Fracking causes earthquakes.

I'm also inclined to be skeptical that it is a good idea to do it.

I don't, but people in Newark might.

Actually, in the U.S., most fracking is being done in the more populated areas. While minor tremors have been tied to fracking operations here, there have been no major or even moderate earthquakes tied to it.

But it's not just fracking that can cause earthquakes. We don't have many earthquakes where I live but every few years we may get a very small one. There is a quarry not too far away that occasionally does some blasting. One day back in 2014, the blast from the quarry was exceptionally strong, shaking local houses and even cracking a window or two. When they analyzed the seismograph readings, they discovered that the blast from the quarry had set off a 3.2 earthquake.

Manchester UK, a series of earthquakes back around the time they were building the structure for the Commonwealth games.
They say we only got a series of smaller quakes....
"Some say" it was settlement from mining.

For me it was an almost daily occurrence at the time.
We did get one or two larger ones, but a lot of smaller ones, I didnt bother to count them.

There "was" no pattern, yes, I am sure of that, because until recently, no one took "The thousand yard view", and actually bothered to count.?..

I am as I said not 100% on any of this at this time because its only just recently that this theory was investigated.
It has been known for ages that smaller quakes, "After shocks", accompany bigger quakes.
It has been known that in areas of known instability, smaller shock can be "Indicators" of larger shocks that may be due.

It is not a definitive 1,2,3,-8,9,10 BIG ONE count, its more an average count, of 10 small one big.
But if it is a case of you have had a dozen will there be a big one and the answer is maybe yes, then its worth investigating that the size and number of smaller quakes can be used to "predict" maybe a "Greater probability" of earthquakes.

Until recently it was not even thought about that placing sensors that measure remote earthquakes could be used to perhaps predict and issue early warnings of Tsunami.
And now, thats the basis of the early warning system they use for tsunami.

Until recently, NO ONE kept a "Big data" set of earthquake readings on the tectonic plate movements.

However...

There is this town in Midwest America that had a small amount of chance of earthquake so small that it was negligible and no one in living history could remember serious shakes.

Enter Fracking in the area.
Its now one of the most popular sites for earthquakes in USA...

Some "simple" duck-fu
duckduckgo.com/?q=town+where+fracking+caused+eartquakes+in+america&t=ffab&atb=v48-5a_&ia=web
And this
www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/confirmed-fracking-practices-blame-ohio-earthquakes-f8C11073601



I am not even going to try to claim I have anything but a passing knowledge of earthquakes and the science of the geology behind them "At this point", but I am picking it up quite quickly.
There is an awful lot of science that says things like..


So is it worth investigating?..

Set up seismometers in a known low risk area and get in a fracking crew and study the results.

Shortcut
Lancashire Council has just been "Directed" from the man-in-black that they MUST allow Fracking on certain sites, and will indeed do that.
Get In Now, set up the seismometers, and see what happens.
Take a study of the local ancient architecture.
Everything from centuries-old farm houses to the local town hall.
Has any of it been made Quake-Proof?..
And if not why not?.
Perhaps because they dont have earthquakes around here.

Now put the measure on what happens when the fracking starts, and leave it as a work in progress, running until they either abandon the site or there is significant proof and they are

I dunno, Personally, if I could afford it, it would be interesting to do the study.
Confirmed or Busted, I would love the ten-year tenure on a long running study like that, and who knows, "No result is a result" for the type of geology we have around here.

And if the study shed disappears into a pit of waste water, "Confirmed", result, time to move on and do something else.
Also measure the damage done by the "traffic" to and from the site, how does that affect the community.

Personally, as it stands, without the research, I already do NOT want fracking anywhere near my house until I understand the science and risks involved.


Real World Note.
I know in the greater sphere of acquaintances one of the landlords of the local establishments [pub] in the area.
There is already a zero-tollerance to any quadrilla employee on the premises, he is tussling with the idea of making that a permanent ban.
Although the ideal of having "Extra" trade would be suitable to him, he gets enough trade from the locals anyway?..