US report links injection wells to quakes

摘要

Houston—A study released last week by the US Geological Survey adds to the growing body of scientific evidence that wastewater injection wells in some parts of the country are responsible for inducing seismic activity, resulting in increasing numbers of minor earthquakes in those areas. “Wastewater injection increases the underground pore pressure, which may lubricate nearby faults thereby making earthquakes more likely to occur,” the USGS said in a statement. However, the agency added that “although the disposal process has the potential to trigger earthquakes, most wastewater disposal wells do not produce felt earthquakes.”