1971 PRESS PHOTO QUOTOCEAN VIKINGQUOT BY OCEAN DRILLING AMP EXPLORATION
Soviet drilling rig accident in 1971
In 1971, Turkmenistan was a part of the Soviet Union. Not far from the village of Derweze (in Russian, it is Darvaza), a Soviet drilling rig hit an underground cavern, which subsequently collapsed and formed a deep pit, almost a hundred meters across. It was spewing toxic gases. [pdf]FAQS about Soviet drilling rig accident in 1971
How did Soviet crater avert a natural disaster?
Geologists devised an audacious plan to avert a natural disaster and stop the fumes from poisoning the residents of neighboring villages. Soviet scientists set the crater on fire shortly after it erupted in the hopes that the flames would burn off the methane gas in a few weeks.
What happened to a gas hazard pit?
It was spewing toxic gases. In order to contain the hazard, the gases were set alight, with the expectation that the gas would burn off in a few days. A few decades later, though, the pit is still on fire.
Did the Soviets burn a fire in the Karakum Desert?
There are no written Soviet records, no logs, no official drilling reports, and no confirmation that they'd lit it intentionally – but there's no disputing a ~100-foot-deep (~30-m), 226-foot-wide (69-m) pit of relentless fiery fury that's been burning for around 50 years in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan.
Did explorer George Kourounis ever descend to the bottom of the pit?
Explorer George Kourounis, the first man to descend to the bottom of the pit in November 2013, tells Sarah Durn of Atlas Obscura that even seemingly logical fixes might prove futile.
Ocean america drilling rig
The oil field was discovered in 1998 by the Ocean America semi-submersible, mobile drilling rig operating in a water depth of 1,870 metres (6,140 ft). The discovery was later confirmed by wells drilled by GSF C.R. Luigs and . Production started in October 2007. [pdf]FAQS about Ocean america drilling rig
Why is Oceana working to stop offshore drilling?
Oceana is working to prevent the expansion of offshore drilling in the United States. We must stop expanding oil drilling operations into new areas. Coastal economies depend on oil-free beaches; and clean, renewable sources of energy like offshore wind would provide far more jobs than oil drilling.
How does offshore drilling affect marine life?
Offshore drilling for oil and gas threatens marine life, and pollution from burning fossil fuels is the leading cause of climate change and ocean acidification. Oceana is working to prevent the expansion of offshore drilling in the United States. We must stop expanding oil drilling operations into new areas.
Is offshore drilling dangerous?
Opening new areas to offshore drilling poses dangerous and unacceptable risks. Offshore drilling for oil and gas threatens marine life, and pollution from burning fossil fuels is the leading cause of climate change and ocean acidification. Oceana is working to prevent the expansion of offshore drilling in the United States.
Would oil drilling be a good idea for a coastal economy?
Coastal economies depend on oil-free beaches; and clean, renewable sources of energy like offshore wind would provide far more jobs than oil drilling. Drilling in the remote Arctic is especially risky, as spills would destroy pristine habitats and be very difficult to contain or clean up.
How does drilling affect the ocean?
Also, the burning of fossil fuels is the leading source of carbon pollution, which contributes to global warming and ocean acidification. Drilling in deeper and more remote waters increases the risk of spills, which can irreversibly damage the ocean, and threaten coastal businesses and people’s way of life.
How dangerous is drilling in the Arctic?
Drilling in the remote Arctic is especially risky, as spills would destroy pristine habitats and be very difficult to contain or clean up. Also, the burning of fossil fuels is the leading source of carbon pollution, which contributes to global warming and ocean acidification.
