Rongxian fracking is baited

摘要

DRILLING and fracking activity has been closed in Rongx-ian county in south-west China's Suchuan province in the wake of three earthquakes on 24 February, writes Xu Yihe. The three quakes - which had magnitudes of greater than 4, with the strongest at 4.9 - left two people dead and another 12 injured. This aroused concerns among local residents that the quakes may have been triggered by drilling activities for shale gas. Although they are not sure if the quakes were directly linked with the drilling and fracking activity, the local authorities - after discussions with Pet-roChina's local drilling crew - decided to halt the drilling of 39 wells at 15 wellpads.