Scientific Report Says no Earthquake Risk from Fracking

The Petroleum Exploration and Production Association said today that the release of a report by Taranaki Regional Council should put the public at ease over the risks of seismic activity associated with hydraulic fracturing.

Association CEO David Robinson said the quality, fact based report prepared by scientists at GNS Science, the Crown Research Institute responsible for earthquake monitoring, shows there is no evidence hydraulic fracturing activities in Taranaki have had any observable effect on natural earthquake activity.

“There has been considerable public anxiety, based on reports from overseas, that hydraulic fracturing could trigger seismic activity or cause earthquakes.” said Mr Robinson.

“GNS said it is scientifically inconceivable that a damaging earthquake could be caused by hydraulic fracturing in Taranaki”.

"This report comes on the back of the Council’s previous review of hydraulic fracturing data where the findings of the assessment show that, if managed and regulated according to good practice, there is no credible risk to shallow groundwater aquifers in the region.

This assessment was independently peer reviewed by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences and addressed one of the main community concerns raised around the practice of hydraulic fracturing.”

Mr Robinson said there had been increased interest in the exploration industry since the Government started promoting the sector in late 2009.

“This report brings scientific objectivity to this topic which has often been based on poor information and an understandable lack of knowledge about earth processes. The industry must do a better job of informing and assuring the people of New Zealand the oil and gas industry not only generates significant income and thousands of jobs for New Zealand but does so in a safe and environmentally sound manner.”

The report can be found at: http://www.pepanz.org.nz/newsDocument/TRC%20Report%20Fracking%20and%20Seismicity.pdf
ENDS

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