Posted on 06/14/2010 9:28:22 AM PDT by smokingfrog
The Lakeview gusher of 1910 spewed 378 million gallons of oil in Kern County scrubland, far more than the gulf spill wreaking havoc today.
Horrific though the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has been, its output is still short of what occurred a century ago in scrubby brush about 110 miles north of Los Angeles — site of the Lakeview gusher.
While some experts believe the well off Louisiana has spewed upwards of 60 million gallons of oil into the gulf, the Lakeview well rained about 378 million gallons over an area between the towns of Taft and Maricopa.
The spill following the April 20 oil rig explosion in the gulf is, of course, a much bigger environmental and economic disaster. But the two wells had one thing in common -- neither could be immediately capped.
Lakeview's geyser of crude, in fact, flowed for more than 17 months.
"It roars and rips like hell," the publication California Oil World said at the time. "It smells and terrifies like hell….Some of those who watched it the first night declared that it ejected glowing stones."
And to think, Lakeview's foreman was a guy nicknamed Dry Hole Charlie because of his association with unproductive wells.
Perhaps the only person unsurprised by the Lakeview gusher was a mysterious old-timer fond of telling anyone who would listen that reddish grass meant oil below — something about the sunburned seed pods and moisture and the presence of underground faults. (Who needed geologists back then?)
The story has it that a novice oil-seeker named Julius Fried took him at his word, authors Kenny Franks and Paul Lambert wrote in "Early California Oil."
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.latimes.com ...
and the earth healed itself? shocking!
There was an older gentleman on the news the other day that said there was one in West Texas about the same time that had about the same results as this one. Tried searching but coulnd’t find anything.
If you've ever been to Taft you'd know that it was no great loss. In fact if it happened again today it might improve the look of the place.
But, you know, the government is doing everything it can to deal with this spill.
estimates are around 1 billion to 2 billion barrels are located there around 4 main deposits which could or could not be inter-connected.
I’m fairly certain the flow increased when they cutoff the collapsed and bent riser just above to LMRP. The bend was restricting the flow. It was known this would occur, which is why they tried to top kill first.
“If you’ve ever been to Taft you’d know that it was no great loss. In fact if it happened again today it might improve the look of the place.”
Isn’t that the truth.
the part about the bad smell was true, too. The oil patch down there has a LOT of H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide) gas coming out with the oil. Enough so that it is dangerous to approach some of the wells without breathing gear. They have signs posted around them to that effect. The whole area around Taft, Maricopa, McKittrick is a vision of Hell on Earth.. including the Brimstone! (sulfur) Go there in summer some time.. Tremendously hot, dry, nothing but crummy dry scrub brush that looks like something alien, and the air smells of rotten eggs and crude oil. It’s bad enough that the oil makes the dust stick to your car just that much more tenaciously.
Haven’t left anything there that I need back,.
Actual footage of that gusher here:
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/06/the_worst_oil_spill_in_us_hist.php
Apparently they are sti;; finding oil from the event.
Thanks for the link.
Because in 1910, hippies hadn't been invented yet.
Are we going to get a retraction by ever media outlet that has broadcast that the Gulf oil spill today is the worst US oil spill in history???
I’m not going to hold my breath...
Are we going to get a retraction by ever media outlet that has broadcast that the Gulf oil spill today is the worst US oil spill in history???”
HISTORY to today’s media is nothing over 3 or 4 months.
Sounds ‘bout right...
HISTORY to today’s media is nothing over 3 or 4 months.
Not when it comes to GW Bush - then it is everlasting sort of like the Democrats history.
Neither one of these are “spills” but we can only wish Deepwater were on dry land.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.