http://lasinkhole.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/dnr-sticking-to-story-that-everything-is-coming-from-decaying-trees-and-vegetation/
DNR Sticking to Story that Everything is Coming from Decaying Trees and Vegetation(!)
1
First it was that all the methane bubbling up in the bayou was justvegetation decay. NOW it is the hydrogen sulfide is from the same thing.
Today’s statement by Gary R. Hecox in the post on the parish blog:
“Other than Relief Well #2, all hydrogen sulfide concentrations measured are consistent with the production of hydrogen sulfide caused by decay of trees and other vegetation in a swamp environment.”
Not from old sulfur mining or from crud DOW is storing there that they can’t be convinced to move.
Thursday News – Holiday Wrecked by Poison Gas at the Sinkhole
Bloggers, sinkhole workers and Assumption Parish staff are getting their day off wrecked by a big increase of action out at the sinkhole. Can’t use the phrase “explosion of activity” as with this sinkhole that is no joke!
“Texas Brine waited 24 hours to let the parish know about the discovery of the dangerous gas.”
Texas Brine sinkhole plan would plug well < Caution! Source is Texas Brine
WAFB tv report with video
Texas Brine takes day off . . . seismic activity dies down(!). See monitors.
7:50 a.m. Status of Hydrogen Sulfide in Bayou Corne AreaPrepared by Gary R. Hecox, Ph.D.
Status of Hydrogen Sulfide in Bayou Corne Area
Prepared by Gary R. Hecox, Ph.D., Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc.
Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc. (Shaw) has reviewed existing data and is currently collecting new data to evaluate the conditions related to the hydrogen sulfide observed in the Texas Brine Relief Well #2 completed in the cap rock. At all times, protection of local residents and project staff is and will remain the top priority when making decisions and recommendations for response activities related to site conditions.
http://lasinkhole.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/disaster-unfolds/
Disaster Unfolds at Bayou Corne! 2 New Fly-Over Videos Show Massive Leak!
Heads up from ENE-News -
New flyover of giant sinkhole shows more crude oil coming to surface
Look at this HUGE OIL FLOW –
and....
Professor on Sinkhole: Salt dome can flow out like toothpaste when under pressure (VIDEO)
Drill, Baby, Drill! No Suspension of Drilling Near the Sinkhole (!)
•November 21, 2012 • 2 Comments
The DNR’s Office of Conservation says they will allow drilling so long as the operators keep tabs on the gas they release.
No ban on drilling permits in Assumption Parish in James H. Welch’s letter to Texas Brine, Oct. 31.
From p. 3 of this document -
Chevron Has a Lot of Natural Gas Stored at the Cavern Still
•November 21, 2012 •Leave a Comment
Chevron hasn’t removed their giant natural gas supply at the Napoleonville salt dome according to this Nov. 12 inventory:
Neither has Dow, Occidental etc. Worth looking at (right column).
Emergency Declaration gets a 4th Add On
•November 21, 2012 • Leave a CommentIn a nutshell -
- Texas Brine ordered to deal with gas abatement in homes
- put in more observation/vent wells and monitor the water
- tell GOHSEP about any homeowner who refuses land access for monitors – no later than Nov. 27.
- bump up the flaring operation to 24/7 and quit shilly-shallying around with flame outs and flare off breakdowns.
- report homeowners who won’t allow flaring on their property to GOHSEP by Nov. 22.
- somehow contain all the oily sludge from getting out of the cavern and into the bayou.
- if Texas Brine won’t comply civil penalties threatened.
- They have 20 days to object via requesting a hearing.
- They demand a whopping 2 additional observation wells (map).
Hydrogen Sulfide at the Cavern Halts Work
•November 20, 2012 • 7 Comments
The Parish Blog:
5:45 p.m. H2S Gas Encounter, Additional Info from DNR
Texas Brine’s second vent well (drilled and perforated near the top of the Napoleonville Salt Dome cap rock, much deeper than the shallower aquifer vent wells constructed in the area), encountered hydrogen sulfide gas as venting operations were initiated. Air monitoring detected the hydrogen sulfide gas during venting/flaring operations, and Texas Brine shut the well in to prevent any potential for release. The Office of Conservation concurred with that action to ensure safety of the public and workers on the site. Texas Brine has also established a safety perimeter around the well, including use of barricades and gas monitors, under the oversight of Conservation staff on site. Hydrogen sulfide does sometimes occur naturally in the cap rock of salt domes, and while the cap rock of the Napoleonville Salt Dome does underlie the Texas Brine facility, it does not extend to the Bayou Corne community. Additionally, ongoing daily environmental safety testing in the Bayou Corne community by DEQ has included tests for hydrogen sulfide, and it has not been detected in the community to date. Additionally, DEQ took an extra round of samples today and will continue to monitor the community. The Office of Conservation will be meeting with Texas Brine representatives to further assess the next steps to be taken with the well.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A detailed article on this from The Advocate – Poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas found in sinkhole-area vent well. As always excellent reporting by David J. Mitchell.
“Office of Conservation officials noted Tuesday that salt dome caprock is an area known to contain hydrogen sulfide.
In fact, the caprock of some salt domes in Louisiana and Texas has been mined for sulphur through what is called the Frasch process dating back to the late 1800s.The last U.S. Frasch sulphur mine closed in 2000, according to the Sulphur Institute, an industry group.”
http://lasinkhole.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/hmmmm-stretch-of-louisiana-shore-closed-to-fishing/
Hmmmm. Stretch of Louisiana Shore Closed to Fishing
Wonder what they found . . .
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE
No Problems at the Sinkhole – Everyone Taking Vacation Time Off!
•November 20, 2012 • 1 CommentFor Thanksgiving holiday.
Nothing to look at here, move along.
Bad News if Butane Cavern Blows Up – Louisiana Hospitals Short of Burn Units
•November 19, 2012 • 5 Comments
WWLTV – NEW ORLEANS — The Black Elk Energy rig explosion and fire on Friday raises an important question for healthcare in the New Orleans area: why don’t any local hospitals have a burn unit?
” . . . Burn units are expensive to operate. Louisiana has three of them: One in Baton Rouge, one in Lafayette and the largest at the LSU Hospital in Shreveport. . . “
Texas Brine acts like Scrooge to Bayou Corne octogenarians
•November 19, 2012 •Leave a Comment
From The Advocate -
Camp owner says pay due for evacuation
By David J. Mitchell
[snip] . . . In early October, Houston-based Texas Brine cut off $875 weekly housing assistance payments to about 15 camp owners whose primary residences were determined not to be in the evacuation area, company officials confirmed.
That move has Brown, 77, and fishing buddy James C. Gremillion, 83, of Central upset and feeling that they have been dealt with unfairly.
Both men are retired and said the camps are second homes they used several days a week as a home base for fishing trips and a place for relaxation.
“I think any time you take something of mine, you need to reimburse me some way,” said Brown, who retired as a manager in the landfill business.
“Texas Brine has taken from me my peaceful pleasure of utilizing my retirement years. I worked several years to get that place like I have it now, and it has been taken away from me through no fault mine and no fault of God.
“This has been a tragedy that was caused by Texas Brine, and they should have to make it right for what they have done.”
Gremillion, a retired plumber, added that though they can’t use their camps, they still have bills to pay to maintain them and he wants Texas Brine to resume paying him the weekly checks. . . .
Chemical Plant North of the Sinkhole Blows Up
•November 19, 2012 • Leave a Comment
Now chemical plants can blow up because they are full of chemicals . . . but this one is straight up the New Madrid fault from Napoleonville.
Cleanup underway after huge chemical plant fire
SLAUGHTER, LA (WAFB) – A cleanup is underway near an explosion that scared some people out of their beds Monday morning. The fire at Monolyte Labs triggered the early wake up and evacuation of many residents on nearby streets. It happened just before 2 a.m.
Delena Winans and her neighbors say they woke up to “at least 10 to 15 explosions.” Flames shot through the roof of Monolyte Laboratories. . . .
story & Video
http://www.wafb.com/story/20133212/cleanup-underway-after-huge-chemical-plant-fire
Delena Winans and her neighbors say they woke up to “at least 10 to 15 explosions.” Flames shot through the roof of Monolyte Laboratories. . . .
story & Video
http://www.wafb.com/story/20133212/cleanup-underway-after-huge-chemical-plant-fire
Follow-up to: New sinkhole image shows 'original edge' of Napoleonville salt dome may be gone — Section thousands of feet tall (PHOTO)
Title: Is it dangerous to live on a salt dome, experts assess risk
Source: FOX44
Author: Kris Cusanza
Date: November 19, 2012 at 6:30pm
Emphasis Added
Source: FOX44
Author: Kris Cusanza
Date: November 19, 2012 at 6:30pm
Emphasis Added
“[...] You’re also drilling for oil and gas, which, in some instances, may be under pressure and not being controlled properly could come spewing up to the surface,” [LSU geology professor Jeffrey Nunn] said. “Most of the risk would come from some sort of seepage or leak from the cavern.” [...]
In October, scientist with the Shaw Group explained to residents at a community meeting in Bayou Corne that they believe one reason for the giant sinkhole is a pressure issue at the failed Texas Brine cavern. They explained that pressure around the cavern was too great and caused cracks or “fractures” in the side of the cavern closest to the sinkhole. The pressure went through these cracks and pushed upward eventually causing the collapse and the sinkhole.Nunn explained in an interview held prior to that meeting that salt domes, especially the walls of salt caverns, are extremely ductile. He says the wrong mix of pressure and exposed periods of time could cause a problem.“If you put pressure on one end of a tube of toothpaste and you took the cap off so it’s free to flow, it’s just going to flow out one side,” he said. “If you did the same thing to most other solids, nothing would happen.” [...]
