The rumor is…
Mansfield’s Woodland Estates neighbors woke up last Saturday to find their yards, cars swimming pools and a nearby pond covered in a tan-ish colored oily substance. They scratched their heads and cleaned it up, which was not an easy task. One resident said he used half the window cleaning solution in his car before he got the gunk off his windshield so he could see to drive.
Last December, they were showered with a mysterious foam substance that shot from the EagleRidge gas well site onto their yards.
I put out an ABP to my connections in gas patches all over the US and found that this mystery is not unique to Mansfield.
This happened when the Quarles Compressor was blown down. Somehow when the station performed an emergency shutdown some lubricating oil was also vented/atomized with the gas during the compressor blowdown, and this mixture spread to areas up to a mile or more away.
Folks in Fayette and Greene counties PA [and area with compressor stations] have complained about a reddish/brown film covering their windows & siding and wondered what it could be.
Is there a compressor station in Mansfield?
Why, yes, yes there is. And it’s a very pretty compressor station.
BUT WAIT! The rumor is…
The City of Mansfield does not believe the oily substance came from the gas wells or the compressor station that is associated with those gas wells. The City of Mansfield believes the oily substance came from the Best Maid pickle factory 2 miles away.
And yet another rumor is…
The pickle factory is not too happy that the City of Mansfield threw them under the bus. Besides, a) they don’t use any kind of oily substance, they use brine, and b) the laws of physics are an important consideration. Please see map below and remember the wind was blowing SSE at 11 mph.
View Woodland Estates whodunit in a larger map
On the TCEQ website, I found these two complaints.
Here is a picture of the compressor station and the pond where the oily substance was found.
There is one more rumor…
The ducks don’t like this oily substance. They have evacuated the pond that is their home and are temporarily hanging out in a yard far from the pond.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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We have experienced this oily stuff in Booger County. NO pickle factories here–but, many sour gas wells, compressor stations and gas plants.
The landmen talked about brine, and now we’re sure it’s not the same as pickle brine.
fishcreekneighbor recently posted..Who’s the Pretty Blonde?
Wow, remind me to skim the oil off of pickles, the next time I open a new jar of them.
And, I have swamp land on Mars for sale, cheap, for those that believe that one. Or, that believe the carbon disulphide in the DISH air is from all those dirty rayon plants.
Why doesn’t the City of Mansfield simply embrace their very pretty compressor station and its spewing ways. There are certainly some things the city can do to make it work for them. Maybe a Springtime Manufacturing Renaissance Festival. Brooke Alexander could make an appearance. We understand she enjoys travelling down a drill bit into the shale. Wheeee…..Everyone would pay to see that!
WCGasette recently posted..Voilà!! Let’s Just Cover it Up with NEW Homes!! *UPDATE*