VOA慢速英語:專家發(fā)現(xiàn)地震與石油鉆井間存在聯(lián)系

Since 2009, earthquake activity has greatly increased in the central and eastern United States. A new report from U.S. earthquake experts links drilling for oil and gas with the rise in the number of earthquakes in those areas.

自2009年以來美國中部和東部地區(qū)地震發(fā)生頻率大大增加。一份來自美國地震專家的報告稱該地區(qū)的地震發(fā)生頻率與石油鉆探和天然氣開采活動有關(guān)。

It is widely known that certain parts of oil and gas drilling can lead to small earthquakes. The United States has expanded its oil and gas production in recent years.

人們都知道中部地區(qū)的石油和天然氣開采活動會導(dǎo)致小規(guī)模地震發(fā)生。美國在最近幾年擴(kuò)大了石油和天然氣生產(chǎn)的規(guī)模。

Critics blame the use of a drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for the increase in earthquakes. Fracking involves forcing high-pressure water, sand and chemicals into rock formations deep underground.

批評人士指責(zé)稱能源開采方法造成了地震的頻發(fā)，熟知的開采方法有水力壓裂，或者壓裂法等。壓裂能用高壓將水，沙子和化學(xué)物質(zhì)沖到地下深處巖層。

The U.S. Geological Survey published a report on a study of 17 fracking areas within eight states in the central and eastern parts of the U.S. Those states include Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas.

美國地質(zhì)調(diào)查局發(fā)表過一篇關(guān)于美國中部和東部地區(qū)八個州里17個壓裂地區(qū)的報告。這些州地包括阿拉巴馬州，阿肯色州，科羅拉多州，堪薩斯州，新墨西哥州，俄亥俄州，俄克拉荷馬州和德克薩斯州。

Fracturing the underground rock releases oil and gas trapped inside. It also creates a large amount of wastewater. Roger Musson of the British Geological Survey says the problem is what to do with that water. Mr. Musson spoke to VOA by telephone.

壓裂可以釋放地下巖石下的石油和天然氣。同時制造大量廢水。英國地質(zhì)調(diào)查局Roger Musson說問題是大量廢水該如何處理。Roger Musson通過電話與VOA進(jìn)行了對話。

He says injecting wastewater into the ground to dispose of it is what causes earthquakes in the affected areas.It does this by loosening faults, or divisions, in the rocks that make up Earth's crust.

他說向地下注入廢水是引發(fā)該地區(qū)地震頻發(fā)的原因，這種做法會導(dǎo)致地殼巖石組織疏松。

"Below the water table, there is water in the rocks. And if you change the pressure in that water, then it has the effect of lubricating the faults," he says.

在地下水位下面巖石層中含有水分。如果改變地下水位壓力將會產(chǎn)生潤滑故障。

The USGS report says the new areas of earthquake activity are located "near deep fluid injection wells or other industrial activities capable of inducing earthquakes."

美國地質(zhì)調(diào)查局報道稱新產(chǎn)生的地震頻發(fā)領(lǐng)域位于深層液體注射水井或者其他可能誘發(fā)地震的工業(yè)活動地區(qū)。

The most significant increase has occurred in the central U.S. state of Oklahoma. Before 2008, Oklahoma had just one or two earthquakes a year with a magnitude of 3.0 or greater. Now, Oklahoma has one or two such earthquakes every day.

最重要的地震頻發(fā)帶出現(xiàn)在美國中部的俄克拉荷馬州。在2008年之前，俄克拉荷馬州一年僅發(fā)生一次或者兩次地震，震級為3級或者再高一點。現(xiàn)在俄克拉荷馬州每天就會發(fā)生一次或者兩次這種地震。

In a recent report, the state of Oklahoma said for the first time it is "very likely" that the rise in earthquakes has been caused by the disposal of wastewater from oil and gas drilling.

在最近的一份報道中，俄克拉荷馬州首次稱地震頻發(fā)極有可能是對石油和天然氣開采產(chǎn)生的廢水處理不當(dāng)?shù)慕Y(jié)果。

Most of the so-called manmade earthquakes have been small and have done little damage. But experts warn there is no guarantee earthquake activity will not increase and cause more damage.

大多數(shù)所謂的人造地震一般震級較小破壞力也較小。但是專家警告稱不能保證地震發(fā)生次數(shù)和破壞力不會上升。

"This is being debated very urgently by seismologists," Roger Musson says. Currently, scientists believe that wastewater injection can produce earthquakes in the magnitude 4 or 5 range. "But the upper limit is really very difficult to judge," Mr. Musson says.

Roger Musson說地震專家對這個問題的爭論非常迫切。目前，科學(xué)家認(rèn)為廢水注入可能誘發(fā)4級或者5級地震。但是關(guān)于地震級別的上限非常難以判斷。

Environmental rights activists have criticized fracking. They say it pollutes groundwater and sends harmful gases into the atmosphere.

環(huán)境維權(quán)人士批評這種壓裂做法，他們說這種做法會污染地下水資源并且會向大氣層輸送有害氣體。

Supporters of fracking say the innovative drilling process has helped grow the U.S. economy and has reduced American dependence on foreign oil. They add that the reports linking earthquakes to drilling activity are exaggerated.

支持者認(rèn)為創(chuàng)新鉆井過程幫助美國發(fā)展了經(jīng)濟(jì)，減少了美國對外來石油的依賴。他們還說關(guān)于地震和鉆井活動的關(guān)聯(lián)被夸張了。

I'm Jonathan Evans.

William Gallo reported this story from Washington. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

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Words in This Story

fracture – v. to cause a crack or break in something hard

fault – n. a break in the Earth's crust

inject – v. to force a liquid into something

innovative – adj. introducing or using new ideas or methods

magnitude – n. a number that shows the power of an earthquake

exaggerate – v. to describe something as larger or greater than it really is