UOM Earthquake Scientist Steve Horton Says New Louisiana Sinkhole Tremors Pattern Unlike Any He Has Ever Seen!

In other words they don't want people to panic while they are working it out. I would move far away my self, very long-period signals are not normally a good thing.

BOOM

Well good for him for being honest and saying, I don't know. I appreciate that honesty. Too often I read scientists say this or that could never happen or we know for sure. I grew up thinking Pluto was a planet then they changed their minds. This is a huge learning experience for us and them- it is what happens when you use Mother Earth as a dumping ground.

This is PIN worthy!

Here's the latest that was just on local news. The residents have called for a public meeting...

[link to www.wafb.com]


NAPOLEONVILLE, LA (WAFB) -Work at the site of a giant sink hole in southeast Louisiana has once again come to a halt. This time the stoppage was caused by tremors in the area. This is not good news for residents near the sink hole.

It could be months before Bayou Corne residents who were evacuated last month are allowed to return home.

The mini earthquakes that came ahead of the sink hole in Assumption Parish are back.

Brant Smart is packing up his Jeep for an outdoor cookout at his camp in Mississippi, only he is not making a weekend trip to the woods. The Smarts have been living there since August 3.

"Basically a guy drove by in a truck and told us we had to evacuate," Smart said.

Around 150 homes in the Bayou Corne neighborhood were evacuated after a giant sinkhole opened up on the nearby Texas-Brine property. The Smarts have been camping out since.

"Now we're staying in my fifth wheel for the camp, us, our 15 year old and 2 dogs," Smart said.

Meanwhile, back at the sinkhole site, scientists have made another discovery that could keep residents out of their homes for an undetermined amount of time.

"They got down to 90 feet and experienced gas in the water aquifer and were unable to set water well due to the pressure. We put cement, plug, and got off the site and regrouped to come up with another strategy to set a vent well," John Boudreaux explained.

Boudreaux, director for the Assumption Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness, said workers must replace the rig they have been working from with one that will allow them to vent the gas from the well.

They still do not know where the gas is coming from. Boudreaux said residents will not be allowed to return home until the gas is under control.

If history repeats itself, that could mean sometime next year.

"Back in 2003/2004, a similar process was done here on the Napoleonville Dome and it did take several months," Boudreaux recalled.

The Smarts plan to build a new home in Mississippi. But they can't sell their home in Bayou Corne until Texas-Brine gives them the all clear.

The new well is expected to be assembled and operational by the weekend.

Bayou Corne residents in Assumption Parish will hold an emergency Town Hall meeting Thursday, September 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the St Joseph the Worker Church Hall on the emergency situation status regarding the large sinkhole and unexplained natural gas venting.

The residents have called the meeting out of an abundance of concern and caution for the lack of real-time information from the Assumption Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP), Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Texas Brine Co., the company in charge of the suspect cavern inside the Napoleonville Salt Dome



This is very true. The information being supplied to us has slowed to a crawl. I've been told the sinkhole has expanded another 20 feet but can not confirm that at this time. Supposedly that info was on only one local news, WBRZ.

I also say good for the scientist for being honest. The issue I had is the statement that the tremors are no cause for concern when he has no idea what is causing them, or what they may be leading to.

I do hope the residents start raising holy hell.This issue needs to be front page everywhere. Most people have no clue when I start talking about the sink hole. I am sure a large majority in the state don't even realize the seriousness of this situation. This could potentially affect more then just the Bayou Corne residents.

The issue I had is the statement that the tremors are no cause for concern when he has no idea what is causing them, or what they may be leading to.

Of course he is not going to be concerned. His concern is his science. The local officials should be the ones raisng the alarm but basically everyone is clueless as to what really could be taking place. This sinkhole is not acting like the other one years ago. This is all new.

Deputy Dawg says make ASSUMPTIONS about this post.

The local officials have been very upfront about not knowing what is going on, or why. They have told people to leave for their own protection because of the unknown. They have forced Texas Brine to come forward with monetary assistance to the residents. IMO, to call a mandatory evacuation for this many people, and for this amount of time is indeed raising an alarm. The local officials are just as angry as the residents are, as this is many of their homes too.

I don't want to, my assumptions on the tidal movements of the quakes scare me, and are probably 110% wrong anyway.

CUZZ, from the thread:

Don't make ASSUMPTIONS; try to Understand.

Still following these developments, thanks to everyone for posting about this topic.

Still watching with you on this thread, thanks everyone for the posts. News on this is scarce to say the least about it...

Ok well all I did was google long period tremors and you get a whole page about volcanoes, and harmonic tremors used to detect whats going on inside a volcano. Is this along the right lines CUZZ. Op in assumptions thread did tell us that things were heating up.

[link to en.wikipedia.org]


"A harmonic tremor is a sustained release of seismic and/or infrasonic energy typically associated with the underground movement of magma and/or venting of volcanic gases from magma"

So maybe it is the gas causing these tremors, where ever it's venting from.

Or maybe someone is doing it, Is it possible to use infrasonic energy?

Like I said I don't want to assume in this thread because now I look like a fear mungerour.

Can anyone find anything else on VLF tremors.

Last Edited by alexisj9 on 09/18/2012 08:55 AM

I am a resident of Bayou Corne, and am seeing soooooo much mis information being posted here, or information culled for the dramatic effect. I also see statements being quoted from sites like Enws, Lashb, The Exr, Bldz which in the fashion of The Enquirer or other trash magazines, though online, are simply out for the fearmonger effect to acquire hits. Rarely do you see any of these sites post anything more than a few excerts, the most dramatic, and negative, of course, and in fact, The Exr in particular usually posts highly dramatic pictures of other occurences in no way associated with the current story in their headlines OF a current story. See the two links included to see how the headline pictures are of other catastrophes not at all related to the Bayou Corne incident. I mean seriously, are there not enough photos of the BC sinkhole to actually use a REAL photo? Same with the fish kill photo.

[link to www.examiner.com]

[link to www.examiner.com]

Another one of these websites, The LASHB publised this statement today, and it is first, OLD news, and second, VERY purposefully misconstrued. They even post a link that shows the innacuracies of what they say and lead the reader to believe it is the latest and newest information, when in fact, it is over a month old news, (six weeks) and news given out at the first public meeting held August 7th 2012.

The only new info in that article is regarding the Shaw Group. This is a prime example of media and hit whore news.

Sinkhole Monitoring Update (9-17) –
They are checking content of bubbles and measuring area bridges to see if they move(!!)•September 18, 2012 • Leave a Comment
The newest report(PDF) is HERE. [link to www.edsuite.com]

After stopping the drilling (hitting gas pockets) they are monitoring athe air etc. and they put The Shaw Group incharge of removing the natural gas from the aquifer. The drinking water that is polluted is in Bayou Lafourche.

The highway dept. is measuring location of nearby bridges to see if they MOVE(!!) and making up detour plans in case they need them.

The USGS says no seismic activity near the butane caverns. (p.14)

Page 15 lists scary theories for the cause of tremors including idea that THE CAPROCK IS FALLING FROM THE TOP OF THE CAVERN! (p.15)

[link to lasinkhole.wordpress.com]



I never really understood how bad the media was about playing up things, whether online, broadcasting through TV or the papers, until this situation at Bayou Corne developed.

From the very link this site posted as where they got their information:

[link to www.edsuite.com]


Page 6
Department of Environmental Quality
On going Water sampling/water quality monitoring in Bayou Corne and Grand Bayou indicates no water pollution associated with the incident to date. Elevated conductivity noted at “bubbling site” #5. Samples have been collected for laboratory analysis
Water quality monitoring in Bayou Lafourche indicates no water pollution associated with the incident to date.
[link to www.edsuite.com]

Page 15
Scientific Workgroup theories of cause:
•Salt Dome moving – natural migration of gas
•Failed cement casing in OXY #3 well
•Cavity Failure
•Salt / Caprock falling from top of the cavern
–Natural
–Man-made (including penetration into sediments by cavern)
•Gas storage cavern connections, communications by fractures
•Low permeability seepage of gas into OXY #3 (source unknown)
•Regional Tectonic activity (movement on growth faults)
•A combination of above events

[link to www.edsuite.com]

Page 13
Department of Transportation and Development
–Monitoring and surveying roadways and bridges in the area for ground movement–Developed a traffic contingency plan if needed
–Establishing GPS monitoring system
–Continuous monitoring stations are concentrated on Hwy 70 from the Bayou Corne bridge East to LA Hwy 996 to include a ½ mile stretch of LA Hwy 69 from the intersection of LA Hwy 70
[link to www.edsuite.com]

And on the Assumption Parish Police Jury Website, [link to assumptionla.com] under Frequently Asked Questions..The LA Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness has composed a Frequently Asked Questions document specific to this incident. [link to www.edsuite.com]

What kind of monitoring is being done to make sure the roads are safe to drive on?
The Department of Transportation and Development continues to monitor the roads in the area and, at this time, has no concerns related to the integrity of its state roads, specifically La. 70 in Assumption parish. DOTD would like to remind motorists to practice caution while driving on La. 70 in Assumption Parish, as there may be heavy truck traffic entering and exiting the roadway.
Out of an abundance of caution, DOTD engineers are continuously monitoring the state road system in this area -- 24 hours a day with roving patrols and frequent surveys. If conditions change, DOTD crews are prepared to close roads immediately to ensure public safety and will announce appropriate detours. DOTD engineers are measuring elevation levels weekly using GPS technology at four locations along La. 70 - one on Highway 70 perpendicular to the site, and at the Bayou Choupique, Grand Bayou and Bayou Corne bridges. So far, no changes in elevation have been found at these locations.

Of course they are checking roadways and bridges. We are having tremors and mini earthquakes. The air and water testing has been an ongoing process since this whole thing started. This is nothing new. We were told in the first public meeting that all of this would be being done out of an abundance of caution. The theory of the caprock falling is only one of 10 possible theories presented, and those theories are the basis for the mandatory evacuation. In Marty Triche, President of the Assumption Parish Police Jurys words..."We just don't know".


Here is a list of all the local agency sites where a wealth of information can be read.

Texas Brine posts a daily report. The Assumption Parish Blog is where any changes/alerts/advisories have been being posted. A situational summary is also posted and kept up to date.

Assumption Parish Police Jury Blog
[link to assumptionla.wordpress.com]

Assumption Parish Operational Situation Summary- Updated Every 72 Hours or More Accordingly [link to assumptionla.com] (By date)
[link to www.edsuite.com] (Consolidated)

Assumption Parish Photo Site On Flicker
[link to www.flickr.com]

Assumption Parish Youtube Channel Regarding Sinkhole
[link to www.youtube.com]

Texas Brine/ Bayou Corne Incident 2012Contains latest information from Texas Brine

[link to www.texasbrine.com]

Louisiana DEQ- Bayou Corne InformationSituational Summaries and Analytical data of water, soil, air

[link to www.deq.louisiana.gov]

Louisiana DNRContains latest reports regarding Bayou Corne Incident

[link to dnr.louisiana.gov]

[link to www.gohsep.la.gov]

University Of Memphis Seismic Monitors In The Area and Graphs Showing Activity
[link to folkworm.ceri.memphis.edu]

Also to clarify, the big rig that has been dismantled had nothing to do with gas being found, but to bring another rig in to complete the last 900 feet of drilling.

Info about this was posted as Updates Sept 13th, 16th and 18th

[link to assumptionla.wordpress.com]

Per Texas Brine, drilling continues to remain on schedule. This weekend, activity at the drilling site will include dismantling and moving out the current (on-site) rig and replacing it with a snubbing rig which will continue the final drilling operation into the cavern.

The sinkhole did expand by 20 feet. Again, local officials told us the sink hole would expand in the first public meeting, and in the Freq Asked Questions section on the Assumption Parish Police Jury website.
[link to assumptionla.com]
[link to www.edsuite.com]

Will the sinkhole continue to grow?

Yes, experts expect that the sinkhole will continue to grow. It is still smaller than the maximum size scientists predict it could grow to. Even at that maximum size, it is not to expect homes, which are about a half a mile from the site where the incident is occurring.


Things are bad enough, and we are all living in enough fear of either our health and safety being compromised, for those that stayed, but also of our homes being destroyed/lost forever, for those that left, and having to start over leaving everything behind. Instilling more fear from the media hit whores just isn't necessary, and we should all take care in what we copy paste without verifying the facts.

Just posted on The Assumption Parish Blog


5:20 p.m. Evening Update
by assumptionla

The Assumption Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and the Unified Command Group have not called for a public meeting this week. It has been brought to our attention that a meeting planned by citizens has been called for on Thursday. No formal notice of this meeting was issued to parish and state officials prior to information being released to the media. The preparation time needed for professional and up-to-date data to be presented and distributed requires 72 hours, minimum. We have been advised by Texas Brine that entry into Oxy Cavern #3 could take place on Thursday at the earliest; however, more likely by Friday evening. It would be inappropriate to hold a meeting on Thursday, 9/20/12, as the focus and resources of all responding agencies are on Texas Brine entering the cavern. For the safety of the residents, workers, and all concerned citizens, the Unified Command Group feels that this operation continues to be the main objective. More information will become available once the cavern has been entered and tests on the cavern, established by the scientific group, have been performed and hopefully will provide answers to the questions the residents have asked from the beginning of this event.

The Unified Command Group will continue providing information through blogs posts and press releases as it becomes available. They have also committed to schedule a date in the near future once results from tests conducted after cavern entry and further information is available. In addition, the science group continues to meet and provide oversight to the operation and provide support to the Unified Command Group.

Any local residents requesting information are encouraged to call the Assumption OEP at 985-369-7386 or visit the command post in Bayou Corne where you can be briefed on the latest updates and information specific to daily operations. [link to assumptionla.wordpress.com]

10:30 a.m. Seismic Monitoring Map

September 20, 2012 //The link below accesses a map that provides locations to the seismic monitors that are placed within the Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou community.

[link to www.edsuite.com]

For data that has been captured by these monitors, please visit:

[link to folkworm.ceri.memphis.edu]

The legend in the bottom right of the picture corresponds to the above website where monitoring data has been posted.

If you have any questions regarding this map, please email [email protected]

[link to assumptionla.wordpress.com]