VOA慢速英语2015 专家称地震和石油钻探关系密切（在线收听）

Experts See Closer Link Between Earthquakes and Oil Drilling 专家称地震和石油钻探关系密切

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年以来，美国中部和东部地震活动大幅增加。来自美国地震专家的一份最新报告称石油和天然气开采与这些地区地震次数增加有关。

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. 

众所周知，部分地区的石油和天然气开采会导致小型地震。近年来，美国拓宽了石油和天然气生产活动。

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. 

批评家谴责石油开采中使用的水力压裂技术造成地震数量增加。压裂技术是指将高压下的水，沙子和化学物质压入地下的岩层。

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.  

美国地质调查局公布了关于美国中东部地区八个州17个水力压裂地区的一份报告。这些州包括阿拉巴马州，阿肯色州，科罗拉多州，堪萨斯州，新墨西哥州，俄亥俄州，俄克拉荷马州和得克萨斯州。

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. 

压裂地下岩石可以释放出被困在内的石油和天然气，还会生成大量废水。英国地质调查局的Roger Musson表示，问题是如何处理废水。Musson通过电话接受了VOA采访。

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.

他表示，将废水注入地下来处理是造成受影响地区地震的原因。废水会造成地球板块之间的断层松弛。

"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.

“在地下水位以下，岩石上有水存在。如果你改变了水压，就会给断层带来润滑作用。”

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."

美国地质调查局这份报告称，新的地震活动区位于“深部流体注入井或引发地震的其他工业活动附近”。

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.

地震活动增加最显著的地方在美国中部的俄克拉荷马州。2008年以前，俄克拉荷马州每年只有一两次3.0级或更高的地震。现在，俄克拉荷马州每天都会发生一到两次这样的地震。

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. 

在最近的一份报告中，俄克拉荷马州首次表示其地震次数的增加“很有可能”是由于石油和天然气钻探过程中废水的处理造成的。

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. 

大部分所谓的人为地震都比较小，造成的损害也有限。但是专家警告称，没有人能够保证地震活动不会增加，造成更大的损坏。

"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.

“地震学家非常迫切地讨论这个问题。”Roger Musson表示。目前，科学家相信，废水注入会造成4.0至5.0级的地震。“但是上限非常难以判断，”Musson说。

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

环境权益活动家批评了水力压裂技术。他们说，这种技术会污染地下水，向大气中释放有害气体。

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.

水力压裂技术的支持者表示，这种创新型钻探过程帮助美国经济增长，减轻了美国对外国石油的依赖。他们补充说，这些把地震和钻探活动联系起来的报告太小题大做了。

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