January 16, 2010

Gas well problem forces Sabine evacuations

By Vickie Welborn
vwelborn@gannett.com

NEAR NOBLE – A number of Sabine Parish families were evacuated from their homes this evening after a problem of unknown origin developed at a natural gas well drilling site.

Sheriff Guffey Lynn Pattison did not know how many people were affected. He said the situation at the rig appeared to be under control tonight. Dispatchers reported to him that the rig apparently was sinking, but he was unable to confirm that information.

The drilling company recommended the evacuations of people living at Wright’s Landing Marina and Chay Loop. Those forced from their homes will stay at Cypress Bend Resort at the company’s expense.

Forest Oil officials have set up a command post at the intersection of state highways 191 and 1218, which is on the outskirts of Noble and about six miles north of Zwolle. Traffic is being restricted in the area.

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Skip, is this the well that is having problems? Any idea what "rig sinking" means?

H&P #398 Rig, Comstock, Sustainable Forests 3 Hz #H1 Well, Serial #240372, S10(3)-T8N-R13W
No, it's a Forest Oil well in 8N - 14W. Just now on Channel 12 they are quoting a Forest spokesman as saying that the wellhead bent. No mention was made of the rig sinking. We'll just have to wait for more accurate information.
Here's a video link for Channel 3.

http://www.ktbs.com/news/gas-well-could-blow-in-noble-la/

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Rig sinking is just that the location was not strong enough to support the wait of the rig and it began to sink. They will either jack the rig and put more support under it, or move the rig and drive support members and replace the rig.
Thanks, Terry. It doesn't sound too serious or the local media would have been all over it.
I was at the site yesterday and talked to forest rep. The well has already been drilled and no rig was on location. They had been working with a snubbing unit and it began to sink on one side as a precaution they ask residents close to the site to evacuate. They are waiting on a large crane coming from Texas that will be hooked to the snubbing unit then the residents will be allowed back in. Forrest did not contact any of the local officials in this matter and took it upon themselves to go to the residents and ask them to leave. Residents then began calling the Sheriffs office not forest. Forest should have contacted the proper officials and informed them of the situation first to stop incorrect information from being reported.
Someone got to ask! What's a snubbing unit?
I can see why you suggested the link! Don't know how you'd explain all that in just a few words.

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