From the Louisiana Sinkhole blog - four items of the day....
http://lasinkhole.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/story-so-far/
The Story So Far – By Alicia Heilig
3
A Summary of Events at the Sinkhole to Date
First, the napoleonville salt dome is a 1×3 mile underground natural salt deposit. Salt domes are used by petrochemical companies to store crude oil, natural gas (methane), liquefied petroleum gas, and radioactive or toxic wastes, among other things, after they have been mined, and caverns or wells created. For more info on specifics of salt domes and their uses, please refer to this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_dome
The Nepoleonville salt dome has roughly 50 caverns in it (exact number is unclear because I’ve heard so many different ones). One of these caverns drilled and owned by the company Texas Brine is situated on the west edge of the salt dome. On August 3rd, 2012 it was discovered that a sinkhole or “slurry”, about the size of one football field, had appeared roughly above this cavern now known as Oxy Geismar Well #3. This came after months of various bubble sites being found in the surrounding bayous, and “tremors” felt by locals. These bubbles are now known to be methane gas.
At first is was unknown what had caused the sinkhole, but later found that TB’s (Texas Brine’s) cavern had collapsed resulting in the “cave in”. It is now known that the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) knew that there was integrity problems with this cavern at least since January of 2011. There is a letter from TB to DNR stating that their cavern had failed a pressure test…this was ignored, and not admitted until someone dug up that letter. The story is the same with radioactive waste that was being stored in the cavern. On Aug. 25, 1995 DNR signed a permit allowing TB to store NORM (naturally occurring radioactive material) in Oxy well #3. The Advocate reported: “The radioactivity of scale, a common byproduct of oil and gas exploration and production, can vary widely from background levels to much higher”, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says. DEQ officials said Wednesday “NORM materials can be harmful if ingested and confirmed they had not been testing the sinkhole for radioactivity.” I’m told that the amount of Norm on site is not enough to pose any health hazards.
It was discovered that the methane bubbles were coming from the Mississippi Alluvial Aquifer. This aquifer runs over the top of the salt dome, and under the bayous and swamps of the area. It is still unclear why the methane has built up there, but they have drilled wells down into it to vent and flare off the methane there in an attempt to relieve the pressure. Currently there are five vent wells completed in the alluvial aquifer and one, Relief Well #2, completed in the cap rock. Four of the vent wells have positive wellhead pressure indicating gas accumulation; the fifth well has no wellhead pressure. The venting was at first unsuccessful due to the wells becoming clogged. Three of the wells are daily flaring methane at a rate of 12 – 32 mcf/day, as stated by the latest field update submitted by the office of conservation. http://assumptionla.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/825-p-m-bayou-corne-field-update/
Two days before Thanksgiving it was reported that H2S (hydrogen sulfide) gas was found at at TB’s vent well #2. Texas Brine failed to report this to any of the appropriate agencies until almost 24 hours after it was discovered. (Hydrogen Sulfide is a highly flammable and explosive gas and is a mucous membrane and respiratory tract irritant. Pulmonary edema, which may be immediate or delayed, can occur after exposure to high concentrations. Symptoms of acute exposure include nausea, headaches, delirium, and disturbed equilibrium, tremors, convulsions, and skin and eye irritation. Inhalation of high concentrations can produce extremely rapid unconsciousness and death. Exposure to the liquefied gas can cause frostbite injury.” – http://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/files/hydsulflab.pdf. They are currently reviewing a plan to seal the well where the H2S was found.
There have been several “slough ins” and other sinkhole activity. The latest was Nov 27. This was the update posted by the APPJ (Assumption Parish Police Jury) – “An event occurred at the sinkhole around 11:30 pm today which is being considered as a “burp”. Vegetative debris and hydrocarbons came up from below the sinkhole. A few trees in the southwest corner did fall in however most of the debris came from below the sinkhole. Texas Brine removed all crews from the sinkhole and is checking the boom surrounding the area to make sure everything is in tact. A video from the sinkhole, post-event is posted at: http://www.youtube.com/user/assumptionla
Over the past three and a half months the sinkhole continues to grow, currently about the size of 8 football fields. The bubbles are still bubbling and the tremors are still being felt. You can find more details and follow the official updates by the APPJ at:http://assumptionla.wordpress.com/author/assumptionla/. And the two facebook pages created, and maintained by locals at:http://www.facebook.com/BayouCorneSinkhole and http://www.facebook.com/groups/170121413123913/
and.....
Expanding Sinkhole Approaches Strategic Reserve
just for everyone's information ....
and......
http://lasinkhole.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/seismic-activity-high/
Seismic Activity High + Thursday News
NOVEMBER 29, 2012
6
This isn’t even news anymore . . . The seismic monitors are singing like birds today. Always worth a look.
Local police say Texas Brine wasn’t obliged to report the hydrogen sulfide because it was on their property (!!!)
ENE-News – Officials investigating if over 100 pounds of poisonous hydrogen sulfide was released near giant sinkhole see also story “Local police say…” . . . it looks like this issue may become part of The Big Feud!
ENE-News - Fish kill in area of giant sinkhole was blamed on Hurricane
We found LIVE traffic cams near the area near sinkhole. It isn’t Bayou Corne showing near the cameras, but Bayou Cane They don’t show the sinkhole but it’s better than nothing! Added to our sidebar under “Other” category.
and.....
http://lasinkhole.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/flying-map-sinkhole/
Super Nice Flying Map of the Sinkhole – Video
LINK – http://youtu.be/ie67gsTfnDk
http://lasinkhole.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/crews-removed/
All crews removed from giant sinkhole + WED. News
NOVEMBER 28, 2012 BY FLYINGCUTTLEFISH
1
ENE-News – TV: All crews removed from giant sinkhole — It “continues to grow” (VIDEO)
This Advocate story says they returned to work. “Company spokesman Sonny Cranch said that after the sinkhole quieted, workers resumed cleanup work Tuesday afternoon and were expected to return Wednesday if no other changes occur.”
Amazingly Texas Brine claims only 14 barrels of crud escaped (turning the whole sinkhole oily black!)
What has Happened at the Sinkhole
NOVEMBER 28, 2012 BY FLYINGCUTTLEFISH
6
A theory by blogger, Freedomrox has his good idea about the status of the sinkhole today:
From ENE-News comment:
“Unlike Lake Piegneur, this was not a breach of the actual cavern over a lake. Actually, quite the opposite. This area was bubbling normally with the natural methane creep, every once in a while, but just after the BP Macondo disaster began a continous flow of methane to fill the lower subsidence areas traveling through the Miocene shale.
This was a marsh area subsidence that caved in next to the NPLV Salt Dome, whose west side caverns have been breached and water has entered to form a lake from the surrounding swamp water into the subsided (sinkhole) area.
All of the land and trees and other materials that have fallen in created a plug. It is known as a Seep Plug. Unfortunately at the depths the well bore was at has somehow allowed access to the Big Hum strata level, hence all the readily available oil. 85, 000 gallons has already been skimmed, and from the looks of it, another 50,000 is now at the surface.
Again, the seep plug, or to make it easier, think of it as drain that is clogged. Although the throat is clogged a back pressure caused by methane builds up over time to the point the pressure blows a tiny part of the plug, (clog), away and a burp is caused. It’s albeit small pressure geologically is still enough to pop loose some of the plug and brings it and other materials to the surface. It also gives an outlet to the oil which is the second engine of pressure from under the dammed up plug.
Again, I must stress that it has been determined that Big Hum cannot…possibly account for the high levels of the methane, which is desperately seeking a release valve. The weakest area is the closest to that pressure which happens to be the plugged subsidence area, (i.e.sinkhole).
With twin sources of motivating power working underneath the plug, then it is only a matter of time before the whole plug is violently expelled and a geyer of methane produced pressure and oil will clear the throat, (like a plumbing drainpipe).
This is actually a very good thing that has happened, as it postpones the inevitable explosive removal of the subsidence plug.
Unfortunately, since we know there is a breach in the west wall, (who knows what chemicals have mixed underneath the plug, still swelling), and we have a drilling rig fracking at a roughly forty five degree angle on the east to the west side of the whole dome between five thousand, (turn) and then down another 7500 ft. allowing even more methane to fuel the pressures, then I would not be surprised if the Aussie’s are not indirectly responsible for this…. “
With twin sources of motivating power working underneath the plug, then it is only a matter of time before the whole plug is violently expelled and a geyer of methane produced pressure and oil will clear the throat, (like a plumbing drainpipe).
This is actually a very good thing that has happened, as it postpones the inevitable explosive removal of the subsidence plug.
Unfortunately, since we know there is a breach in the west wall, (who knows what chemicals have mixed underneath the plug, still swelling), and we have a drilling rig fracking at a roughly forty five degree angle on the east to the west side of the whole dome between five thousand, (turn) and then down another 7500 ft. allowing even more methane to fuel the pressures, then I would not be surprised if the Aussie’s are not indirectly responsible for this…. “
http://lasinkhole.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/3-seismic-meters-offline-overnight/
3 Seismic Meters Offline Overnight – OK Now
LA01, LA03 and LA08 have been out since about 4:30 yesterday afternoon (11-27). Posted 6 a.m. CST
Update (see comments)
It appears the monitors are back up. But to us (6:42 a.m. CST) they still show up like this:
2 hours later - still not loading correctly, here’s why -
2 hours after that . . . it is fixed. . .
finally!
Louisiana Sinkhole ‘Burps’. Signs Of Collapse Imminent?
“A complete collapse of the Louisiana sinkhole could be catastrophic for the region. One of the major problems is the area is at sea level. Any hole in the ground will immediately be filled with the Gulf of Mexico. The inrush of water could flood the entire region, killing thousands. . . “
http://beforeitsnews.com/environment/2012/11/louisiana-sinkhole-burps-signs-of-collapse-imminent-2455230.html
http://lasinkhole.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/what-happened/
Something BAD Now at LA03 & LA90 Seismic Monitors
Magma Under the Cavern? Earth Expansion Theory
Theory – The Gulf of Mexico is heating up due to a rise in magma flow convecting (running like a conveyor belt) under the Gulf floor. This is the Earth Expansion Theory, where the Earth heats up, filling the salt domes with tar (magma melting oil and creating tar), and pushing the ocean floor up. The tar bubbles as it heats up, and it outgases.
(Almost 2 hours long:)
Thanks to comment from WhyIsTheSkyFalling – 
It makes this headline more scary – “Gas and/or ‘fluid’ moving below giant Louisiana sinkhole suspected of causing new tremors“
It makes this headline more scary – “Gas and/or ‘fluid’ moving below giant Louisiana sinkhole suspected of causing new tremors“
Also, John had posted an earlier comment on the brown water at the sinkhole maybe relating to volcanic activity.
http://enenews.com/breaking-officials-event-has-occurred-at-sinkhole-entire-surface-appears-covered-in-thick-black-oil-video
http://enenews.com/legal-expert-people-need-to-know-if-radioactive-waste-is-coming-up-from-the-ground-in-area-of-giant-sinkholeAn event occurred at the sinkhole around 11:30 pm today which is being considered as a “burp”. Vegetative debris and hydrocarbons came up from below the sinkhole. A few trees in the southwest corner did fall in however most of the debris came from below the sinkhole. Texas Brine removed all crews from the sinkhole and is checking the boom surrounding the area to make sure everything is intact.
Title: La. needs to get to bottom of the sinkhole and radiation
Source: Stuart H. Smith
Date: Nov 27, 2012
Emphasis Added
Source: Stuart H. Smith
Date: Nov 27, 2012
Emphasis Added
[...] In the ongoing saga of the Bayou Corne sinkhole — the collapsing salt dome that has forced about 150 people out of their homes some 70 miles west of New Orleans — this has always been a concern ever since the earliest reports of bubbling swamp waters and foul odors, that some of the stuff coming up from under the ground will include unsafe levels of radiation. (It was just last week that we learned that toxic hydrogen sulfide was released as the owner, Texas Brine Co,, is working to vent and burn off gases from the troubled dome.)Now, in just the latest in what seems like a never-ending stream of bad news about what’s been taking place under the Louisiana bayou, state officials are investigating whether radioactive waste was once buried there by Texas Brine Co. [...]Earlier this year, I joined with local activists like the Louisiana Bucket Brigade in calling for the federal Environmental Protection Agency to step in and take over the responsibilities of the Louisiana DEQ, which has been both overmatched and far too favorable to Big Oil and other industries. This is a textbook example of why. The people of Bayou Corne need to know what’s coming up from the ground, and they need to know whether that includes radioactive waste. And if Louisiana can’t provide those answers, they need to bring in someone who can.
