Of course, what is not listed here is Texas Brine's expertise as the provider of the major component for hydraulic fracturing fluids, nor it's expertise in storing 'Fracking' fluids within these caverns, nor does it list expertise in determining whether there are pre-existing hydrocarbons underneath the cavities they create. This is what the authorities claim is the case at the Napoleonville facility. Natural gas and oil just so happened to be BESIDE the Salt Diapir, and tapped into by coincedence when a known salt cavern was not within the Salt, and laying upon Shale, next to several abandoned Oil Wells, especially the Hooker Oil Well # 1. Watch them pin it all on this one.
The question then becomes whether there were pre-existing natural gas and crude oil underneath the Salt Formation when it was first brined out, or if this is a more recent development. So far answers are not forthcoming from any of the authorities involved.
It is possible that gas would migrate along the Shale (Miocene, or Pliocene) zone extending from the Macondo Well blowout area to about 10 miles north of the Napoleonville Salt Dome and engulfing most of the Gulf Coast States in width, from Texas to Mississippi. The migration is explained in Part I of this series. This migration may affect much more than the Assumption Parish, La. region.
Additionally, methane migration means that every Salt Dome Formation in the area outlined in the previous (Part I) story (in the Govt. provided PDF), is being put under the same enormous pressures underground and will vent out through the paths of least resistance. This can mean that every ground well, aquifer, and septic tank, as well as, water treatment facility is filling with additional methane emissions, to combine with it's own natural gas trapped emissions inherent in it's own operations. (Don't light a match over the toilet)
If this was a pre-existing reservoir of Natural Gas and Oil far below the surface and is bubbling up to the swamps and surfaces above, then Texas Brine has lied once again and drilled much farther that the estimated 5500 ft. it has reported. Natural gas may be found at those depths, but not crude oil, or diesel, (medium crude). There must be a cause, to be observing such effects as have been reported in the massive amounts of methane encountered, and formations other than the caprock and 'wet salt', trapping methane deposits must be the causal effect, which was released due to the initial caprock breakage venting methane directly into the aquifer.
I do not put all of the blame on Texas Brine, LLC however, as the Department of the Interior knew of these concerns from an earlier Salt Dome Sinkhole, and the possible consequences. Not only that, but they knew how to deal with it, when it initially collapsed. Below is an excerpt from Sandia Labs;
Beginning in 1994 and continuing to the present, the injection of saturated brine directly into the sinkhole throat some 76 m (250 ft) beneath the surface essentially arrested further dissolution, buying time to make adequate preparation for the safe and orderly trader
of crude oil to other storage facilities.
The construction of a freezewall to arrest the flow of ground water into primary Sinkhole #1 began in mid 1995 and was completed by the end of the year. This involved the construction of 56 wells in three circumferential rings around the sinkhole which were used for circulating the refrigerant. Testing of the wall in late 1995 was expected to provide reasonable confirmation that a hydrologic barrier had been achieved.
I speak of the Weeks Island Sinkhole concerning the Strategic Oil Reserves, and it’s implications as explained in detail at the following link:
Why has this also not been done at the Napoleonville Salt Dome? Why has brine not been pumped into to stabilize the sinkhole? Could it be it is because oil and salt do not mix? Why hasn't a freezewall been ordered by DNR and taxed to Texas Brine and costs shared with Crosstex, and
Dow Chemical considering the explosive nature of the materials released and of what has been kept, (Butane), and (hydrocarbon feedstocks, respectively), but may be lost? Are they waiting for winter?
Why is the oil not pumped out? Is there so much that would be dangerous to do so? What about the Natural Gas? Flaring is incredibly dangerous to the residents of the surrounding area, and will not alleviate very much pressure at all. What are they not telling the people?
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