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The study, published Tuesday in Seismological Research Letters, reports that fracking waste injection wells are now the leading cause of earthquakes in Texas. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves thrusting chemicals and water against shale rock to break it up and release oil or gas. The process produces large amounts of waste fluid, or brine, that is either recycled or disposed of in injection wells.
However, faults also exist in South Texas, an area currently experiencing a fracking boom with thousands of wastewater wells, yet is reporting little to no seismic activity, Frohlich said. Also, the Bakken Shale in North Dakota is in the midst of an oil boom thanks to hydraulic fracturing â yet no earthquakes.