Replies to post #2239 on The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[OakesCS]

re: "Fracking" disposal

note that subsurface disposal of aqueous wastes is regulated differently than injection for natural gas production purposes. In addition, it is not the natural gas exploration and production companies doing the waste injection and the waste companies do not have nearly the same self-interest in appropriate reservoir selection and avoiding unintentional over-pressurization (fracturing) of the injection reservoir. I suspect the geophysical scrutiny of the waste reservoir and over-lying rock is substantially less rigorous than that given to areas being developed for gas production. Unfortunately, the waste companies are probably discovering unmapped faults by effectively using injection as a probe.

Subsurface injection of industrial liquid hazardous wastes has been practiced for decades in places in Ohio without causing earthquakes or objection from the population or any comprise to their well-being.