Fracking causes earthquakes.

Context#

Anti-fracking activists frequently claim that hydraulic fracturing causes dangerous earthquakes. This conflates fracking with an entirely different process: wastewater disposal.

Evidence#

What Fracking Actually Does

• Hydraulic fracturing creates micro-seismic events typically below magnitude 1
• These are imperceptible to humans and pose zero risk
• The process occurs thousands of feet underground in targeted rock formations
• Millions of fracking operations have been conducted safely

The Real Cause of Induced Seismicity

• Wastewater injection wells—not fracking—are linked to larger earthquakes
• This is a separate process that disposes of produced water
• Only a small fraction of injection wells have caused issues
• The industry has implemented protocols that have dramatically reduced events

Oklahoma: The Misleading Example

• Seismicity was linked to wastewater disposal wells, not fracking
• When disposal practices changed, earthquake rates dropped 90%+
• This demonstrates the industry's ability to solve the problem
• Conflating disposal wells with fracking is scientifically inaccurate

Industry Success Story

• Oklahoma's induced seismicity peaked in 2015
• Improved regulations and industry practices resolved the issue
• Seismic monitoring and "traffic light" systems now standard
• Proves responsible development is achievable

Analysis#

This claim is mostly false because it fundamentally confuses two different processes. Hydraulic fracturing itself causes only micro-seismic events that are too small to feel. The larger earthquakes that made headlines were caused by wastewater disposal wells—a separate operation.

More importantly, this is a solved problem. The industry worked with regulators to develop monitoring systems and operational changes that have reduced induced seismicity by over 90% in affected areas. This is a success story of industry-government cooperation, not an indictment of fracking.

Calling fracking dangerous based on wastewater injection is like blaming automobiles for oil refinery emissions—technically related but fundamentally misleading.