**UPDATE**
After investigating, a source producing the odor mentioned in this morning’s post was not able to be located. If you experience an odor of this sort, we encourage you to contact OEP at 985-369-7386 so that it can be looked into further.
Monthly Archives: August 2014
9:20 a.m. Reported Odor Being Investigated
Assumption OEP is currently investigating reports of a hydrocarbon-like odor in the Pierre Part community. This odor does not seem to be related to the sinkhole (no burp has taken place to produce such an odor). Updates will be provided accordingly regarding this situation.
3:20 p.m. Update
The Office of Conservation, following discussions with Assumption Parish Incident Command, has issued a new order to Texas Brine, directing the company to conduct new tests to further assess conditions in the vicinity of the company’s Oxy Geismar 2 cavern, located to the east of the failed Oxy Geismar 3 cavern. In recent weeks, the seismic monitoring system that Conservation ordered Texas Brine to install has detected increased seismic activity that appears to have been located in or near the eastern wall of the original Oxy Geismar 3 cavern.
The number and strength of the seismic events, while elevated, have since diminished and were much lower than those witnessed in previous major events such as sinkhole sloughing or the initial failure of Oxy Geismar 3. Though that activity has decreased and the two caverns are several hundred feet apart, the Office of Conservation is requiring a full assessment of the Oxy Geismar 2 cavern to ensure protection of the public and the environment – ordering Texas Brine to conduct a pressurized Mechanical Integrity Test, run a new top-to-bottom sonar survey and develop an action plan if any issues are identified. While the strength and number of events in the recent seismic activity are not, by themselves, indicative of significant new problems, part of the purpose of the seismic monitoring network is to detect activity at an early stage and give time to assess whether additional actions are necessary.
A copy of the directive is available on DNR’s Bayou Corne web page at http://dnr.louisiana.gov/assets/OC/BC_All_Updates/ORDER_DIRECTIVES/Emergency.11th.08.2014.pdf
1:00 p.m. Update from the Office of Conservation
Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou Response Activity
Monday, August 4 work-
Sinkhole Activity Code 2 – indicating work is not allowed on sinkhole and within containment berms. Seismic monitoring indicates increased levels of subsurface activity near sinkhole/Oxy 3.
Air Monitoring/Sub-slab Sampling and Ventilation
– Conducting ventilation system inspections
ORW/CPT Wells
– Continuing pumping on ORWs 4 (northwest of containment berm), 14 (Oxy 9 well pad), 15 (north of La 70, east of Gumbo Street), 48 (north of containment berm), 54 (west of Bayou Corne, south of La 70), 57 (southeast of Oxy 9 well pad)
– Managing water produced from passive vent wells in bayou
– Monitoring flow rate and water production from passive vent wells
Containment/ Roads/ Sinkhole/Survey
– Conducting daily berm inspections
11:25 a.m. Update from the Office of Conservation
Bayou Corne/Grand Bayou Response Activity
Friday, August 1 work-
Sinkhole Activity Code 2 – indicating work is not allowed on sinkhole and within containment berms. Seismic monitoring indicates increased levels of subsurface activity near sinkhole/Oxy 3.
Air Monitoring/Sub-slab Sampling and Ventilation
– Conducting ventilation system inspections
ORW/CPT Wells
– Continuing pumping on ORWs 4 (northwest of containment berm), 14 (Oxy 9 well pad), 15 (north of La 70, east of Gumbo Street), 48 (north of containment berm), 54 (west of Bayou Corne, south of La 70), 57 (southeast of Oxy 9 well pad)
– Monitoring flow rate and water production from passive vent wells
Containment/ Roads/ Sinkhole/Survey
– Conducting daily berm inspection
– Transferring water from passive vent wells to sinkhole in-flows
Assumption Parish Police Jury 