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Third Earthquake In A Week Strikes Tuesday Night In Flomaton
March 13, 2019
The third earthquake in the North Escambia area this in the past week occurred Tuesday night in the town of Flomaton.
The magnitude 2.3 earthquake was centered near Highway 31 and Hillview Drive about 8:26 p.m. and was centered about three miles deep, according to the USGS.
NorthEscambia.com received reports from residents across the Flomaton, Century and Jay area from residents who felt the ground shake. According to the USGS, a magnitude 1-3 earthquake is usually felt by only a very few people “except under favorable conditions”.
A magnitude 3.1 earthquake was reported just outside Flomaton Monday afternoon. It occurred three miles north-northeast of Flomaton near Old Fannie Road and Welka Road at 1:36 p.m. The epicenter was about three miles deep.
A smaller 2.7 earthquake occurred the night of March 6 between Century and Jay. The epicenter was near the intersection of Nelsontown Road and Shell Road.
There were no damage reports from the earthquakes.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the North Escambia area sits on the Bahamas Fracture Seismic Zone (the BSZ). Several earthquakes have occurred along this zone in recent years, but most are too weak to be felt by residents. A significant earthquake is not considered likely in the area.
NorthEscambia.com graphics.
Comments
29 Responses to “Third Earthquake In A Week Strikes Tuesday Night In Flomaton”
REGARDING:
“Nowhere in my cite does it say “injecting high pressured water does not cause any induced earthquakes.” It’s made clear that the process causes quakes, which you denied earlier, whether or not it is the statistically dominant culprit. Did YOU read it?”
Actually, I didn’t deny it COULD if fracking WERE involved. I disputed ” they drill down into the earth before injecting water, chemicals and sand at high pressures into the rock to eject gas or oil out the well. It’s this step that’s typically the culprit of induced quakes.”
TYPICALLY does not mean OCCASIONALLY.
And the second part ,”Okay, so it was caused by drilling and not hydraulic fracturing,” would almost be the main point if it hadn’t been your main point and still wrong. It couldn’t have been caused by hydraulic fracturing since there hasn’t BEEN any hydraulic fracturing around here. Also, DRILLING doesn’t cause earthquakes.
“I don’t see the point of a condescending argument when we’re clearly both in agreement that it was induced”
Of course you don’t.
We aren’t in agreement that it WAS INDUCED. I accept the possibility it MIGHT have been induced but not by nonexistent local fracking and not by the mere drilling of holes in the ground. There is a difference.
David for accuracy and truth
(leaving lies to the experts)
@david hue green
Nowhere in my cite does it say “injecting high pressured water does not cause any induced earthquakes.” It’s made clear that the process causes quakes, which you denied earlier, whether or not it is the statistically dominant culprit. Did YOU read it?
“According to the U.S. Geological Survey, fracking can induce seismic activity, both directly and from disposing of wastewater used in the process—the byproduct of water, sand, and chemicals used to hydraulically fracture hydrocarbons from rock. That high-pressure wastewater can crack rocks and lubricate faults.”
“In the study, the authors found 29 project sites where earthquakes were induced by fracking itself, 36 sites where quakes were induced by post-fracking wastewater disposal, and 12 sites with temblors induced by unspecific oil and gas wastewater disposal. (Learn more about fracking.) In the case of Oklahoma, which has experienced heavy fracking activity, hundreds of small earthquakes have been observed annually in a region that was previously more geologically quiet.”
Okay, so it was caused by drilling and not hydraulic fracturing. It’s still a human-induced quake, so I don’t see the point of a condescending argument when we’re clearly both in agreement that it was induced lol
“You’re not going to find faults only 5 km deep; most are no shallower than 10 km.”
Some faults reach the surface. What on Earth would make anyone think otherwise? Google “surface faults” then click on images to see some.
“You’re saying that just because they’re smaller, they must obviously be natural quakes…?”
Nope. I’m saying you can’t talk reliably about ALL earthquakes based only on a selected type especially when it specifically makes the distinction. I imagine petroleum production DID cause it, just not fracking since there was no local fracking.
“If you look up “fracking sites flomaton” or “oil fields jay” in google maps you can see a number of them in the area of seismic activity. There is even a website specifically listing all fracking sites in the U.S, and you can zoom in on the area: ”
Drilling sites are not inherently fracking sites. The map you reference shows there is no fracking around here. It isn’t that hard to read.
“they drill down into the earth before injecting water, chemicals and sand at high pressures into the rock to eject gas or oil out the well. It’s this step that’s typically the culprit of induced quakes.”
Except what you cites clearly says it isn’t. Did you read any of it?
“Lastly, when I say that fracking likely caused the quakes, I’m referring to the entire process of fracking, which includes the disposal of wastewater like you just quoted from my source.”
You don’t have any fracking wastewater without fracking in the first place just as you can’t be gored by unicorns unless unicorns are in the neighborhood.
David for literacy
The next thing we will learn is that our ground water is no good. Big Corporations = Big Corruptions. Bottom line: No one’s looking out for the average guy. Profits rule and if the Earth is ruined in the process, they think “at least I’m rich.” I used to think Flomaton was about the safest place on Earth. Now I think about all the unknown damage being done to my house by the quakes.
@John actually you’re wrong about that…..well half wrong anyway. The Right wing definitely does not want to paint fracking as bad because they want the money (i’m just putting this side note in because the right wing side was a bit short and did not look as good as the left, which believe it or not isn’t a statement on todays political climate).
The Left wing definitely wants to paint fracktober as bad so they can point their fingers at fossil fuels and big business to get the votes of people who feel they are ah uhum “environmentally conscience” (though really they are just telling themselves this so they can feel they are part of the solution which is just fooling yourself if you drive or even ride in a vehicle or live in civilization or are human you are definitely part of the problem. Lot of people wont like that statement but don’t take it personal we are all the “problem”).
To sum up 1/2 govt. for fracktasticlly fracking other 1/2 against frackageddon.
@david hue green
It wouldn’t matter whether or not it was in the central U.S where the quakes were being studied; natural earthquakes are caused by faults in the Earth (tectonic plates), whether they be ancient rifts or active tectonic plate borders. You’re not going to find faults only 5 km deep; most are no shallower than 10 km. Tectonic plates don’t exist closer to the surface in Florida than they do in the central u.s lol
Also, why would it matter whether or not they analyzed the larger Earthquakes and not the smaller ones? You’re saying that just because they’re smaller, they must obviously be natural quakes…? Those points are unrelated.
Also, yes, they do fracking in the area. I live in Escambia county. If you look up “fracking sites flomaton” or “oil fields jay” in google maps you can see a number of them in the area of seismic activity. There is even a website specifically listing all fracking sites in the U.S, and you can zoom in on the area: https://www.drillingmaps.com/mobile.html
Lastly, when I say that fracking likely caused the quakes, I’m referring to the entire process of fracking, which includes the disposal of wastewater like you just quoted from my source. It’s a multi-step process: they drill down into the earth before injecting water, chemicals and sand at high pressures into the rock to eject gas or oil out the well. It’s this step that’s typically the culprit of induced quakes. According to studies, though, they have been caused by both the actual drilling and the high pressure injection of water, though the actual number of incidents is higher for the latter.
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/10/human-induced-earthquakes-fracking-mining-video-spd/
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/energy/2015/07/150723-fracking-questions-answered/
It’s probably the caravan digging their tunnels. They’re just trying to make it up North.
Lee, do you know another word besides ridiculous? The “oilfield people”? Showing your level of education. Have you investigated every oil field in our region? No. Then your spouting nothing but the word ridiculous. Gary, that site is government run. Do you think the government wants to paint fracking as bad? Of course not. Do you think they want to make a lot money from the oil, gas and natural gas? Do you think they’d ever post something untrue so that rich people could continue to profit?
REGARDING:
“All of these earthquakes have occurred 3 miles (5 km) deep. All natural quakes occur deeper than that.”
Actually, that statement is false. The source cited
( https://news.umich.edu/shake-it-up-human-induced-and-natural-earthquakes-in-central-u-s-are-inherently-similar/ )
says
“In the central U.S., more than half of the induced earthquakes were shallower than 5 kilometers (3.1 miles), while all of the naturally occurring earthquakes were deeper than 5 kilometers.”
Florida is not part of the central U.S..
Also,
“The researchers analyzed natural and induced earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.8 and 5.8 in the central U.S. and eastern North America, comprising three populations.”
So they wouldn’t even look at little earthquakes like these.
AND
“There’s a number of fracking sites in the area, so why wouldn’t it be caused by fracking?”
There are two major flaws with this statement/question:
#1 There are no fracking sites in the area.
and
#2 As the cited study states:
“In some cases, wastewater disposal in deep wells is associated with hydraulic fracturing sites. However, studies suggest that the fracking process itself is rarely the direct cause of these earthquakes.”
So even if there were — even though there aren’t — fracking doesn’t cause earthquakes.
By the way, the 1997 quake at 4.9 versus this little 2.3 quake was about 398 times as much energy released. [ 10^(4.9-2.3) = 398 ]
David for reading comprehension
John because that is ridiculous what proof do you have that injecting water into the ground is causing it? Where do you think they got the water from? If you don’t know I will tell you from the same place they are putting it back. They pump oil and water out of the ground sell the oil and put the water back Fracking just sounds scary it’s really very simple and safe don’t believe the hype I worked in that oilfield for 6 year’s.
*psst*, chicken littles…see the grey checkerboard area? Completely natural.
https://usgs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=5a6038b3a1684561a9b0aadf88412fcf
Basically, the earth is throwing plates of the tectonic nature
All of these earthquakes have occurred 3 miles (5 km) deep. All natural quakes occur deeper than that. There’s a number of fracking sites in the area, so why wouldnt it be caused by fracking?
Source for my statement: https://news.umich.edu/shake-it-up-human-induced-and-natural-earthquakes-in-central-u-s-are-inherently-similar/
If they were still extracting much petroleum, it would be easier to justify yelling AHA!
If they were using hydraulic fracturing, it would be easier to justify yelling AHA!
But really, who needs to justify paranoia?
With that in mind: Maybe it’s a new North Korean superweapon!!!!!!!
(An earthquake means part of the Earth moved relative to an adjacent part and stored energy is released. Many places have minor earthquakes frequently. It will be interesting to see what caused them her. What went where relative to what?)
David for giant springs
Oilfields, fracking, nature what is really causing the earthquakes is that Florida is tired of all the “Florida jokes” and is packing its bags and getting ready to leave.
So, my question is:
“Why doesn’t someone FIGURE IT OUT and tell the rest of us?’
End of mystery.
Is it natural gas? Oil? What??? Surly, SOMEONE has the true answer.
People need to read there bibles more it talks about that!
If memory serves me correct, this last one was right by American Coffee House. Maybe we should shut down coffee houses too, right after the oil wells.
step by step inch by inch…………….look out…………….
Lee, what proof do you have that the Earthquakes are not cause by actions at area oil fields? We’ve all heard that fracking increases Earthquakes. James, fossil fuel isn’t our only means of producing energy or fuel. For Christ’s sake, they can make fuel from algae or corn! Everyone needs to get their heads out of the 1900’s. Why does everything have to be about money when everything should be about making life better for people, the Earth, and all species of Earth’s lifeforms?
Please read about oil field induced quakes:
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/induced/myths.php
We get most of our oil from our supposed ally Canada, And energy production these days is swiftly moving to natural gas. Plenty of science and geologist reports that are easily googled will tell you pumping water into the ground is a waste of water and destabilizes the ground leaving voids. Which of course causes earthquakes, wikipedia is your friend people just look this stuff up. My two cents
Quit driving your cars and using oil/gas and nobody will have to drill for oil.
But, all you scientist have already figured out what is causing them so congrats! Maybe the people who are looking into these things will contact you for advice…
It’s not from the oilfield people that is absolutely ridiculous
Of course the uninformed would blame energy production. Keep drinking the koolaid, and the adults will worry about keeping gas at the pumps for a reasonable price.
That’s right Lisa….
Three fracking earthquakes in a week.
To all who blame oil drilling:
Look in the mirror when you point the finger of blame. Until you are willing to give up everything you know and take for granted on a daily basis and take up a naked nomadic wandering life by foot it’s best if you just stay silent.
I suspect fracking
Keep pumping oil from the ground and it’s only going to get worse!