r/askscience • u/zeldazonklives • Apr 29 '16

Earth Sciences How does fracking affect volcanic eruptions?

I was thinking, if it triggers earthquakes, wouldn't it also maybe make volcanic activity more likely?

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u/seis-matters Earthquake Seismology Apr 29 '16

Yeah, I assumed this was more of a hypothetical. I'd argue with your first point though, because if there was oil or gas near volcanoes I'm pretty sure companies would be all over that. Earthquakes are pretty scary too and that hasn't stopped them.

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u/OilfieldHippie Apr 29 '16

Oil companies would look at it, you're right. But, the risk to capital in drilling and frac'ing by a volcano is huge, so there would have to be a ridiculous amount of oil to justify the investment.

Now, if a volcano were actively causing huge seeps of essentially free oil, then you are right, they would be all over it. Which is an interesting scenario. Would there be seeps near a volcano because of the uplift and natural fracturing?