How does saltwater burn? …for hours?
The Railroad Commission Representatives told 150 citizens at a town hall meeting in Hico, Texas, in August, 2006, that there was nothing in these storage tanks but “SALT WATER”. This “SALT WATER” burned for “SEVEN HOURS”!
Barnett Shale “saltwater” is flammable, full of toxic chemicals and radioactive.
Big blaze burns up Infinity
By AMANDA KIMBLE
Staff Writer
amanda.kimble@empiretribune.com
Published: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 11:06 AM CDT
Not much is left of the tanks, truck and various pieces of equipment owned by Infinity Oil and Gas that were engulfed by flames early Sunday morning. Local authorities say the cause and circumstances surrounding the fiery blaze are currently under investigation.According to Chris Gable, coordinator for Erath County Volunteer Fire Rescue (ECVFR), the department responded to a call reporting a fire off of CR 245 near Alexander at about 2 a.m.
It all started with a bang as tanks housing oil and salt water exploded.
When the department responded, it was determined that the property, leased by Infinity and home to a saltwater disposal facility which injects waste generated from the oil and gas industry back into the earth, posed a potential threat to neighboring property owners. Fearing things might get out of hand; residents on CR 245, part of CR 246 and one private road were evacuated from their homes.Once the facility supervisor arrived and firefighters were on hand, it was decided that the best way to battle a fire of such magnitude was simple, let it burn. The facility supervisor turned off all wells on the property to minimize the risk and restrict the blaze.
And burn it did. Of the facilities nine tanks, only three remained when the fire was finally out.
“By about 9 a.m. all of the oil had burned off the tanks,” Gable said. “We then used foam to extinguish the fiberglass tanks. Finally, by about 11:30 a.m., the fire was out.”
Although it is not yet certain what sparked the flames, an initial assessment led officials to believe that lighting could have struck one of the tanks housing the oil and salt water mixture.
Gable said the Department of Public Safety contacted the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Texas Commission on Environment Quality and the sate run agencies have sent representatives to investigate the incident.
Not the first lie The Railroad Commission has told the public.
Not the first time saltwater at an injection well has burned/exploded.
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About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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Keep an eye on the news; the same facility just burned again this morning. Still smoking six hours later.