Monthly Archives: February 2014

4:00 p.m. Update from the Office of Conservation

Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou Response Activity

Thursday, Feb. 27 work-

Sinkhole Activity Code 1 – indicating work is allowed on sinkhole and within containment berms. Seismic monitoring indicates continued low levels of subsurface activity near sinkhole/Oxy 3.

Air Monitoring/Sub-slab Sampling and Ventilation

– Conducting ventilation system inspections

ORW/CPT Wells

– Continuing ORW 21 pump test (north of Sauce Piquante, west of Crawfish Stew)

– Conducting pump test on ORW 18 (west of containment berm) in preparation for de-watering

– Doing workovers on ORW 4 (northwest of containment berm) and ORW 14 (Oxy 10 well pad)

Containment Berm/Roads/Sinkhole

– Installing settlement plates along new south containment berm route

– Installing additional turbidity curtain along Bayou Corne side of new south containment berm

– Conducting water sampling of aquifer 

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9:45 a.m. Acadian Gas Pipeline – Check Valve Opened

Acadian Gas has reported that a check valve on their pipeline has opened and is currently releasing gas into the atmosphere.  The loud noise emitting from this check valve can be heard throughout the Bayou Corne community. Pipeline workers are on site and currently working to isolate the pipeline to reset the valve.

No effects or dangers are posed to the community and/or the highway because of this situation. Assumption OEP is onsite monitoring the situation and we will share updates as they become available. 

3:25 p.m. Update from the Office of Conservation

Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou Response Activity

Wednesday, Feb. 26 work-

Sinkhole Activity Code 1 – indicating work is allowed on sinkhole and within containment berms. Seismic monitoring indicates continued low levels of subsurface activity near sinkhole/Oxy 3.

Air Monitoring/Sub-slab Sampling and Ventilation

– Conducting ventilation system inspections

ORW/CPT Wells

– Continuing ORW 21 pump test (north of Sauce Piquante, west of Crawfish Stew)

– Conducting pump test on ORW 19 (west of containment berm) in preparation for de-watering

– Surveying settlement rods on ORW 21 and ORW 38 (north of Sauce Piquante)

Containment Berm/Roads/Sinkhole

– Surveying north containment berm and original south containment berm

– Conducting geotechnical borings near new south containment berm route

– Monitoring industrial water wells

5:15 p.m. Update from the Office of Conservation

Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou Response Activity

SPECIAL NOTE – NEW BUBBLE SITE
Following confirmation of the new bubble site on Grand Bayou, north of its crossing of La. 70, Assumption Parish Incident Command and the coordinated state agencies have made initial investigations and begun taking action to ascertain the source, including determination of whether scientific evidence supports the likely assumption that it is linked to the gas released by the failure of Texas Brine’s Oxy Geismar 3 cavern, and to ensure public safety.

The bubbling is occurring directly above the area where Acadian Gas recently drilled a horizontal boring under the Bayou as part of its effort to re-route a pipeline to replace pipeline capacity lost when the sinkhole formed. Acadian has already tested its two existing pipelines in service at the same crossing, and found no indication of leaks.
The Office of Conservation and its contracted agent CB&I have taken gas samples at the bubble site to “fingerprint” the gas and help in determining its origin.
DEQ has added the new site to its community air monitoring protocol, and DOTD will include the nearby roadway in its monitoring program for potential road deterioration.

Tuesday, Feb. 25 work-
Sinkhole Activity Code 1 – indicating work is allowed on sinkhole and within containment berms. Seismic monitoring indicates continued low levels of subsurface activity near sinkhole/Oxy 3.

Air Monitoring/Sub-slab Sampling and Ventilation
– Conducting ventilation system inspections

ORW/CPT Wells
– Continuing ORW 21 pump test (north of Sauce Piquante, west of Crawfish Stew)
– Conducting pump test on ORW 16 (west of containment berm) in preparation for de-watering

Containment Berm/Roads/Sinkhole
– Surveying north containment berm and original south containment berm
– Conductinig geotechnical borings near new south containment berm route
– Preparing new driveway area at 1439 La 70 (south of La 70) and placing limestone
– Installing turbidity curtain along Bayou Corne side of new south containment berm
– Collecting sinkhole in-flow water samples
– Monitoring industrial water wells
– Conducting water sampling of aquifer

11:10 a.m. Update from the Office of Conservation

Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou Response Activity

Friday, Feb. 21 work-

Sinkhole Activity Code 1 – indicating work is allowed on sinkhole and within containment berms. Seismic monitoring indicates continued low levels of subsurface activity near sinkhole/Oxy 3.

Air Monitoring/Sub-slab Sampling and Ventilation

– Conducting ventilation system inspections

ORW/CPT Wells

– Installing check valve on ORW 21 (north of Sauce Piquante, west of Crawfish Stew) for pump test

– Installing new pump and check valve on ORW 39 (north of containment berm) in preparation for de-watering

– Connecting de-watering piping along ORWs south of La 70 for future de-watering

– Surveying settlement rods on ORW 21 and ORW 38 (north of Sauce Piquante)

Containment Berm/Roads/Sinkhole

– Surveying north containment berm and original south containment berm 

10:25 a.m. Update

Texas Brine advised that the tagging of Cavern 3 (performed last Friday) was at 3,642′ which is 6′ from the cavern roof. As information becomes available, it will be shared here. 

4:40 p.m. Update from the Office of Conservation

Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou Response Activity

Wednesday, Feb. 19 work-

Sinkhole Activity Code 1 – indicating work is allowed on sinkhole and within containment berms. Seismic monitoring indicates continued low levels of subsurface activity near sinkhole/Oxy 3.

Air Monitoring/Sub-slab Sampling and Ventilation

– Conducting ventilation system inspections

ORW/CPT Wells

– Preparing ORW 21 (north of Sauce Piquante, west of Crawfish Stew) to begin pump test

– Surveying settlement rods for ORW 21 and 38 (north of Sauce Piquante)

– Evaluating ORW-39 (north of containment berm) for de-watering pump test

– Laying out de-watering piping along ORWs south of La 70 for future dewatering

Containment Berm/Roads/Sinkhole

– Continuing placing sand on new south containment berm route

– Initial staking of settlement plate locations on new south containment berm route

– Surveying original south containment berm

– Sampling sinkhole water