Louisiana: Assumption Parish Bayou Corne Sinkhole 2012-2015

[Emily]

http://www.stuarthsmith.com/louisiana-still-one-bad-storm-away-from-environmental-disasters/

Louisiana still one bad storm away from environmental disasters

This article notes that the Advocated reported that the sinkhole doesn't drain anymore - sediment is filling the crack that allowed it to do so previously. That's why there's so much concern about overflow at this point in time.

[Emily]

http://theadvocate.com/news/13402558-123/assumption-jurors-say-no-to

Assumption residents express skepticism

by David J. Mitchell| dmitchell@theadvocate.com

Sept. 9, 2015; 9:06 p.m. Assumption jurors say no to sinkhole discharge into Grand Bayou, citing environmental concerns, but state officials worried about catastrophic levee failure

... John Boudreaux, director of the Assumption Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, told jurors Wednesday that he spoke with officials at Occidental Chemical Corp., one of Texas Brine?s primary brine customers. Oxy officials told him the water contains bacteria known to corrode piping and other metal equipment.
?So they?re very concerned with using that water and destroying their systems,? Boudreaux said.
?What?s that going to do to the sac-a-lait in the bayou?? Bob Deaton, an avid fisherman who lives in Bayou Corne, jumped in....

That's a good question. And what would it do to fishermen's hands when they handle the fish? I wonder what kind of bacteria has evolved in the sinkhole? The environmental impact of this disaster seems far from over.

[Emily]

Texas Brine shifts blame to Occidental Petroleum, others for causing Bayou Corne sinkhole
Firm blames Occidental Petroleum for creating 31-acre sinkhole by David J. Mitchell| dmitchell@theadvocate.com

July 15, 2015
... But the new court papers from Texas Brine, along with another batch filed recently against oil driller Adams Resources Exploration Corp., operator Browning Oil Co. and other parties involved in the oil well, provide the most detailed account yet of the history of the oil well, known as Hooker No. 1. The papers also raise allegations that Occidental Petroleum knew drilling too close to the salt dome posed a risk for the Texas Brine-managed caverns.
Those claims rely on internal letters and other documents that have emerged during discovery in the series of suits still pending in the 23rd Judicial District Court in Napoleonville.
...
Texas Brine also charges that Occidental Petroleum should have known that oil and gas extraction would cause a pressure drop in the oil formation that posed a risk to the Oxy 3 cavern.
After years of sporadic extraction ended in mid-2001, Texas Brine claims a pressure difference of about 2,000 pounds per square inch existed on the salt wall standing between the depleted oil formation and the pressurized salt dome cavern.
About a year before Texas Brine plugged the well to the problematic Oxy 3 cavern, the Hooker oil well was plugged in May 2010, but Occidental failed to repressurize the oil formation with water or other fluids, Texas Brine says.
This lingering pressure difference combined with possible cracks in the salt that Texas Brine says the earlier oil well drilling caused ? suggested by other unearthed documents ? led the salt wall to break...

http://theadvocate.com/news/ascension/12870889-123/texas-brine-shifts-blame-to

Texas Brine donates to Habitat for Humanity possessions left by residents who fled sinkhole by David J. Mitchell| dmitchell@theadvocate.com
June 17, 2015
...
The discarded possessions include refrigerators; stoves; washers and dryers too old or too big to move; piles of plastic gas cans and partially used paint cans not worth the trouble; a power scooter for the infirm; and a teddy bear dressed in pajamas, one of several stuffed animals in a cardboard box.
... Run by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge, the store sells reused items and construction materials and has raised $6 million over 11 years to build Habitat homes for needy families, Habitat officials said. The reuse efforts also have prevented 3,000 tons of materials from going in the landfill.
Texas Brine officials have agreed to donate whatever officials with the Habitat ReStore outlet in Baton Rouge want...

http://theadvocate.com/news/ascension/12635465-123/texas-brine-donates-to-habitat

DOTD prepares for worst case scenario in Assumption Parish

Posted: Jun 17, 2015 8:11 PM PST Updated: Jun 17, 2015 9:41 PM PST By Elizabeth Vowell
ASSUMPTION PARISH, LA (WAFB) - Only a dozen or so residents still live near the Bayou Corne sinkhole. However, around 9,000 cars and trucks travel by it on Highway 70 each day. While things have been quiet at the sinkhole site, the Department of Transportation and Development is preparing for a worst case scenario.
"To shut down Highway 70 is a really big deal. It affects a lot of people, a lot of industry throughout the area," said Assumption Parish Emergency Operations Director John Boudreaux...

http://www.wafb.com/story/29347916/dotd-prepares-for-worst-case-scenario-in-assumption-parish

[David DeBord]

Greetings Emily,
Thank you for your well wishes. My Sister n law, is recovering, but, Alas, nothing in Medical science, can cure her of being Extremely Bullheaded. :>)

The side to side "waves" are now 24/7, weekly, & monthly. From talking to many of these people, I've been told that "The Monitors are working correctly.", with the exception of LA 10, which is collapsing into the sinkhole. When I then ask, "Well, please explain the readings at the off site monitors in Arkansas, & along the New Madrid, since you just stated that they are working fine.", then they clam up, change the subject, or tell me that they'll get back with me.
I don't buy into the volcanic theory, but, ..., I do believe that a tremendous amount of water is working at the salt dome, through these fissures, cracks, & now, know "Fault-lines". And, since methane bubbling up to the surface in many spots, over the past 60 days, is increasing, as well as these Seismic events, whic caused the Code 3, I believe that this year the Bayou Corne Sinkhoole will again make National News.
I'll check out those links, you provided, & I know that many Health questions are not getting answered from those who have gotten sick at Bayou Corne,

[Emily]

Hi, David. That sounds like a very painful injury, but I'm glad your relative is on the mend and has family looking after her.

It certainly sounds like there has been heightened activity at the BC sinkhole. I haven't looked at the Assumption Parish blog in a long time and their last entry in January reported the increase and strangely, that was the last post they made.

https://assumptionla.wordpress.com/

Do you know if seismic waves described as either 'long period' or 'harmonic' are happening again near the sinkhole? Looks like UC Berkley started another study on the situation in February:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...&ct=clnk&gl=us

Investigation of Fluid-Seismic Processes Associated with the Bayou Corne, LA Sinkhole

...

Abstract at Time of Award

In June of 2012 the residents of Bayou Corne, Louisiana began reporting the occurrence of earthquakes, and unusual gas bubbling in the local waters. The USGS deployed broadband seismic instruments in the region and confirmed that a swarm of shallow earthquakes was occurring near the west flank of the Napoleonville Salt Dome. On August 2, 2012 a sinkhole formed at the location, filled with a slurry of water, crude oil and debris, leading to a declaration of emergency and evacuation of nearby residents. Preliminary analysis of the seismic records revealed that the individual earthquakes have a source signature that indicates a volume increase, which is believed to be due to high-pressure fluid and gas migrating from the deeper reservoirs to the surface through rock fractures resulting from the collapse of a side wall cavern in the salt dome. Many of the seismic records for earthquakes at Bayou Corne share features that are observed in volcanic and geothermal systems in which fluids at depth can generate a variety of earthquake and tremor phenomena. The study of the Bayou Corne seismicity will shed light on fluid-controlled seismic source mechanisms, and the investigation of how the seismic signals changed over time will lead to understanding of how the system evolved, and the process of failure that lead to the formation of the sinkhole. The methods employed and refined through the course of the study will more broadly improve seismic monitoring capability and hazard assessment associated with ongoing mining, oil and gas production, wastewater disposal, as well as the monitoring of volcanic activity.

Through the course of the project the thousands of small (magnitude 0 to 2) earthquakes in the weeks prior to the formation of the sinkhole, and continuing afterward will be investigated. A method in which the seismic signals are continuously scanned enabling the autonomous detection, location and estimation of seismic source parameters used to determine full seismic moment tensors that are capable of resolving both shear and tensile components that will inform on the nature of deformation occurring in the system and the importance of gas-charged fluids in the seismic source process. Preliminary work utilized simplified one-dimensional seismic velocity models to describe the wave propagation from source to receiver, however the geology in salt dome environments is very complex, and the proposed research will utilize a three-dimensional seismic velocity model, and appropriate numerical codes, to generate three-dimensional propagation transfer functions to improve the imaging of the earthquake source mechanisms. In addition to the micro earthquakes there are observations of harmonic tremor that are similar to volcanic tremor and indicate a process of fluid migration through a network of fractures. There are also long-period (20s) tremor in which preliminary modeling has suggested they are the temporal pulsing of a volumetric source. There are even longer period signals that can be interpreted as broad tilting of the ground. The diverse signals will be modeled with fluid-crack dynamic models and other mechanical models to investigate the relationships between them, and to the failure process of the geologic materials within and adjacent to the salt dome, and the formation of the sinkhole.

There's some contact info there. I think the BC sinkhole was a man-made event, but possibly a small scale model of a theory about much larger earthquakes:

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00874614

As far as posts here about detected chemicals, there are some general reports in the first couple of pages of the thread, but the most specific one might be this one:

https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/...967#post575967

Of course, he was 4 miles from the sinkhole, so the source might have been something else.

[David DeBord]

Greetings Emily.

My Sister in Law, is in a nursing home, & She is having many medical problems. To compound that, she fell out of her bed, & shattered her ankle in two places. That has finally "settled down" & she is now healing from her required surgery to put her ankle back together.
To go back to my post about contacting the DNR, in Louisiana,... I called them, (Mar.4, 2015), & this lawyer didn't have a clue about what's going on. She then referred me to the Communications Director; Patrick Courreges. He, & I talked about practically everything going on at the Sinkhole, for almost two hours.
There has been very frequent, Seismic Activity ongoing at Bayou Corne. There is a Code 3 ongoing at the Sinkhole that has stopped all work activity within the 30 Acre area. There is also an increase in Methane working it's way to the surface, at the South, West, & North of the Hole, & the DNR is fighting Texas Brine's attempts to have the State declare Bayou Corne "Safe".
At this very moment, the recorders at the CERI Bayou Corne site, the recorders are showing widespread, & violent activity at LA 11, LA12, & LA 18, with Seismic activity at every other recorder (LA 10 top monitor has been broken for months, & is giving wild readings). Another concern is that weird side to side seismic waves began appearing at every one of the monitors at Bayou Corne, & even in Arkansas. These new "wave readings" were never, ever recorded in Arkansas, as far back as two years. I dug deeper into this, & these same "wave readings" are now showing up at every monitor along the New Madrid Fault-line, except in Ohio.
If the Napoleonville Salt Dome were to collapse, it would be an environmental disaster that would may be unprecedented due to the many various toxic chemicals, toxic waste, & explosive gases stored in the brine caverns. If the hundreds of thousands of barrels of explosive gas were to ignite, I believe that property damage would be severe, & that there also would be a considerable loss of life.

I've also been trying to get the reports on any chemicals detected in the air, potable water, & soil. For as liong as this topic has been going on, have any been posted here?

[Emily]

I hope all is well with the family, David. Please let us know if you get any feedback on your concerns about those helicorder readings.

At least there might be some relief in sight for Ms. Donachricha:

Animal Planet stars Tia Torres, Jackson Galaxy to help rehome feral Bayou Corne sinkhole cats

By Diana Samuels, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
on March 16, 2015 at 5:02 PM, updated March 16, 2015 at 5:41 PM
The 38 feral cats living in a near-empty neighborhood near the massive Bayou Corne sinkhole are getting some celebrity assistance to find new homes: Animal Planet star Tia Torres, of the New Orleans-based show "Pit Bulls and Parolees," is taking the cats under her wing, with assistance of cat expert Jackson Galaxy, star of "My Cat from Hell."...

They are planning to build a cattery for them. I'm sure donations will be welcome.

Special master in Bayou Corne sinkhole case has deep connections to plaintiff’s attorney, possible conflicts of interest March 16, 2015 2:30 PM
By Kyle Barnett

http://louisianarecord.com/news/2671...ts-of-interest

[David DeBord]

Greetings Emily, & Sharon! The Seismic Activity that I'm referring to, initially can be viewed at: http://folkworm.ceri.memphis.edu/heli_temp/ Today's Seismic readings, although "Very Active", are "Calm" compared to what they have been as little as 3 days ago. What is bothering me more so, is that Seismic Activity has also increased at the other monitors, on the Bayou Corne page. These monitors are located in Arkansas, & are used to monitor parts of the New Madrid Fault line. Here are the monitors that I'm referring to >>> X502 HHZ NM 00 : Temporary, AR , X601 HHZ NM 00 : Temporary, AR , X702 HHZ NM 00 : Temporary, AR , & X204 HHZ NM 00 : Grandfather Mountain, NC .
When I saw that the activity began increasing shortly after Xmas, I started making phone calls to Nanometrics in Canada Ph.# 18557926776, & CERI in Memphis Tenn., 19016782007, which neither group was helpful in explaining what is going on at Bayou Corne, & now, the new Madrid Fault line.
CERI, via Dr. Withers, stated to me that the Department of Natural Resources, of Louisiana, was in charge of interpreting the Seismic Data, .......up until a few weeks ago, that wasn't the case, as data was interpreted at CERI, & USGS, then given to The La. DNR.
I contacted the Department of Salt Dome Cavern Facilities in La, at Ph.# 12253425540, & was transferred to several people, who allegedly were "in the know", & finally was told that I'd have to talk to Joann Devitt , who is a DNR Attorney. :>) I waited 2 days for this Attorney to give me a call, & then decided that "Maybe", ..................... Ya'll will have to excuse me. I just got notice of a Family Emergency!

[Emily]

Welcome from me, too, David! Thanks for posting the update and letting us know you have been reading the thread. I hope any cat lovers here will read this new article about the plight of the feral colony at Bayou Corne. There are some beautiful photos. Ms. Donachricha needs help urgently to relocate them!

http://www.nola.com/news/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2015/03/bayou_corne_sinkholes_cats.html

Texas Brine donated some money for neutering the cats but even if homes can be found elsewhere, (mousing horse farms was one suggestion), they might need to be transported long distances. I hope Texas Brine and Occidental Chemical can help more, and maybe the attorneys could help, too.

http://louisianarecord.com/news/267014-legal-watchdog-accuses-attorneys-representing-class-in-bayou-corne-sinkhole-case-of-charging-exorbitant-legal-fees

There is information for private donations at the link, too. The NOLA article has in depth information on why this situation is urgent.

[sharon sanders]

Welcome David! We are all volunteers so we post when we have time. If you have some information, please post.

[David DeBord]

Greetings Emily

Today is my 1st post in the group. I've been following the Bayou Corne Sinkhole since it was a 8-9 acre puddle, unlike the 31 acre lake of today. I followed a lot of the posts in this group when I could, from a phone that had "mental problems", & wasn't "Smart" at all. So, I couldn't join your group during those times.
I noticed that the posts cut off, on page 18 , (August, 2014), & pick up again on this page, Jan. 13, 2015. Could you tell me there is a void in the posting, as there has definitely been quite a bit going on at the Sinkhole during that time period. In fact, since Christmas Eve, a Lot of Seismic activity has been going on, & a Code 3 (No Work) has been in force for almost a month.

[Emily]

http://theadvocate.com/news/11078528-125/plans-on-the-table-for

Plans on the table for La. 70 emergency bypass around Bayou Corne sinkholeRoute would go around Bayou Corne sinkhole
by David J. Mitchell

http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news/11287686-123/residents-reluctantly-let-go-of

Residents reluctantly let go of cherished way of life on Bayou Corne
Bayou Corne residents move out after sinkhole settlement by David J. Mitchell

Jan. 12, 2015

[mixin]

Re: Louisiana: Assumption Parish Bayou Corne Sinkhole 2012-2013

http://assumptionla.wordpress.com/

August 13, 2014
3:20 p.m. Update

The Office of Conservation, following discussions with Assumption Parish Incident Command, has issued a new order to Texas Brine, directing the company to conduct new tests to further assess conditions in the vicinity of the company?s Oxy Geismar 2 cavern, located to the east of the failed Oxy Geismar 3 cavern. In recent weeks, the seismic monitoring system that Conservation ordered Texas Brine to install has detected increased seismic activity that appears to have been located in or near the eastern wall of the original Oxy Geismar 3 cavern.

The number and strength of the seismic events, while elevated, have since diminished and were much lower than those witnessed in previous major events such as sinkhole sloughing or the initial failure of Oxy Geismar 3. Though that activity has decreased and the two caverns are several hundred feet apart, the Office of Conservation is requiring a full assessment of the Oxy Geismar 2 cavern to ensure protection of the public and the environment ? ordering Texas Brine to conduct a pressurized Mechanical Integrity Test, run a new top-to-bottom sonar survey and develop an action plan if any issues are identified. While the strength and number of events in the recent seismic activity are not, by themselves, indicative of significant new problems, part of the purpose of the seismic monitoring network is to detect activity at an early stage and give time to assess whether additional actions are necessary.

A copy of the directive is available on DNR?s Bayou Corne web page at http://dnr.louisiana.gov/assets/OC/B...th.08.2014.pdf

I can't copy/paste that .pdf for some reason.. so to summarize:

Regarding the sinkhole, OXY GEISMAR NO. 3 well site, the associated salt cavern and the OXY GEISMAR NO. 3 well site

Around May 19, Texas Brine reversed circulation on OXY GEISMAR Well 2 so they could facilitate brine mining in the associated salt cavern. Around that same time, seismic activity increased on the northwest edge of the cavern associated with OXY GEISMAR Well 2.

On July 17, 2014, a list of questions was sent to TB and their answers were deemed insufficient. So they were given a list of steps they need to take; including stopping all mining and injection into NO. 2 until those requirements have been met.

[Emily]

Re: Louisiana: Assumption Parish Bayou Corne Sinkhole 2012-2013

http://www.law360.com/insurance/arti...la-judge-rules

AIG's Sinkhole Coverage Suit Belongs In La., Judge Rules

Law360, New York (June 12, 2014, 4:17 PM ET) -- A Texas federal judge on Wednesday tossed a suit brought by two American International Group Inc. units claiming they have no duty to cover salt producer Texas Brine Co. in litigation over the company?s alleged responsibility for a 2012 Louisiana sinkhole, finding the case would be better heard by Louisiana courts...

AIG:

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2013/01...e-aig-bailout/

The True Cost of the AIG Bailout

by Guest Author - January 28th, 2013, 8:30am
?If it?s too good to be true, it probably is.? This old adage came to mind on December 11, 2012 when the U.S. Treasury made the announcement, reiterated unthinkingly by the press, that the AIG bailout was coming to an end with American taxpayers making a tidy profit on the deal. In an effort to capitalize on the news, AIG has spent millions of dollars on a primetime ad campaign thanking America for the bailout, highlighting its success: ?We?ve repaid every dollar America lent us. Everything, plus a profit of more than 22 billion.? Unfortunately, this cleverly designed public relations maneuver deceives the taxpayer by distorting the perception of what has been a contentious use of government funds...

[Emily]

Re: Louisiana: Assumption Parish Bayou Corne Sinkhole 2012-2013

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gamb...nt?oid=2419707

Texas Brine to pay $48.1M in Bayou Corne sinkhole settlement
by Jeanie Riess

  Though Texas Brine Company and the plaintiffs involved in class-action litigation over the Bayou Corne-area sinkhole reached a $48.1 million settlement April 8, there's no timeline on when the company will finally buy out remaining homes evacuated after the collapse of the salt mine it operated...