MPs Call for Investigation of Possible Link Between Fracking and Quakes

The Independent reports that pressure is mounting on the UK Government to investigate the safety and environmental impacts of shale gas drilling after fears that the hydraulic fracturing process employed by Cuadrilla Resources to extract the unconventional gas could have triggered two small earthquakes in Lancashire.

The British Geological Survey reported that the first earthquake on May 27 was recorded at a magnitude of 1.5, and the one in the same area on April 1 at 2.3. The epicenter for both has been identified as being within hundreds of meters of Cuadrilla's Preese Hall drilling site at depths of 2.0 and 3.6 kilometers respectively.

The Commons Energy Select Committee had earlier issued a report backing shale gas development, arguing that Britain could have considerable reserves of shale gas that should be exploited to reduce the country's reliance on energy imports.

Read the Full Article from The Independent HERE