Nineteen - 19 - quakes this past week, all due to fracking. Last night was a big one. It shook much longer and harder than last weeks'. I kept waiting for it to stop shaking, the noise and popping and cracking.
After the one last week, the Corporation Commission shut down 37 disposal wells near the quake site (there are thousands) and shut down drill sites within a 6 mile radius.
This quake happened in Cushing, where a major pipeline runs and the Keystone Pipeline from Canada was going to hook up on its path to the Gulf. They also store about 10% of the US stores of crude oil in Cushing. Major spot. There, the electricity went out when the shaking began. Partial, old buildings collapsed and they are assessing the damage today. Glad winter hasn't arrived yet.
I don't know what the Corp. Comm. will do after this larger one. As I mentioned before, the industry slipped this by us. We had no idea what fracking entailed nor the results of it. I don't think we could have stopped them anyway as our state's economy depends on the oil and gas industry. Civil services, education and on and on are hurting from the collapse of gas prices.
Meanwhile Boo the cat, wanted out of the house. All the animals were aware of the quake. He's been in the city for nearly 3 weeks as he was sick and needed attending. He's an outdoor cat, but I've been too afraid to let him outside as he isn't familiar with the territory and might get lost. He is going home tomorrow. He has clawed up the edges of my new powder blue modern sofa and OMG the cat box thing has been horrible.
Though we've not had a freeze yet, the cottonwood leaves are falling - all over the lawn and flower beds. Last week I had to catch a rat. This week, a gopher has made a hill next to my goldfish pond and the sand has sifted in the pond. That, and the filter/pump froze up. I, who can tell the difference between a flat or phillips head screw driver, but that is it, had to take the whole filter and motor apart to clean out all the sludge and matter. Even with tweezers. Aye yay yay.
Oh how I wish I was the Queen or at least could afford assistants.
34 comments:
Your earthquake is in my news feed. I wondered if it was associated with the quakes you have written of.
I'm rethinking life, too. Took my care in for major service this morning. I got them to drive me home, but now am waiting for a taxi to decide to show up and take me back.
It is those kind of things I wish we could avoid. And y son just called and is going to hospital to make sure he's not having appendicitis. Cherry on top.
Ooh, deary me....the things we continue to do to our planet, the fracking is a nightmare.
I hope all is well with your son, my grandson had an emergency appendectomy not too long ago, thankfully it was caught in time.
Hugs,
~Jo
Jeepers Donna...this quake situation is now going to get more widespread attention. Or so I truly hope. It certainly seems that the residents of Oklahoma are owed all sorts of information, explanations, apologies and funding for required repairs to their property. Calling all lawyers....
Seriously, this is terrible. I did check some news sites and discovered that the quake was felt in other States.
Seems to me as if you might deserve some very good news or pleasant surprises. Best wishes to you and your family. xo
Oh Jo, thank you. I needed that hug. Waiting to hear from him. Hubby had his throat stretched this morning and new feeding tube. He's upstairs napping. At least I haven't found any new cracks, but then again, I haven't had time to look around.
The whole idea of those quakes sounds scary Donna.
Thank you dear Frances. I'm in line as soon as they file class action law suits. Believe it or not, most attorneys in the state, are on retainers from the oil and gas companies. It is bad since buildings weren't built with quake standards and insurance is ridiculous. I sure hope our friends in the UK can stop fracking before it gets a hold there. And, I am waiting for that news and surprise. And, on my way for a gopher trap.
Yes, Pat. I hope the UK can stop it before it starts. With so many old buildings... It's pretty bad when I can start guessing what level on the scale the quake is.
How worrisome Donna..thank goodness you can look out at paradise..
Nineteen fracking quakes???
Sigh.
I hope it can be stopped. I really hope so.
And hear you about the need for an assistant. Or six.
Take care - and I hope your next news is all positive.
Donna, all those quakes. And there is nothing you can do except wait for the next one. I hope your husband is doing o.k. -Jenn
Can you explain why fracking causes quakes - excuse my ignorance! But it does sound awful - and a bit unnerving for you to have so many - they can't be doing the foundations of the buildings any good.
Yes, it is my little paradise.
Me too. As soon as they shut down wells in an area, the quakes stop. Simple, one would think.
He's good and back to his old self. And it's true, that there is nothing we can do except get in on that lawsuit someday.
To frack, they use chemicals and water to 'melt' shale rock which releases natural gas. All those poisons and water have to go somewhere, so they pump the millions of gallons of the wastewater back deep into the earth which causes prehistoric faults to crack and move. Can't put all that fluid back in the earth without it expanding the ground around it. And, the lobbyists and politicians won't make the industry release what all is in the wastewater. Can't be good if it separates gas from shale and rock.
Ah yes....assistants would be nice.
Three would do the jobs.
I was wondering if that was near you. I am so sorry that you have been going through this.
This is just so stupid I can not believe they (?) are letting this stuff happen,
I just wish I could give you a big hug and bring you some dinner.
cheers, parsnip
And I love sushi Parsnip. Thank you. It is getting scarier as they become more frequent, especially big ones. The DOT are checking bridges today and we'll hear in a day or so what they are going to do. They'll shut down some more wells and it will help for a while in that area. Meanwhile, all the other ones will be working overtime.
Baili, I hit the wrong button and it disappeared. I couldn't get it back so I apologize. That you for taking the time to comment.
So sorry ♥ Love the photos♥
greed. that's the beginning and end of it. maybe they didn't really understand the effects fracking would have but once they did, they just didn't care. busting up the earth's insides, how could it not create damage and havoc.
the pump on my water lily pond died a couple of months ago but I still haven't replaced it. fortunately the minnows take care of any mosquito larvae.
I love the bottle tree! So artistic and fun. That's way too many quakes. How scary! We used to live in the foothills of the Rockies, and it was predicted that one day a MAMMOTH earthquake was going to tear the area asunder, but I never felt any tremors while living there. Thank goodness Florida doesn't have earthquakes, just hurricanes and gators. And bugs. But mostly sunshine.
Thank you Summer and glad to hear from you.
I had an algae problem while the pump was broken and poured in algaecide. It kills fish but larvae are having a ball. Need some goldfish to eat them. Sigh. It's never-ending. I put it up until the spring. Still haven't found gopher trap. I think they won't be out till next spring. I'm not a chemical engineer but I think they knew the basic science. Greed is right. Boone Pickens, an Okie, lives in Dallas, but he pulled out of wind and solar energy as soon as the tracking began. How much money does one need?
St. Augustine is sounding better and better. I love the beach, and have always wanted to live in Carlsbad, CA but I think it's is out of reach now. Yes, I did a post on the bottle tree as poor man's stained glass, but it seems it goes back to the Roman times and was thought to catch and keep bad spirits away.
Your garden is so pretty.
Hope Boo is all better.
The fracking situation is unnerving.
For a little longer anyway. Boo is purrfect and sniffing around the farm right now. It is unnerving when they get that big and more frequent.
I thought it was bad enough when I read about your fracking last week. This sounds just so awful! Would you mind if I try to publise your experiences to the environment groups in the UK? Sarah x
Read an article in the UK Guardian about the Cushing quake. This is seriously scary stuff. I can imagine that the animals must be stressed out what with all the shaking & such. :(
I wish you would Sarah. I wrote a letter to the editor of The Huffington Post UK edition. It would be devastating in the UK with all of the old structures. They are the ones crumbling down here. They are also having to inspect bridges. It would be so foolish to frack in the UK. All Britons should contact their elected officials and grassroots organizations to oppose fracking.
Yes Bea, and this one just went on and on. They say damage is worse near bodies of water. Think of the UK surrounded by water. I hope they can stop it or put a moratorium on fracking in the UK.
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