In a study performed near Snyder, Texas researchers have vound that carbon dioxide injected into oil and gas wells has caused a series of minor earthquakes. The study analyzed 93 earthquakes between March 2009 and December 2010 linked injecting and hydraulic fracturing to magnitude 3 and above earthquakes. Six temporary seismograph locations were set up and gathered data to support the study, as apart of the USArray program. Carbon dioxide is injected into mature oil fields to enhance output, in Texas, where there are over 7000 oil fields.
I found this story to be fascinating, further research indicates that the authors of the study Wei Gan and Cliff Frohlich are still in the process of studying this phenomenon and there may be a high connection between carbon dioxide injections and earthquakes. However, the phenomenon may be also related to other natural factors such as natural plate tectonics.
This phenomenon indicates that hydraulic fracturing may have a higher impact that is unknown. The implication of these impacts may be good or bad, as the minor earthquakes may release tension in whatever deep faults may occur in the area, thus reducing the impact of a future catastrophic earthquake. However, the impact may have a poor effect on the land quality, leading to issues such as mass wasting.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/04/earthquake-co2-texas-idUSL2N0IP1XR20131104
Study found in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS):
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/10/31/1311316110.abstract
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