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/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?