a reminder

Sinkhole ; No Impact

"Patrick Courreges, spokesman for DNR, did not dispute the agency’s case by case handling of continued operations.

He explained the difference in handling the Dow salt cavern and Petrodome drilling project is tied to their proximity to the sinkhole.

The Petrodome rig is three miles from the northeastern edge of the salt dome and five miles from the sinkhole, which is on the opposite, or northwestern, side of the dome.

In addition, Petrodome’s drillers are planning to bore down 13,000 feet, more than a mile deeper than any cavern activity in the dome, Courreges said.

“Both the lateral surface distance and the difference in depth show that standard drilling and production operations would have no impact on the situation on the western side of the salt dome,” he said.

CH$$RS R15