Surrey Quakes Linked to Oil Extraction

A series of over 100 minor earthquakes in Surrey, UK, during 2018 and 2019, have likely been linked to oil extraction activities, according to a new study by University College London (UCL). The study contradicts earlier findings by the British Geological Survey (BGS) that deemed the earthquakes a natural occurrence and suggests that extraction activities at the Horse Hill site were responsible for the seismic events. This conclusion was reached after running over a million simulations that matched the real-world frequency and magnitude of the earthquakes. The earthquakes, which caused damage to homes in areas such as Newdigate, were initially thought to be coincidental. Although oil extraction at Horse Hill was stopped in 2024 following a legal decision, the study's findings underscore the potential for oil extraction to induce seismic activity. Dr. Matthew Fox of UCL emphasizes that while the study strongly suggests a link, further investigation is needed to conclusively determine causation.