Surprise Geysers Erupt in Oklahoma

AP | 12/10/2005 | AP

[technomage]

KINGFISHER, Okla. (AP) _ An outbreak of geysers spewing mud and gas into the air in rural Kingfisher County is puzzling state and local officials.

Kingfisher Fire Chief John Crawford says initial reports of the geysers came in Friday morning, and that firefighters and Oklahoma Corporation Commission officials were on the scene yesterday.

The geysers have appeared throughout the countryside of rural Kingfisher, with stretches of up to 12 miles between spots, and some as short as a quarter of a mile.

Crawford says the threat of the gas igniting is unlikely, but he says there is a concern the gas could begin coming up through water-well lines.

He says sheriff's deputies were dispatched to inform residents of the possibility of gas coming through wells and water systems.

[technomage]

Interesting. Wonder what the significnce of this event is.

Can any Oklahoma Freepers verify this?

[Flavius]

3rd post of this

and yet no pics or better explanation... sigh

[Bigh4u2]

Don't geysers usually denote volcanic activity?

[MarkeyD]

Here

[technomage]

3rd post of this

Hmmm. Did a search for geyser, geysers and oklahoma and nothing came up.

[Doogle]

the Clampetts


Doogle

[PeteB570]

Ditto

I thought it was an update

[Roses0508]

Hmmmm Lots of oil in Oklahoma, but would that indicate volcanic possibilities.

/grew up in Oklahoma, but am puzzled as the next person

[sure_fine]

I wonder if this ties into the damn breaking in MO?

[Servant of the 9]

Central U.S. Earthquakes 1800- 1983.

The cluster in central Oklahoma is in Kingfisher County.

So9

[Bigh4u2]

I just looked at the pictures and think I answered my own questions.

The geysers I am thinking about usually are 'steam' geysers, such as in Yellowstone.

These appear to be 'water' geysers from natural gas.

[puppypusher]

My only concern would be if these guysers were volcanic in origin. That would worry me.

[Dog Gone]

An overcharged aquifer is probably to blame since volcanic activity in Oklahoma ceased eons ago. It could start again anywhere, of course, but this would be extremely unlikely to be the first sign of it.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Whats the problem? Start drilling!

[MPJackal]

I saw the same thing happen in Dante's Peak. An eruption is due any day now. We're Doomed.

[Jason_b]

"Mysterious unrefined natural gas leaks erupting in rural Kingfisher County ..."

Gaia farts proudly.

[shield]

I've been thinking the same thing. When the first reporting of this dam break, I heard sesimetic activity involvement. Now they're not saying this.

I read some place on this no one smelled gas. I had to chuckle...there's no smell to NG...NG's smell was added by man.

[wyattearp]

Crawford says the threat of the gas igniting is unlikely

Let's get some roman candles and shoot fireballs at it!

[Squire Eaton]

Hey Flevais: You did not wait long enough I guess. Just for fun I googled her and sure enough up she come. Good old goggle spouts off with correct info every time. Just as faithful with info as old Yellowstone. Maybe one of these new geysers will make Oklahoma as famous as Yellowstone!!

Squire Eaton

[Roses0508]

We used to see "swamp gas fire balls/lights" every so often. Wonder if it is a related activity?

Per my memory, an overcharged aquifer would be an unusual condition. I remember Oklahoma as dry compared to our next home in Virginia.