGS stopped short of making a direct link but noted that there is an uptick in earthquakes of magnitude 3 or greater in areas that have injection of wastewater in deep disposal wells.

In an example, the USGS noted that in Oklahoma the number of magnitude 3 or greater earthquakes jumped starting in 2009 à partir de 1.2 per year in the previous half-century to over 25 par année. The USGS states the rate of change is “unprecendented outside of volcanic settings or in the absence of a main shock.”

Fracking is the process of injecting water, sand and chemicals into shale beds deep underground to release natural gas for harvesting for commercial and residential use.

The USGS is going to coordinate with the EPA and Department of Energy to further investigate the link between earthquakes and fracking.