Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jerry L Hofmann on March 18, 2013 at 12:24am

We are four miles north of Lisbon and we heard it too. Glad no one got hurt.

Permalink Reply by Finnbear on March 18, 2013 at 3:47am

My brother lives on the north side of Minerva and they felt it too.

Permalink Reply by Kathleen on March 18, 2013 at 5:47am

I was shocked that I did not see this on the noon news channel 9. They usually report columbiana county stuff.
IMO if anything can shake a house 5-8 miles away should be on the news even if it was a Clinton well and no one got hurt.
When that pipeline blew up around here 2 yrs ago I also thought a plane went down.

Permalink Reply by dr j on March 18, 2013 at 7:08am

I agree it's important to note this is older shallow well.   Of course they don't mention that on the news. 

Permalink Reply by Sonja on March 19, 2013 at 1:00am

Does anyone know why these things blow?  We were all talking about it yesterday, and couldn't seem to come up with an answer....  Are they too full?  Pressure? 

Just wondering since this is not the first one to have this happen....

Permalink Reply by Sonja on March 19, 2013 at 4:19am

Wow!  Thanks for the information!  I will pass along!!   Is anyone responsible for going around and checking all the old Clinton well tanks for potential problems like this?  Will these tanks be used for the Utica wells?

Permalink Reply by Finnbear on March 19, 2013 at 2:27am

So is it the well that exploded or the storage tank that exploded? The picture seems to indicate it was the storage tank.

Permalink Reply by Keith A Williams on March 20, 2013 at 1:30am

Utica Shale,

I know that grounding should help.

I also understand that gas running through a pipeline will make the hair stand up on your arm. That line is buried in the ground too!

With the high winds of the last few days add to that freezing ground that frost heaves plus rusty connection or poor grounds, all together could be part of it.

Does make you wonder how safe these tanks are and what can be done to make them safer. Wonder if they use grounding rods?

Keith

Permalink Reply by Calla on March 20, 2013 at 1:58am

The picture shows that the tank clearly did its job. It didn't rupture, it didn't spill any oil, and it contained the fire. The remaining green paint shows us two things. The tank looks like it was well maintained with fresh paint, and that is the oil level in the tank.  

Since the tank was only 1/3 full of oil, there were a lot of fumes in there. It takes three things to make a fire. Fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source.

We know there was fuel. I'm kind of surprised that there was a high enough oxygen level in there, but we know it was.

That leaves the source of ignition. Static electricity is a good source, but still very surprising since all of that steel is very well grounded.

I personally would lean towards somebody flinging a cigarette butt. 

I have looked at aerial photos. The tank is close to the road. The pumpjack is way more than 1000 feet away. There is no way it caused a spark. If you have noticed the weather the last few days, chimney smoke is being pushed close to the ground. Fumes coming from the tank would also be pushed towards the ground.

I could see a possible scenario as The pumpjack running, hot oil is being pumped into the tank, and the escaping fumes are being pushed towards the ground. All it takes is somebody pulling out of the drive flicking a butt out the window. They could have been miles down the road when poof, the tank lid is making like a high powered frisbee. If this is anything near what really happened, everybody involved should clam up, and stick to their story.