Colorado Earthquakes, The Oil Industry To Blame?

You feel that? An earthquake strikes near Glenwood Springs.

Very early this Saturday morning a 2.7-magnitude earthquake shook the ground about 20 miles north of Glenwood Springs. Given the remote location of the epicenter, there was little or no reported damage. The 2.7-magnitude quake was described as "weak" and was reported by only a few persons.

Earthquakes are becoming more common and many blame the oil and gas industry. Hydraulic fracturing "the forcing open of fissures in subterranean rocks by introducing liquid at high pressure, especially to extract oil or gas," can cause a significate increase in seismic activity in a region where there's traditionally been little or none at all. No word if this drilling process had anything to do with the quake last night.

Drilling activity was certainly the cause of the increased earthquakes I felt while living in Wichita. The tremors were mild and didn't cause damage but no question originated from northern Oklahoma where "fracking" was a big part of the oil and gas extraction process. As more energy companies increase their drilling activity in western Colorado will more earthquakes come with it? Only time will tell.

Credit: Post Independent