Shake, rattle and roll is the title of a rock and roll song, but in this case I am talking about fracking causing earthquakes. Yes, I said earthquakes! In recent history the oil companies have learned how to drill horizontally to fracture shale rock. Before that it was done only vertically.

What is fracking you might be asking just now? Well, fracking is defined as using a pressurized liquid to open up fissures in shale rock formations. This is done to release any oil that might be present, but could not be extracted with conventional drilling. I do have to mention that my explanation is a very simplified one. For a complete and through discussion of fracking using this link.

OK, now that you know what fracking is let us explore the world of tectonic plates. That is- The plates that cover the surface of the planet Earth. What we are riding on plates! Yes we are and when they move past each other that is what we call an earthquake. Why should I need to know all this you might well be thinking at this point. Just because me being me and wanting to set the groundwork. And yes that was me making a pun.

So, now that I have laid out the basic information you need to know I will talk about fracking and earthquakes. Simply put if you have two objects prevented from moving past each other due to the need to overcome the friction that is involved. Think of it like this, you have two pieces of sandpaper rubbing against each other. And if you add some water in-between them, you reduce the amount of friction that has to be overcome than if there were not any water. Now by fracking in a horizontally drilled hole the liquid used will lubricate the area were the fault lines have formed. Well you get enough liquid from fracking in-between them they move past one another and an earthquake is born.

In Texas and Oklahoma where they do quite a bit of fracking (horizontally) they are experiencing more earthquakes than ever. And it seems that big oil does not want the public to connect fracking with the dramatic increase in earthquakes. After all fracking does not cause them if you listen to big oil companies, they are just Mother Nature acting up on her own.

My own thinking well before they started doing fracking (horizontally) is that you could cause earthquakes by injecting a lubricating liquid, such as water. Not being a scientist, just an engineer I never mentioned this theory to anyone before. It seems that I was very close to being right and it makes me wonder whether it is a good idea to continue to do this type of fracking. Never mind the other problems involved in doing fracking, such as the possible pollution of underground water aquifers.

If it turns out that big oil is causing these earthquakes, then they should be forced to reimburse those who have suffered damage(s) from any manmade earthquakes and should stop this type of fracking forever.

Now if your head is spinning from all the scientific information I have introduced in this blog, how about you start singing- “Shake, Rattle and Roll” to yourself. That’s what I am doing.

That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike