Posted: Monday, October 1, 2012 11:10 am
A 3.3-magnitude earthquake (click here) shook ground 11 miles southeast of Williston on the morning of Friday, Sept. 28.
The quake was registered by the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology at 5:53 a.m. near the Missouri River. Deborah Smith of the MBMG said there wasn’t a good solution collected on it because the earthquake was too far away from any station....
It took days before this earthquake was even reported in the media. Above the posting is on October 1, 2012 and the earthquake occurred days before.
M3.3 - 22km ESE of Williston, North Dakota2012-09-28 10:53:42 UTCWhat seems to be the media problem in North Dakota?
Tectonic Summary (click here)
Earthquakes in the Stable Continental Region
Most of North America east of the Rocky Mountains has infrequent earthquakes. Here and there earthquakes are more numerous, for example in the New Madrid seismic zone centered on southeastern Missouri, in the Charlevoix-Kamouraska seismic zone of eastern Quebec, in New England, in the New York - Philadelphia - Wilmington urban corridor, and elsewhere. However, most of the enormous region from the Rockies to the Atlantic can go years without an earthquake large enough to be felt, and several U.S. states have never reported a damaging earthquake. The earthquakes that do occur strike anywhere at irregular intervals.
The odd fact there was a 3.3 magnitude earthquake in the exact location of the highest density domestic oil field is no coincidence. This is the North American Carton
This is the oldest, most stable rock on Earth. And at the very location of high intensity petroleum activity it is quaking. Give me a break. The Petroleum Industry is not this stupid, but, they are this media savvy.
The North Dakota state government is corrupted by petroleum money and don't give a damn about any environmental effects of their indulgences.
North Dakota
Seismic Hazard Map (click here)
It ain't suppose to happen here.
The only activity of any significance in North Dakota has always been in regard to 'felt quakes.' They were tremors 'felt' from other areas of the North American Carton where there was movement deep within the rock. Carton quakes are never severe quakes as the rock is very stable, it is mostly thought to be related to tectonic movement of the entire plate on which the carton is situated.
The earthquake is not a minor quake. It is a Class III on the Mercalli Intensity Scale: III. Felt quite noticeably by persons indoors, especially on upper floors of buildings. Many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibrations similar to the passing of a truck. Duration estimated.
This may seem insignificant to people as there is no major damage, but, for a carton quake this is among the highest that occurs.
AGAIN. The dangers to high intensity petroleum drilling and hydraulic fracturing is related to the rising possibility of liquefaction.
Liquefaction (click here) occurs when vibrations or water pressure within a mass of soil cause the soil particles to lose contact with one another. As a result, the soil behaves like a liquid, has an inability to support weight and can flow down very gentle slopes. This condition is usually temporary and is most often caused by an earthquake vibrating water-saturated fill or unconsolidated soil.
There was a time when in the USA governments they actually took the threat seriously rather than sacrificing it for jobs (easily political posturing of old world energy sources) and wealth.
Posted October 6, 2012
The only activity of any significance in North Dakota has always been in regard to 'felt quakes.' They were tremors 'felt' from other areas of the North American Carton where there was movement deep within the rock. Carton quakes are never severe quakes as the rock is very stable, it is mostly thought to be related to tectonic movement of the entire plate on which the carton is situated.
The earthquake is not a minor quake. It is a Class III on the Mercalli Intensity Scale: III. Felt quite noticeably by persons indoors, especially on upper floors of buildings. Many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibrations similar to the passing of a truck. Duration estimated.
This may seem insignificant to people as there is no major damage, but, for a carton quake this is among the highest that occurs.
AGAIN. The dangers to high intensity petroleum drilling and hydraulic fracturing is related to the rising possibility of liquefaction.
Liquefaction (click here) occurs when vibrations or water pressure within a mass of soil cause the soil particles to lose contact with one another. As a result, the soil behaves like a liquid, has an inability to support weight and can flow down very gentle slopes. This condition is usually temporary and is most often caused by an earthquake vibrating water-saturated fill or unconsolidated soil.
There was a time when in the USA governments they actually took the threat seriously rather than sacrificing it for jobs (easily political posturing of old world energy sources) and wealth.
Posted October 6, 2012
...Art McGarr, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey, (click here) who is not familiar with North Dakota geology but has studied earthquakes since 1962, said based on his experience and the amount of industrial activity going on in the Williston area, said he believes the most likely hypothesis is that wastewater injection triggered the earthquake.
Oilfield wastewater, including water that results from hydraulic fracturing, is disposed of by injecting it underground into disposal wells. North Dakota has about 390 disposal wells....
Mr. McGarr is with the USGS and not the North Dakota Department of Minerals Management. Mr. McGarr doesn't have to worry about his job and a pink slip from the North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple. Dalrymple was elected to office in 2010 in the infusion of Tea Party extremists. The USGS carries brevity in opinion. It is the correct opinion. And I'll explain why.
There are oil vats and gas vats in the craton. They are liquid or gaseous. They are under high pressure. When there is tectonic movement these liquid / gaseous vats move along with the movement of the plate. It is these areas within the craton that can emit 'felt quakes' because they are under high pressure. The oil and gas vats within the craton actually serve as shock absorbers to the movement of the plate. These vats of liquid and gas protects the craton. They distribute the movement in ways that minimize impact of plate movement to the rock. The felt quakes are low in magnitude to some extent because of these liquid / gaseous areas.
The dangers of the petroleum industry in removing these non-rock areas and replacing it with wastewater containing chemicals that dissolve rock is that they dissolve rock. This is the North American Craton. Why does anyone want to dissolve the rock that serves as the basis of an entire continent? For jobs? You've got to be joking!
When the rock dissolves and liquefaction FILLS IN THE VATS the quakes are no longer felt quakes, are no longer minor quakes and the danger to instability of the craton comes into reality!!!!!!
The shock absorbers cannot be replaced. Once they are gone, they are gone. The areas where wastewater now RESIDES removes the safety zone into dissolving rock and instability. Jerks.
These areas within the craton fall into a category similar to Rossby Waves in the ocean. They are planetary places of stability. It is a potential vorticity issue. How do I put this in plain English? English. Right. Playing billiards. Directing the direction of balls on a billiard table can occur if here is a little bit of 'English' put on the ball. The same is true in Baseball. Pitchers use their ability to change the flight of the ball in a game to out wit the batter. In other words, a 'spin' can be put on the ball while it is traveling straight. That is the kind of dynamic the petroleum industry is playing with when they dissolve rock within a craton. I am sure no one understands it, but, dissolving a craton is not an exceptionally billiant idea. Earth has limits. The Christmas tsunami of 2004 caused the tilt of the planet to change. It is important to understand seismic activity on Earth. Seriously.
A BIOTIC planet as Earth is better have shock absorbers. Earth is highly dynamnic. This antiquated form of energy is completely absurd in the year 2013. Happy New Year.
There are oil vats and gas vats in the craton. They are liquid or gaseous. They are under high pressure. When there is tectonic movement these liquid / gaseous vats move along with the movement of the plate. It is these areas within the craton that can emit 'felt quakes' because they are under high pressure. The oil and gas vats within the craton actually serve as shock absorbers to the movement of the plate. These vats of liquid and gas protects the craton. They distribute the movement in ways that minimize impact of plate movement to the rock. The felt quakes are low in magnitude to some extent because of these liquid / gaseous areas.
The dangers of the petroleum industry in removing these non-rock areas and replacing it with wastewater containing chemicals that dissolve rock is that they dissolve rock. This is the North American Craton. Why does anyone want to dissolve the rock that serves as the basis of an entire continent? For jobs? You've got to be joking!
When the rock dissolves and liquefaction FILLS IN THE VATS the quakes are no longer felt quakes, are no longer minor quakes and the danger to instability of the craton comes into reality!!!!!!
The shock absorbers cannot be replaced. Once they are gone, they are gone. The areas where wastewater now RESIDES removes the safety zone into dissolving rock and instability. Jerks.
These areas within the craton fall into a category similar to Rossby Waves in the ocean. They are planetary places of stability. It is a potential vorticity issue. How do I put this in plain English? English. Right. Playing billiards. Directing the direction of balls on a billiard table can occur if here is a little bit of 'English' put on the ball. The same is true in Baseball. Pitchers use their ability to change the flight of the ball in a game to out wit the batter. In other words, a 'spin' can be put on the ball while it is traveling straight. That is the kind of dynamic the petroleum industry is playing with when they dissolve rock within a craton. I am sure no one understands it, but, dissolving a craton is not an exceptionally billiant idea. Earth has limits. The Christmas tsunami of 2004 caused the tilt of the planet to change. It is important to understand seismic activity on Earth. Seriously.
A BIOTIC planet as Earth is better have shock absorbers. Earth is highly dynamnic. This antiquated form of energy is completely absurd in the year 2013. Happy New Year.
