Indonesia’s mud disaster was just a natural activity?
I was so surprised to read The Jakarta Post’s headline this morning. The Post reported that scientists concluded that the mud volcano in Sidoarjo, East Java, was caused by natural tectonic activity and nothing to do with drilling activities of Lapindo Brantas Inc.
The conclusion was reached after a two-day International Geological Workshop organized by the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), in which global experts shared their research into what triggered the eruption.
According to data and analysis, the Sidoarjo mudflow is a natural activity. We call it a mud volcano, which originated from 1,000 to 2,000 meters below the ground,” said BPPT chairman Said D. Jenie.
“The mud in Sidoarjo is still flowing while some say nature is to blame,” said Indonesia matters.
Yosef Ardi pointed out that the workshop was organized just weeks before government should make new decision on the future of the mudflow handling as the existing team established by president SBY last September would end its tenure early next month.
He questioned:
What about VP Jusuf Kalla’s statement that “Bakrie Family would bear all the costs”?
I don’t know exactly who’s behind the workshop, but the expert’s statement was really contrast to the public opinion.
I am not a geology expert, but I am really confusing and wondering about the finding. If it just a natural activity, why the muds flow didn’t just explode in other areas, instead of nearby of the drilling well?
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The last reportage about the mud disaster implicated careless drilling methods for creating the seemingly endless flow if mud that has destroyed several villages, and many peoples livelyhood in the process..Responsible drilling would have required the installation of safety valves that would prevent any backpressures from causing
underground mud to explode into the sky..The last serious attempt to stop the flow of mud, had huge bioulders being dropped into the offending well.Results have not been published for quite some time.The actual drilling that was done, did not employ any such safety valves, thus the current state of disaster..the corporation responsible for the drilling catastrophy was quickly sold, so that responsibility would be shilfted to the Indonecian Government..News releases since then have been sporadic - at best….