‘Out-Of-Control’ Rig In The Gulf Gushing Methane Freely Into The Atmosphere

[kristopher]

‘Out-Of-Control’ Rig In The Gulf Gushing Methane Freely Into The Atmosphere
BY EMILY ATKIN ON JANUARY 31, 2014 AT 9:48 AM


shutterstock_89969950 CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK

An “out-of-control” well that began blowing gas into the air on Thursday is still not under control as of Friday morning, according to a report from the Associated Press.

42-non essential workers from Rowan Companies PLC’s offshore rig in the Gulf of Mexico, named “Louisiana,” were evacuated, while 37 stayed on the rig to try and stop the flow of gas. Rig operator EnVen Energy Ventures said that while workers attempt to kill the well, gas was being “vented” off of the rig. Although gas, water and sand are still flowing from the well, EnVen said no pollution has occurred in the Gulf.

“All personnel currently aboard the rig are safe and non-essential personnel have been evacuated, all well control equipment is functioning as designed (and) there has been no environmental impact,” Rowan Companies spokesperson Deanna Castillo told the AP.

Unlike a spill, an out-of-control well blowing gas does not pollute in a traditional, visible sense. Instead, it releases methane — the potent, second-most prevalent greenhouse gas — into the air, contributing to climate change. Pure natural gas is mostly methane, a fuel that burns cleaner than coal or oil. However, when methane is released directly into the air, it traps heat in the atmosphere.

From an air quality perspective, it is better to burn flowing gas through a flare system, rather than venting it directly into the atmosphere, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

It was not clear early Friday ...

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/31/3232181/methane-leak-gulf/

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Probably can't safely flare it now.

Maybe waiting for the wind to pick back up?

[SleeplessinSoCal]

2. Thank goodness climate change is a hoax

as we sit in CA trying to make a glass of water last as long as possible.

[Chakab]

3. These people are out of fucking control. They're going to poison the entire planet within the next

decade.

When I was a kid, I never had any conception that I'd end up living in a dystopian society like the ones that I used to read about in sci-fi novels and watch on television.

[newfie11]

5. Same here

The news every day resembles a sci-fi movie more and more.

[snot]

4. This is happening all over.

on land as well as at sea. Personal friend stopped getting royalties because they'd tapped a motherlode that blew out; now pouring gas into the air.

[GregD]

6. Nowhere to be found on cnn.com

Wall to wall coverage of HOffman's death, and I will truly miss the guy's performances, but you can't even find this new gulf disaster on their site much less in their television coverage.