The “stuff” killed the cows.
The “stuff” killed the cows.
That’s Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator’s assessment of what contributed to the deaths of 17 cows in late April near a natural gas drilling location south of Spring Ridge.
Until now, none of the state agencies involved in the ongoing inquiry into the incident has stated what caused the cattle to drop dead in Skipper Williams Jr.’s pasture on state Highway 169.
The deaths were reported at some point after a liquid leaked from the well, which was in the completion process, and pooled into a low area accessible to the cows. The substance later was determined to contain elevated chlorides, oil, grease and some organic compounds.
No state agency took responsibility for testing the animals.
Today, Prator gathered representatives of his and the Caddo district attorney’s offices, state police and the state Environmental Quality, Natural Resources and Agriculture and Forestry departments in one room to review all the reports connected to the incident.
“We went over for an hour exactly what everybody’s response was, and everybody’s response and cooperation was really good,” the sheriff said. “We responded to the scene well. When everyone found out about it we all worked together very well.
“We have determined — although no one agency except me will say this — by piecing everything together, there was a spill from the site that ran off of the site and that was ingested by the cows and that’s what caused the cows to die.”
The site has been cleaned, and the soil and water have been tested. They do not pose a health risk to the public, Prator said.
“So I’m staying the stuff killed the cows.”
Still undetermined is whether the spill was reported and, if so, whether it was reported in a timely manner. “We contend it should have been reported. And (the) timeliness of it we’re investigating,” Prator said.
Chesapeake Energy Corp., which owns the well, and its services contractor, Schlumberger, have “strict policies” concerning site spills.
“But there are employees (who) did not follow the policy, it appears,” Prator said. Chesapeake Energy is being contacted by The Times for comment.
State police, the sheriff’s office and Environmental Quality still looking into that. Findings of the sheriff’s office and state police will be turned over to Caddo District Attorney Charles Scott for review. Environmental Quality will move its report through its channels.
“I am extremely serious when I say this better not happen again,” Prator said. “As fast as that phone can dial, we better get a call. This is unacceptable to us.
“If at (the) time it happened if proper notification had been made, there are chances cows would still be alive right now,” the sheriff said. “In this case, this was cows, how unfortunate. But what if it was children? The companies are working with us and understand the dangers.”
That’s Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator’s assessment of what contributed to the deaths of 17 cows in late April near a natural gas drilling location south of Spring Ridge.
Until now, none of the state agencies involved in the ongoing inquiry into the incident has stated what caused the cattle to drop dead in Skipper Williams Jr.’s pasture on state Highway 169.
The deaths were reported at some point after a liquid leaked from the well, which was in the completion process, and pooled into a low area accessible to the cows. The substance later was determined to contain elevated chlorides, oil, grease and some organic compounds.
No state agency took responsibility for testing the animals.
Today, Prator gathered representatives of his and the Caddo district attorney’s offices, state police and the state Environmental Quality, Natural Resources and Agriculture and Forestry departments in one room to review all the reports connected to the incident.
“We went over for an hour exactly what everybody’s response was, and everybody’s response and cooperation was really good,” the sheriff said. “We responded to the scene well. When everyone found out about it we all worked together very well.
“We have determined — although no one agency except me will say this — by piecing everything together, there was a spill from the site that ran off of the site and that was ingested by the cows and that’s what caused the cows to die.”
The site has been cleaned, and the soil and water have been tested. They do not pose a health risk to the public, Prator said.
“So I’m staying the stuff killed the cows.”
Still undetermined is whether the spill was reported and, if so, whether it was reported in a timely manner. “We contend it should have been reported. And (the) timeliness of it we’re investigating,” Prator said.
Chesapeake Energy Corp., which owns the well, and its services contractor, Schlumberger, have “strict policies” concerning site spills.
“But there are employees (who) did not follow the policy, it appears,” Prator said. Chesapeake Energy is being contacted by The Times for comment.
State police, the sheriff’s office and Environmental Quality still looking into that. Findings of the sheriff’s office and state police will be turned over to Caddo District Attorney Charles Scott for review. Environmental Quality will move its report through its channels.
“I am extremely serious when I say this better not happen again,” Prator said. “As fast as that phone can dial, we better get a call. This is unacceptable to us.
“If at (the) time it happened if proper notification had been made, there are chances cows would still be alive right now,” the sheriff said. “In this case, this was cows, how unfortunate. But what if it was children? The companies are working with us and understand the dangers.”
Views: 248
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by P.G. on
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Stuff?
Kind of has the appearance that those investigators are either cowards or on someone's payroll, huh?
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Permalink Reply by sesport on
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Where did this information come from, what's the date, who's the author?
This says no state agency took responsibility for testing the animals, last "article" mentioned the owner of the cattle had his own vet run the tests.
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Permalink Reply by Jerad Doty on -
Those are going to be some expensive cows. It's a shame that everybody always blames it on the Oil and Gas companies. I have had a land owner tell me our helicopters dropping bags gave a horse a heart attack. Those will be the best cows in Louisiana, I promise
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Permalink Reply by Connell on
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Hazmat procedures were not followed. Lots of reasons workers don't report spills or releases. The top is ignorance or thinking you can get away with it. Those not reported are usually due to operator error; valve left open, over filled vessel, damage to a line or vessel.
I worked in Hazmat. Worked site safety a lot over in East Texas up till November, especially during fracs. I would always get there early before the acid was off loaded and check the area. I checked also after we finished for the day.
Anyone need a good hazmat or safety man i am available...
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Permalink Reply by Connell on
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i would have to see an msdses. it would be hard to believe that this would be the case. most of the time if you substitue a product it will cause a drop off in the reaction desired....hard to say on that..
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Permalink Reply by Cathaus on
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Funny thing Jerad, those cows were healthy until the Oil and Gas companies came calling. Sure it's their fault that those cows had to suffer like they did not to mention the slander that the owner had to take. That is just the arrogance of big companies thinking they can by pass safety practices. Personally, I hope the owner gets big bucks for what he has had to endure.
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Permalink Reply by sesport on
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Mrs. C - IF this information is correct and the matter is being turned over to Caddo DA Scott, then it's likely being reviewed as a criminal matter. IF the big O&G subcontracted the disposal work, guess who MAY get slapped with the allegations of criminal wrong? The local guy, working for the local company, that allegedly did the deed. Chesapeake probably knows enough to keep it's business "at arm's length."
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Permalink Reply by Cathaus on
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My theory is that Aubrey Mc/Chesapeake buys into the adage Might makes Right.
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Permalink Reply by Checkmateking on
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I know, if those poor cows would have survived we could have slit their throats and chopped em up, give it a rest people.
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Permalink Reply by Connell on
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this well could have been worse than that cm. it could have been a case of contamination of drinking water. this is something that should be looked at seriously. they got some bad stuff that could seep into something you could be ingesting.
if the cows had not died who knows how far the runoff would have gotten. if they got away with this one the next could have been a lot worse. the laws are pretty strict and should be adhered to for health reasons. some of these chemicals affects are not seen immediately. they could have moved on. and the cows could have been taken to a slaughter house and...
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Permalink Reply by Cathaus on
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Checkmateking,
You are missing the point. No one has the right to kill or maim another persons animals unless they fear for their life. Those cattle may have been slated for slaughter but it was the owners decision about the time to do so. That decision was taken out of his hands by the carelessness of others. Had they gone to slaughter, they would have faced a more humane death. They wouldn't have suffered for days.
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