Geology of fracking remains unclear in the Valley

October 11, 2014 at 4:31p.m.

There’s not enough geological data to definitively say Mahoning and Trumbull counties are susceptible to earthquakes, a seismologist said.

There are about 25 shale wells in Mahoning and Trumbull counties along with 19 active injection wells. Earthquakes have been attributed to two injection wells and one fracturing site.

“Three cases is not quite enough to tell us about the geology there [in the Mahoning Valley],” said Mike Brudzinski, a professor of seismology at Miami University. “It’s a little too early to say that there’s a trend here.”

Brudzinski said while it’s clear that the activity at each site induced earthquakes, it’s unclear whether the faults are exclusive to the area.

Operators each may have simply chosen an “unlucky location,” he said.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources along with energy companies and researchers are conducting extensive monitoring and analysis, Brudzinski said.

ODNR focuses on selected locations that are prone to seismic occurrences, said Matt Eiselstein, a spokesman for the regulatory agency. The department uses the Ohio Seismic Network that has more than 25 seismometers, which detect earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.0 or higher. ODNR’s division of oil and gas resources management receives real time data from seismic monitors placed at the fracking or injection well sites to detect earthquakes with a magnitude of 1.0 or higher. Energy companies may be required to conduct their own seismic monitoring as well, Eiselstein said.

There are 15 seismic monitors in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, he added.

“We’ve got more capability and equipment,” Eiselstein said.