Louisiana sinkhole expected to keep residents away at least a month, Massive sink hole keeps on growing

Louisiana sinkhole expected to keep residents away at least a month, Massive sink hole keeps on growing by CNN, August 10, 2012
Louisiana officials have reached out to Texas Brine Company, urging it to provide affected residents with some type of assistance while it investigates whether a breach in its cavern might have caused the sinkhole 100 yards away. The situation is made all the worrisome because the hole is believed to be close to a well containing 1.5 million barrels of liquid butane, a highly volatile liquid that turns into a highly flammable vapor upon release. A breach of that well, Assumption Parish Sheriff Mike Waguespack has said, could be catastrophic. Texas Brine has until Monday to submit a permit to drill the well or face a $5,000 per day fine, said Stephen Chustz with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. The purpose of the well is to determine the structural status of the cavern as well as the pressure of any gas that might be inside of it, he said, adding that the last mechanical integrity test performed on the cavern was done in late 2010. In working to expand mining of the cavern, the company made a cut in the well casing several hundred feet above its top, said Chustz. Texas Brine reported a potential breach at that time and that information was reported in 2011, he said. … “As parish leaders, it’s time for us to stand together and stand strong and hold Texas Brine’s feet to the fire. There are no more excuses. There will be no more delays,” said Waguespack, the sheriff.

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