Monthly Archives: November 2013

3:40 p.m. Update from the Office of Conservation

Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou Response Activity

Friday, Nov. 8 work-

Sinkhole Activity Code 1 – indicating work is allowed on sinkhole and containment berm, seismic monitoring indicates low levels of sub-surface activity near sinkhole/Oxy 3

Sub-slab Sampling and Ventilation

– Conducting ventilation system inspections and air monitoring

ORW/CPT Wells

– Monitoring pump drawdown tests of OGRW 1 (Oxy 2 well pad)

– Re-starting pump test of ORW 40 (north of containment berm)

– De-watering ORW 10 (west of containment berm) to enhance gas flow

– Completing drilling of deep aquifer monitoring well MRAA 04D (north of containment berm)

Containment/ Roads/ Sinkhole

– Depth/interface logging Oxy 3A (from Oxy 9 well pad)

– Surveying containment berm settlement plates

– Sampling aquifer monitoring wells

– Deploying additional boom south of the sinkhole

– Ceasing moving water from surrounding swamp to sinkhole

– Surveying south containment berm

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11:20 a.m. Update from the Office of Conservation

Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou Response Activity

Thursday, Nov. 7 work-

Sinkhole Activity Code 1 – indicating work is allowed on sinkhole and containment berm, seismic monitoring indicates low levels of sub-surface activity near sinkhole/Oxy 3

Sub-slab Sampling and Ventilation

– Conducting ventilation system inspections

ORW/CPT Wells

– Monitoring pump drawdown tests of OGRW 1 (Oxy 2 well pad)

– Re-starting pump tests of ORWs 39 and 40 (north of containment berm)

– De-watering ORW 10 (west of containment berm) to enhance gas flow

– Preparing to install electric lines from OGRW 1 to flare stack

– Completing shallow aquifer monitoring well MRAA 02S (west of containment berm)

– Beginning drilling of deep aquifer monitoring well for MRAA 04D (north of containment berm)

– Placing clay to expand well pad for aquifer monitoring well MRAA 5 (south of containment berm)

Containment/ Roads/ Sinkhole

– Surveying containment berm settlement plates

– Sampling aquifer monitoring wells

– Deploying additional boom south of the sinkhole

– Moving water from surrounding swamp to sinkhole

10:00 a.m. Update from the Office of Conservation

Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou Response Activity

Wednesday, Nov. 6 work-

Sinkhole Activity Code 2 – indicating no work is allowed directly on sinkhole, seismic monitoring indicates MEQ (micro-earthquake) activity near sinkhole/Oxy 3 has declined in comparison to recent activity,  but still somewhat elevated

Sub-slab Sampling and Ventilation

– Conducting ventilation system inspections

– Re-starting vent system at 1465 Sauce Piquante (previously shut down due to subsurface water)

ORW/CPT Wells

– Monitoring pump drawdown tests of OGRW 1 (Oxy 2 well pad)

– Conducting general maintenance on ORWs

– De-watering ORW 10 (west of containment berm)

– Drilling shallow aquifer monitoring well MRAA 02S (west of containment berm)

– Expanding well pads for MRAA 4 (north of containment berm) and MRAA 5 (south of containment berm) to accommodate deep aquifer monitoring wells

– Re-routing gas lines near MRAA-4 to allow enlarging well pad

Containment/ Roads/ Sinkhole

– Surveying containment berm settlement plates

– Sampling aquifer monitoring wells

– Deploying additional boom south of the sinkhole

– Surveying settlement plates near DPVE 47 site (west of containment berm)

– Surveying points on south berm

– Measuring water levels on aquifer monitoring wells and industrial wells 

2:15 p.m. Update

Texas Brine advised that the tagging of Cavern 3 is at 4,055′ which is 42′ higher than the tagging performed two weeks ago. As information becomes available, it will be shared here. 

1:50 p.m. Subsidence Information in the Bayou Corne Area

Assumption Parish Incident Command and the Office of Conservation are providing initial results of Itasca’s study on potential future ground-level subsidence in the Bayou Corne area. The findings are preliminary and conservative, pending further refinement of data from survey points to date and information to be gathered in future surveys – but are being made available to ensure that residents of the Bayou Corne community have the best and most up-to-date information that has been developed thus far.

Louisiana DOTD indicates that the subsidence projected for La. 70 in this initial study is within a range that can be managed with standard practices for road maintenance and overlay over the 30-year period modeled. However, out of an abundance of caution, DOTD continues to evaluate possible detour routes in case a need for one should arise.

The study found that normal subsidence levels are projected to be present in the area over the next 30 years. The charts summarizing the initial estimates of potential future subsidence are all based on total cumulative subsidence from the present time to different points in the future – 1.5 years, 5 years, 10 years and 30 years out – and do not distinguish between historical subsidence driven by Louisiana’s normal geologic processes and increases in expected subsidence due to the failure of the Oxy Geismar 3 cavern and subsequent development of the disturbed rock zone and sinkhole. For reference, Itasca has used available historic survey data to estimate that normal rates of subsidence in the Bayou Corne area west of the Napoleonville Salt Dome are in a range of .2 to .4 inches per year, or 2 to 4 inches every 10 years.

Follow this link for initial Itasca subsidence estimates:  http://dnr.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=1150

11:50 a.m. Update from the Office of Conservation

Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou Response Activity

Tuesday, Nov. 5 work-

Sinkhole Activity Code 3 – indicating no work is allowed directly on sinkhole or on containment berms, due to seismic monitoring indicating ongoing elevated MEQ (micro-earthquake) activity near sinkhole/Oxy 3

Sub-slab Sampling and Ventilation

– Conducting ventilation system inspections

ORW/CPT Wells

– Monitoring pump drawdown tests of OGRW 1 (Oxy 2 well pad)

– Conducting maintenance on ORW gas collection lines

– Continue drilling and setting casing for deep aquifer monitoring well MRAA 08D (east of Oxy 2 well pad)

– De-watering ORW 10 (west of containment berm)

Containment/ Roads/ Sinkhole

– Surveying containment berm settlement plates

– Sampling aquifer monitoring wells

– Barricading south containment berm in area of cracks

– Collecting samples from discharge tanks 

11:35 p.m. Update from the Office of Conservation

Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou Response Activity

Friday, Nov. 1 work-

Sinkhole Activity Code 3 – indicating no work is allowed directly on sinkhole or on containment berms, due to seismic monitoring indicating ongoing elevated MEQ (micro-earthquake) activity near sinkhole/Oxy 3

Sub-slab Sampling and Ventilation

– Conducting ventilation system inspections

– Conducting air monitoring on ventilation systems

ORW/CPT Wells

– Monitoring pump drawdown tests of OGRW 1 (Oxy 2 well pad)

– Repairing wellhead equipment on ORW 31 (northwest of containment berm)

– Calibrating ORW pressure gauges

– Removing DPVE 47 piping (west of containment berm)

Containment Berm/Roads/Sinkhole

– Surveying south containment berm

– Depth/interface logging of Oxy 3A (working from Oxy 9 pad)