As the methane drilling frenzy continues to frack up Upstate New York State and Pennsylvania, we update you on the dark side of clean, safe, inexpesive methane.
OOPs - Another one!
March 17
A natural gas line exploded in Minneapolis St. Patrick's Day, shooting flames several stories into the air. Some businesses and homes were evacuated but noone was injured. No injuries were reported, but the fireball was said be excellent.
OOPs - Another one!
FEB 23
Three workers were injured when "volatile vapor" led to an explosion at a natural gas drilling site on February 23, 2011. The workers were flow testing the well in order to separate liquids from the methane (the natural gas component that burns so cleanlyand safely and blows up so good).
1. Jan 18, 2011
MASSIVE METHANE EXPLOSION KILLS ONE IN PHILLY NEIGHBORHOOD
A massive explosion in the Tacony Section of Philadelphia killed a PGW gas worker and sent four others to the hospital, including a firefighter. The deadly blast occurred on Tuesday, January 18, 2011, at 7:36 p.m. in the middle of Disston Street near Torresdale Avenue, reported NBC Philadelphia.
Fire crews were originally called to the scene around 7:20 to investigate a gas smell. At 7:30, gas was seen bubbling throught the pavement, at which point the main exploded into a 50 foot fireball. The PGW workers were fixing both the gas leak and a water main when the blast occurred, killing one 19-year-old PGW worker. Three other PGW workers and one firefighter were rushed to local hospitals for treatment.
SEPT 10, 2010
EIGHT DEAD AS SAN BRUNO NEIGHBORHOOD BLOWS UP
They still talk about the roar, which could be heard for miles, when a methane gas line explosion blew up the San Bruno neighborhood in San Francisco. The firestorm killed at least one person and injured more than 20 others. The wind-whipped blaze destroyed 53 homes as it leaped from structure to structure in the neighborhood. The central ball of fire, fed by the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. gas line, raged past nightfall before abating. By then, houses on several blocks and thick stands of trees were engulfed in flames. The disaster was caused by maintenance work, or maybe it had something to do with a welded seam. The only thing for sure is that PG&E was not to blame.
