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Geologists blame gas drilling for Indonesia mud disaster
The Jakarta Post | Fri, 10/31/2008 5:20 PM | National
A recent meeting of world renowned geologists concluded that the mud volcano disaster in Lapindo, East Java, was caused by nearby drilling for oil and gas, a British university said on Thursday.The University of Durham, located in northeastern England, said in a release made available to AFP on Friday, 74 top scientists in petroleum geology debated the mud volcano, nicknamed Lusi, at a conference in Cape Town, South Africa on Tuesday.
One leading geology professor from the University, Richard Davies, argued that the cause of flow lay with a gas exploration well, Banjar-Panji-1, which had undergone drilling by oil and gas company Lapindo Brantas.
Davies has led several investigations into Lusi and contends that the quake was too small and too distant to have caused the blowout, whereas the gas well was being drilled only 150 metres (yards) from the volcano site.
He presented new data to support his argument which proved that the day before the eruption, the well had taken a huge influx of fluid leading to intolerable pressures.
The data "provide a compelling tape recording of the well as it started to leak," Davies told participants of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, which ran from Aug. 26-29.
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"I remain convinced that drilling was the cause of the mud volcano. The opinion of the international scientists at the event in South Africa adds further weight to my conviction and the conclusions of many other leading scientists who have studied Lusi."
Thee other experts had presented alternative hypotheses; however, Davies’ garnered 42 peer votes.
Three other scientists supported Lapindo Brantas’ claim that an earthquake that had erupted 175 miles away two days prior the start of the flow had been the cause.
Sixteen experts believed the results were inconclusive, while 13 said the eruption was caused by a combination of factors, namely drilling and earthquake. (amr)
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Semoks (not verified) — Tue, 11/18/2008 - 11:33pm
in this case the responsbility is the geologist and the mud engineer
David, Jakarta (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 8:07am
When the Bakrie group agree to pay compensation to those whose lives have been ruined, then the government might consider helping to keep Bakrie afloat. That would be a fair deal.
PT (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 7:13am
Who will responsible for the disaster ? The drillers?The company?
Sledet (not verified) — Sat, 11/01/2008 - 6:22am
Finally! An international level discussion on LuSi that is on people's side. I know Lapindo rejected the findings, claiming that it was not conclusive because it was not backed up by *all*, world geologist, but this can be the first victory.
Next stop, Bakrie's assets for LuSi victims.
Iain (not verified) — Fri, 10/31/2008 - 10:30pm
This is the problem... everyone is blaming everyone... but no one is paying for it.