7 quakes possibly caused by fracking hit central Oklahoma

Seven small earthquakes have shaken central Oklahoma in a span of about 14 hours.

According to the US Geological Survey, earthquakes across Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas have increased in recent years.

Some scientists say the temblors could be connected to the oil and gas drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing, and especially the wells in which the industry disposes of its wastewater.

Sunday’s quakes ranged from magnitude 2.6 to 2.9 and were centered in the Guthrie, Jones and Langston areas, 15 miles to 30 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, ABC News reported.

The USGS said the temblors were recorded between 7:57 p.m. Saturday and 9:51 a.m. Sunday. No injuries or damage were reported.

Those follow four other quakes, including a 4.3-magnitude temblor near Langston recorded shortly after noon Saturday.

The other Saturday morning quakes ranged in magnitude from 2.9 to 3.2, the report said.

Many residents met with regulators and research geologists last month in Edmond and urged them to ban or severely restrict hydraulic fracturing, or fracking — which involves blasting water, sand and chemicals deep into underground rock formations to free oil and gas.

Fracking also generates vast amounts of wastewater, which is pumped into injection wells thousands of feet underground.

There has been controversy about the long-term effects of fracking on the environment.

NBC reported Monday that protesters have gathered in the downtown mall in Charlottesville, Virginia to send a message to Washington to ban fracking for natural gas.

Demonstrators expressed concerns about the process’s impact on health, safety, and the environment. The protestors included a group known as the “green grannies.”