Environmental implications of a gas well blowout in northwest Louisiana - A case study
- Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Baton Rouge, LA (United States)
Oil and gas exploration in northern Louisiana has been ongoing since the 1920s. During this time occasional blowouts have occurred which have impacted the environment. In March, 1994, a Sligo Field well experienced an unusual blowout in that the event propagated to the surface through an adjacent abandoned well. While drilling through the fractured Thompson-Pettet interval at a depth of 5000 feet, a pressure kick, caused by a loss of drilling fluids, occurred. The well control devices activated and prevented loss of the well. However, the pressure front moved up the well`s uncased annulus until reaching the base of the cemented surface casing where it dispersed laterally in the Nacatoch formation at a depth of approximately 1000 feet. This was the uppermost portion of the uncased hole. The pressure front propagated through the Nacatoch until it encountered the poorly cemented annulus of the abandoned Hardman No. 1 well, located approximately 300 feet to the south of the drilling location. After moving up the annulus of the Hardman No. 1 well and charging the fresh water sands of the Wilcox system, local residential water wells and the drilling rig`s water supply well became flowing artesian. Several hours later sand and fluids began erupting, creating a large cavity on the outside of the casing surrounding the Hardman No. 1 well. The artesian impact lasted approximately four days until the pressure front dissipated. Subsequent sampling of the rig supply well determined the well to be contaminated with benzene, a known human carcinogen. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, in conjunction with the operator, is currently investigating the extent of contamination with the goal of ensuring the health of the local residents and the protection of the environment.
- OSTI ID:
- 150561
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9510222-; ISSN 0149-1423; TRN: 96:005884
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin, Vol. 79, Issue 10; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAGS) Gulf Coast Section meeting, Baton Rouge, LA (United States), 25-27 Oct 1995; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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