Researchers in Alberta are digging into a controversial technique used to extract natural gas and oil that some say causes earthquakes.
Teams from the University of Calgary and University of Alberta want to listen to hydraulic fracture treatments or fracking, as it's more commonly known.
"What it involves is installation of sensors that are called geophones, usually in a deep borehole, but sometimes also at the surface," said David Eaton, a University of Calgary geophysics professor and lead investigator.
"The geophones are used to measure ground vibrations and if you measure ground vibrations at three or more locations, it's possible to then triangulate the location where seismic waves are created. And they're created at tiny, micro-earthquakes that occur during the frack treatment process."
Fracking involves pumping water, sand and chemicals deep down well bores to crack open fissures and boost the flow of oil and gas.
