A flyover video today of the Bayou Corne sinkhole will possibly end a dispute between Assumption Parish and Texas Brine Co. officials who disagreed Wednesday on the new size of the sinkhole after Tuesday when its eastern bank collapsed, six days after sharp earthquakes occurred in the same area, possibly from extra drilling into the salt dome.
Another portion of Louisiana’s sinkhole collapsed Tuesday, only six days after sharp earthquakes jolted the same area.
Last Tuesday’s quake was estimated between 200 and 600 meters deep and in the vicinity of a failed cavern in the salt dome leased by Texas Brine, according to USGS. The cavern is in the 1-mile by 3-mile Napoleonville Salt Dome that has also begun collapsing. Its outer edges is gone. The dome edge fell in what officials call a "frack-out."
Parish officials’ estimates Wednesday were nearly 19 times their initial estimate on Tuesday, while Texas Brine officials suggested Wednesday the amount of land lost into the sinkhole was actually was a little less than the parish’s initial estimate.
Tuesday, around 4:45, the parish announced 1,600 square feet of land fell into the sinkhole. Wednesday, the officials raised their estimate of the land loss to almost as much as 30,000 square feet.
John Boudreaux, director of Assumption Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said the calculations Wednesday comparing before and after maps showed the collapsed area extends 300 feet along the sinkhole’s bank and 75 to 100 feet inland on the eastern rim.
Boudreaux’s original estimate issued less than an hour after Tuesday’s event suggested the new collapse included 80 feet by 20 feet.
Texas Brine spokesman Sonny Cranch said Wednesday that the company’s estimates are closer to 50 to 75 linear feet of the sinkhole bank and inland about 15 to 20 feet were swallowed Tuesday, an area possibly as small as 750 square feet.
“That’s our measurement,” he said of the 750-square-foot estimate.
The parish overstated the size of the sinkhole latest land loss, according to Cranch.
A flyover video is to be taken today that will possibly help resolve the disputed size of the monster sinkhole.
Meanwhile, pressure building beneath locals who live above the salt dome, sometimes feeling like they are "walking on jello" and sometimes jolted from continuing quakes have sparked human rights concerns regarding security, especially for those experiencing these intrusions occurring out of the mandatory evacuation zone.
Some locals have also expressed frustration, saying they are not being kept informed well enough. Boudreaux again addressed that last week, saying residents would be informed as soon as anything changed.
At the time that statement, Boudreaux reported that he had seen no visible change in the sinkhole size after last Wednesday’s quakes.
The sinkhole, greater than the size of five football fields, had its eastern-bank collapse Tuesday. Two other events in recent weeks linked to extra seismic activities there.
On October 11, it was reported that the sinkhole grew 500 square feet following extra seismic activity.
(See: La. sinkhole was predicted, grows 500 square feet larger after seismic activity)
On Oct. 12, an emergency flare was unexpectedly set off at the Crosstex Energy LP’s sinkhole area site minutes after extra seismic activity occurred. An investigation of why the emergency flar occurred was underway with no report to date.
(See: Sinkhole emergency butane flared 40 feet as seismic activity increased)
USGS reported an average of one tremor a day is occurring, in the direction northwest of the sinkhole and “the other side of the pipeline right-of-way.”
A mandatory evacuation order remains in effect for approximately 350 Bayou Corne locals.
Citizen reporters have been criticized after saying that recent videos show the ground starting to break in others areas near the sinkhole.
A new report adds more evidence to oil and gas drilling being the cause of earthquakes. It also add more contention between pro-oil and gas drilling Americans and those who are working for safer renewable energy sources.
Copyright Deborah Dupré 2012 All Rights Reserved
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Deborah Dupré is author of the new book out this week, Vampire of Macondo. In her book, she chronicles the BP-wrecked Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico that has caused the greatest human and environmental catastrophe in the history of the United States.
"Deborah Dupré’s personal encounters with graceful southern Louisiana life and petrochemical-military-industrial thugs will transform your perspective on our fossil fuel addiction. Empowering!" says political commentator, progressive activist and humorist Jim Hightower about Vampire of Macondo.
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