Oil drilling linked to over 100 earthquakes in the UK

More than 100 earthquakes that shook southern England were likely caused by oil drilling, experts say. Previous studies had ruled out a connection, but new information about the geology of the area established a possible connection.

The earthquakes were all fairly small, measuring between 1.34 and 3.18 on the Richter scale, and occurred near Newdigate, Surrey, in 2018 and 2019. Residents reported damage. the house shook for a few seconds.

At the time, there was speculation that the quake was related to oil drilling by British Oil and Gas, although the epicenter of the quake was within 5 to 10 kilometers of the company’s epicenter. horse hill Excavation site. but Previous research The British Geological Survey (BGS) and others judged the quakes to be rare and relatively close to the drilling site, but to be naturally occurring and coincidental.

now, Matthew Fox and philip meredith Researchers from University College London used the latest understanding of the region’s rock composition to re-examine it and suggest that the quake was indeed caused by oil drilling.

The pair ran more than 1 million computer simulations based on the location and scale of the oil extraction, as well as the geological details of the surrounding area, making earthquake predictions more closely aligned with real-world phenomena than previously thought. I found that they match.

When oil is extracted from deep underground, the pressure beneath the earth’s surface changes, which causes rock movement and can cause earthquakes. Fox said previously there was a discrepancy between the date of the earthquake and the date the oil was extracted, but this can now be explained by considering the geology of the drilling area.

The researchers found that in areas composed of porous Portland stone, pressure changes and rock movement can occur almost simultaneously, whereas in areas with dense Kimmeridge clay, pressure changes can be transmitted more easily. We have discovered that there may be delays due to the time required.

“For me, this increases the possibility [that oil extraction led to earthquakes]” says Fox. “The correlation between these two, the correlation between oil extraction and seismic activity, is very strong and suggests that there is a link.”

Fox said it’s still possible that the association is a coincidence, but it’s less likely than previous research had suggested. He hopes that further statistical analysis will allow him to accurately quantify the probability of chance, but the current data does not allow him to make an estimate.

Until October last year, British Oil and Gas controlled oil extraction at Horsehill. work was canceled After planning permission was withdrawn by Surrey County Council following legal action brought by activists. Support from our earthly friends.

A company spokesperson said: new scientist: “This was answered many years ago when BGS seismologists were convinced that this was a natural phenomenon related to the movement of deep, unrelated faults many kilometers deep from the site. This is an incident that has been dealt with.”

but stuart haszeldine at the University of Edinburgh, Although he was not involved in this particular study, he has conducted his own research with colleagues and says a link between oil drilling and earthquakes is now very likely.

“We did a detailed study of these small earthquakes in Surrey and the possibility that the shaking was related to activity at the Horse Hill oil field,” Hasseldine said. “In my professional judgment, there was a clear link between the timing of the earthquake and the operational activities to produce oil and gas from the Horse Hill site.”