Posted on 12/15/2006 5:27:29 PM PST by blam
Either this is bad reporting or these scientists are idiots.
Spending our tax money without a plan.
Ready, Shoot, ummmm Aim.
Well for one thing, they didn't know the precise soil and rock types in the hole at various depths until AFTER the hole was drilled - and that affects what instruments you put where.
Really, I mean....what is up with the rabid hatred of and contempt for scientists on FR? I mean the desperate search for any way to take potshots at ANY scientist, even when they're not doing or saying anything having to do with politics, amazes me.
Oh Lord, don't let the BIG ONE happen next week (grin).
In fact, if bedrock was not encountered until 1900 feet, that means we could probably dredge the Mississippi enough to turn it into a deep weather port, or bring back a Northern chunk of the Gulf of Mexico with a beach at Evansville, Indiana.
The possibilities are endless.
Remember, Freepers tend to distrust scientists who fail to claim have a commercial ambition. For them early warning of an earthquake swarm in the Midwest and Central South is not enough.
Oh get off your frickin high horse for once, Strategerist.
This was a 2000 foot well. Are you telling me that no well that DEEP has ever been drilled in that area?
You act like this is deep space exploration. I don't hate scientists. I work with them every day, and I have contempt for people who use my tax money without a plan, and I have no use for blowhards like you.
I love science of all kinds. Well, except for where they've chosen to make it a religion. Fortunately geologists have kept their science pretty pure.
I assume you were referring to me, correct?
Bedrock at 1900 feet - that's some mighty unstable soil come earthquake time if sand is involved. It would certainly be interesting to get a better picture of the underlying rock layer; this factoid would lend itself to the theory of a wide valley of soil overlaying a bedrock canyon of enormous size...
A question - will this soil "liquify" during an earthquake event? If so, St. Louis and any effected cities are in for a world of hurt.
1. Not in their congressional district or state ~ porkbarrel being desirable if and only if it's at home.
2. In a field of science they either don't know much about or don't care ~ Midwestern earthquake possibilities definitely make Westcoasters' eyes glaze over!
3. Something involving any claim by an ignorant reporter that there is no plan to use the information derived, or no plan to proceed beyond the latest step, or no plan whatsoever to do anything but spend more money. That is, we have too many Freepers yet who continue to believe what the MSM tell them.
So, no, not you in particular, but your reaction definitely fits the pattern ~ (now that I've read your post) ~
The discovery channel ran a show about the New Madrid earthquakes a while back. They were showing spots where sand had risen to the surface in sand boils or blows. There were some pretty drastic changes to the landscpe not to mention changing the course of the Mississippi in a matter of minutes.
Holy crap, 1900+ feet to bedrock? I worked on a water well drilling rig, and drilled caissons for deep foundations, mostly in new england, and 200' is about as deep as ew ever went before hitting rock. Never drilled many wells over 900' to get sufficient water.
That was a really great show.
Last time I looked, the Mississippi "rift" was something like 17 miles deep, filled with dirt washed in from the Appalachians over the ages.
It's dangerous to live next to a 17 mile deep hole anywhere!
I've read that the quake was so bad the windows in Chicago were broken and church bells in Boston rang.
In my career in the oil industry, I've probably been involved in the drilling of 25,000 wells or more. I'm not sure. I've never kept track.
In none of those did we not know what to expect or did we not have a plan before we drilled the wellbore.
So, if I fit your stereotype of a dumb rube when it comes these matters, I'd like to know your credentials.
I sent you e-mail about this moments ago.
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