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Hydraulic fracturing is now known as a way to cause earthquakes. What if we start fracking around the NW fault zones to cause one? Of course, how do you lubrica

Hydraulic fracturing is now known as a way to cause earthquakes. What if we start fracking around the NW fault zones to cause one? Of course, how do you lubricate it just enough to cause a small quake but not the giant one? Fortunately, Oklahoma, with their anti-science "we don't believe in global warming and we are against figuring out what is causing these not seen for 100 year earthquakes" is testing out exactly how to cause them. Thanks Oklahoma! (this should replace thanks Obama in the lexicon).

pixl97 11y ago
From what I've read about seismology you are on the right track. It is likely simpler to create an earthquake by water injections along a fault then it is to make 'boom' and hope something works. The big issue here is the control portion. If a fault has been building pressure for hundreds of years it is unlikely that we will have any certainty on what needs to be done to trigger only a earthquake of size X. Most likely we can start a quake, but if there is enough strain on the crust already the shaking will feedback into the crust causing further slippage down the fault.