(NE of Houston) Texas Gas Storage Facility (Duke Energy) Explodes

[UpInArms]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040819_653.html

MOSS BLUFF, Texas Aug. 19, 2004 — An explosion early Thursday at an underground gas storage facility forced dozens of residents from their homes, authorities said.

No one was reported injured, but roads were closed and houses within a one-mile radius were ordered evacuated after natural gas exploded at the Duke Energy site at about 4 a.m.

<snip>

Crews decided to let the gas burn itself out, and two other storage chambers at the facility are not thought to be threatened, he said. Emergency crews remained on the scene well past daybreak.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately determined.

...more...

[Dover]

1. More details from the Houston Chronicle and pictures:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory2/2746089

[Wednesdays]

2. And, going by the trends of the past 4 years,

gas prices will be 30 cents higher today than yesterday.

Whoops! Nope, my bad...I forgot this is an election year with a Repug as incumbent. :eyes:

[KeepItReal]

3. This is a REALLY BIG FREAKIN FIRE!

You can see it from miles away. Flame shoots up to 1000 feet.

The local news said there is enough natural gas supplying it to keep it burning 7+ years. I'm assuming they're gonna put it out before then....

On edit.... yesterday flame was only at 200 feet...something went wrong and now it is as large as it is.

[UpInArms]

7. related article: Fire Worsens at Duke Energy Facility

http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2004/08/20/ap1512898.html

Duke Energy Corp. said Friday that a fire that broke out yesterday morning at its Moss Bluff salt cavern storage facility outside of Houston has increased in size after an above-ground valve structure collapsed, causing a larger release of gas.

The company said flames shot up 1,000 feet into the air, after the valve structure gave way early this morning due to the fire's intense heat. All personnel on the site have been accounted for, and no injuries were reported, but Duke Energy Gas Transmission recommended to emergency personnel that a three-mile area around the facility be evacuated.

...more...

Too bad Red Adair just left us :(

Wonder if Boots and Coots is going to be around there?

[Mari333]

4. When the GOP is in office, worker deaths rise

My husband was killed in a Houston based petro chemical explosion , and 12 other people injured...when Raygun was in office..the company cut out Union workers and replaced them with minimum wage workers...result? death and destruction , CEOs who made a mint off of everyone...Raygun's policies are a hallmark of the GOP, and Bush just carries them on...corporations rule the current WH just as they did in the Raygun years..no one oversees these bastards..they literally get away with murder..
http://www.ilcaonline.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&topic=12&startnum=21

[mbperrin]

5. Remind me again, oil and gas production is practically

invisible and perfected, right?

[mrbill]

6. another step closer to $50 a barrel oil.

why am i thinking about the hunt brothers and silver.

[lil-petunia]

8. all too true

our resources (pipelines, storage, refining) facilities are way too stretched. Any decent terra-ist would simply blow up a pipeline or drive into a refinery.

Do you know HOW easy it is to get into a refinery? Unbelievable. I played golf (badly) next to one and retrieved a slice by finding an opening in their fence.

[gasperc]

9. terrorist posing as golfer causes massive explosion

how choice, you can only sit back and know that the terrorists have a laundry list of attacks small and large and seem to only be waiting for the green light from the big bosses.

[lil-petunia]

10. sorry, it was the beans.

The lunch was getting to me at the time, and I should never, ever golf with a cigar.

[struggle4progress]

11. Texas Natural Gas Fire Under 'Controlled Burn'

Fri Aug 20, 2004 08:12 PM ET
By Matt Daily

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Emergency crews battling a raging fire at the Moss Bluff underground natural gas storage site since Thursday morning will continue a "controlled burn" of the gas through the night, local officials said on Friday.

An explosion at the storage tanks owned by Duke Energy Corp. in rural Liberty County about 40 miles northeast of Houston early Thursday sent a massive fireball into the sky, and a second blast early Friday forced the evacuation of about 75 nearby residents.

An investigation into the cause of the fire has begun, and damage assessment is continuing, the company said. A company spokeswoman said there is no indication that terrorism was a factor. The early Friday explosion increased pressure from the leaking tanks, creating a 1,000-foot column of fire that could be seen for miles.

The gas pressure in the salt cavern storage site should begin to abate on Saturday and allow firefighting crews to cool the area with water, Duke said.
<snip>

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=6034111