“Emergency response mechanism” for butane cavern nearest giant sinkhole — 40-foot high flames seen during flaring — Officials don’t know what happened
Published: October 12th, 2012 at 12:27 pm ET |
Watch WAFB’s report on the flaring operation here
8:45 am, Oct. 11, 2012, Assumption Parish Police Jury: There was a short period of time that Highway 70 was closed this morning while a flare was checked at Crosstex. The flare was quite large; however, we have been advised that it was within normal operations. The road was closed as a safety measure to verify that it was actaully a flare and not a fire on Crosstex property.
4:10 pm, Oct. 11, 2012, Assumption Parish Police Jury: Crosstex advised that they will be emitting a flare within the hour that should last through the night. This flare like this morning’s flare remain within normal operations. No highway closures are anticipated.
This morning we learned more about these normal operations — or as they are now being called an emergency response mechanism:
The Advocate, Oct. 12, 2012 (Emphasis Added):
[... Crosstex] planned by early Thursday evening to resume flaring through the night to remove butane from lines connected to the caverns and do repairs [...]
Reported to parish officials about 6 a.m., the Thursday morning flare reached a reported 40 feet for about 10 minutes and gradually lowered before going out, Boudreaux said.
Jill McMillan, spokeswoman for Crosstex, said the flaring was an emergency response mechanism related to Crosstex’s Cavern No. 2, which is closer to the sinkhole of the company’s two caverns.
She said company officials are working on why flaring happened.
After the sinkhole’s emergence, Crosstex agreed to move butane from Cavern No. 2 to Cavern No. 1, as a precaution, so the gas is farther from the sinkhole. That process remains under way, she said. [...]
This situation began around the same time that the gas pipeline floated to the sinkhole’s surface: Gas pipeline found floating in giant sinkhole (PHOTO)
More on the butane cavern here: Louisiana officials request 'worst-case analysis' of risk to cavern with almost a million barrels of butane -- Concerned about 'possible release' -- Pipeline was 'bent' when massive sinkhole expanded
Watch WAFB’s report on the flaring operation here
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