Article

2007-10-02 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

Lake Peigneur: The Swirling Vortex of Doom

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Mike 2007-10-02 06:27|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top

#1 The youtube vid from the History Channel linked at the article is pretty amazing; never heard about thatt, "damn interesting" indeed.

Posted by anonymous5089 2007-10-02 08:45|| 2007-10-02 08:45|| Front Page Top

#2 The History Channel program on the Lake Peigneur disaster (no deaths or injuries, but some truly spectacular property destruction) is a must-see. Absolutely fascinating.

The mishap began with a surveying error, which caused the oil drilling rig to puncture into an active, working salt mine (instead of proceeding downward alongside it). The lake rapidly drained into the mine, steadily enlarging the drill hole to the point where entire barges were sucked down into the vortex. The canal which normally drains the lake into the Gulf of Mexico began to flow backwards, and the Gulf promptly topped off the mine-- at which point all the barges and other debris that had been sucked down the hole, popped back up to the surface again.

It was a truly spectacular fuckup, and a royal mess. If you ever get a chance to watch the program, do.

Posted by Dave D.">Dave D. 2007-10-02 09:40|| 2007-10-02 09:40|| Front Page Top

#3 The mishap began with a surveying error, which caused the oil drilling rig to puncture into an active, working salt mine (instead of proceeding downward alongside it).

I prefer the Charybdis explanation, myself. But I'll concede to science on this one.

Posted by xbalanke 2007-10-02 13:33|| 2007-10-02 13:33|| Front Page Top

#4 Cthulhu!

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-10-02 13:49|| 2007-10-02 13:49|| Front Page Top

#5 Riverine deltas [read - mud]that became US
State(s).

Posted by JosephMendiola 2007-10-02 19:15|| 2007-10-02 19:15|| Front Page Top

#6 There is a old plantation (haunted, naturally) you can visit right there on the lake and you can get a tour boat ride right out over where it (the drill accident) happened. After watching the little video first, to put you in the mood. Quite fun. The Tabasco plant is nearby too for visiting as well. Being Louisiana I do believe there are adult beverages around, but I'm a little foggy there. *g*

Posted by Laurence of the Rats">Laurence of the Rats 2007-10-02 22:38|| 2007-10-02 22:38|| Front Page Top

#7 understandable, Laurence, thx :-)

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-10-02 22:43|| 2007-10-02 22:43|| Front Page Top

23:26 twobyfour
23:24 Zenster
23:20 mcsegeek1
23:11 Zenster
23:11 Frank G
23:09 twobyfour
23:08 mcsegeek1
23:06 mcsegeek1
23:04 mcsegeek1
23:02 spiffo
22:58 Barbara Skolaut
22:52 mcsegeek1
22:47 mcsegeek1
22:46 3dc
22:44 smn
22:43 Frank G
22:38 mcsegeek1
22:38 Laurence of the Rats
22:35 Frank G
22:34 mcsegeek1
22:30 mcsegeek1
22:27 Zenster
22:24 mcsegeek1
22:22 Super Hose