CONFIRMED: Salt cavern below sinkhole has failed
Assumption Parish officials have been advised by DNR [Louisiana Department of Natural Resources] that their exploratory well observers have confirmed that brine cavern #3 has failed. Per Texas Brine’s press release [See: Company Officials: Tremors have damaged salt cavern below sinkhole -- 1,300 ft shallower than expected -- 'Dense material' has fallen to bottom], “The tool used to measure cavern depth bottomed out at approximately 4,000 feet – a point estimated to be 1,300 feet higher than the floor had been measured prior to the cavern closure in 2011. This preliminary finding indicates that some type of dense material has fallen to the bottom of the cavern. A sample of the material has been retrieved from the cavern floor and will be analyzed. The retrieved material does not appear to be consistent with material normally found in brine cavern operations. We expect that the sonar inspection that is currently being conducted will provide a more detailed image of the cavern’s interior conditions and the possible source of the material at its base.” This statement confirms the suspicions of parish officials: Texas Brine Oxy Cavern #3 had failed.
It has come to our attention that Texas Brine’s press release was released to the media at 10:31 p.m. last night, prior to consulting with parish and state officials. Parish officials are not in agreement with Texas Brine’s preliminary conclusion that their well was damaged by “regional-scale seismic activity” (earthquakes). Given the confirmation of the failure of Texas Brine’s cavern, the parish will continue to look to Texas Brine for accountability and evacuee assistance.
http://enenews.com/confirmed-salt-cavern-below-sinkhole-has-failed