More than 140 underwater earthquakes in Gulf of Valencia caused by gas rig
Wednesday, October 2, 2013 @ 12:17 PM
OVER 20 earthquakes were felt in the Gulf of Valencia yesterday (Tuesday), making a total of 141 in the last week and a half – the most severe of which measured 4.2 on the Richter scale.
Each of them has had its epicentre near the Castor gas-drilling platform off the coast of Vinaròs (Castellón province), says the National Geographical Institute.
Some 1.2 billion euros have been invested in the Castor project, which is attempting to exploit an old oil pocket around 1.75 kilometres below the sea-bed and which will cover a third of the Valencia region's gas supply needs for 50 days.
But since drilling began on September 13, nearly 300 earthquakes have been reported.
Most of these have been of very low intensity, meaning they would not be felt, but lately they have reached levels that could cause damage or injury in the immediate area.
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