B.C. halts fracking in northeast

FORT ST. JOHN — The B.C. Oil and Gas Commission is shutting down oilfield fracking operations in an area in the northeast part of the province for at least 30 days while it investigates earthquakes that occurred there on Nov. 29.

The regulator said the seismic events measuring between 3.4 and 4.5 magnitude took place near hydraulic fracturing operations being conducted 20 kilometres southeast of Fort St. John by Calgary-based Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

It said the company immediately suspended that work and it won’t be allowed to resume without the written consent of the commission.

According to Natural Resources Canada, the 4.5 magnitude earthquake was felt in Fort St. John, Taylor, Chetwynd and Dawson Creek but did no damage. It was followed by two smaller aftershocks.

Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting large amounts of water, sand and chemicals into a well to break up tight rock underground and allow trapped oil and gas to flow.

The technology, along with injecting oilfield liquids into disposal wells, have been linked by the B.C. commission to previous incidents of “induced seismicity,” although it notes on its website none of the events in B.C. have resulted in hazards to safety or the environment or property damage.