3.8-magnitude earthquake south of Grande Prairie shakes region, industry-related
The quake near Wabamun occurred Thursday evening about 35 kilometres south of Grande Prairie. No injuries or damage reported, but Alberta can expect more induced seismic activity.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
A 3.8-magnitude earthquake struck about 35 kilometres south of Grande Prairie on Thursday around 6:30 p.m. MT, shaking the region widely enough that Earthquakes Canada received more than 30 reports, including a couple from B.C.
The Alberta Geological Survey, a branch of the Alberta Energy Regulator, deemed the quake "known induced" — meaning it was industry-related, likely from fracking or wastewater disposal tied to oil-and-gas operations. AER says the reporting operator has undertaken required mitigation measures. No injuries or damage was reported.
Fracking and wastewater injection increase stress on faults and fractures, causing slip or failure along those zones, according to research scientist Rebecca Swinscoe of Natural Resources Canada's Geological Survey. Scientists and operators have made "huge technological advances" over the past decade to reduce risk, Swinscoe said, but the risk will always persist.
Since 2019, more than 15 earthquakes of this magnitude or greater have occurred within 50 kilometres of Thursday's epicentre. Brindley Smith, a seismic analyst for Natural Resources Canada, said the event is "nothing that's too far out of the ordinary — at least for this region."
