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South Korea: 2017 Pohang earthquake triggered by geothermal plant: experts

Source(s): Korea Times Co.
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By Bahk Eun-ji

An earthquake which struck the nation's southeastern city of Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, in 2017, was triggered by an experimental geothermal power plant, the government said Wednesday.

[...]

The experts said the construction and test operations of the plant, involving pumping high-pressure water in and out of an underground reservoir, triggered the quake. 

"The earthquake was an induced seismicity, not one that occurred naturally, because the geothermal plant aimed to generate power by boiling water beneath the earth's surface," said Lee Kang-gun, a natural science professor of Seoul National University who led the investigation. 

[...]

Most conventional geothermal power plants draw heat directly from hot water deep underground, or pump fluid through hot rocks to exchange heat between the ground and the facility, which requires specific geological conditions.

[...]

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Hazards Earthquake
Themes Risk identification and assessment Critical infrastructure
Country and region Korea, Rep of
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