Explosions on the rise

[Kojima]

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An oil field exploded in Basra Iraq [Iraq Oil Report ; Published September 20, 2011]; Comment by Starr DiGiacomo

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List of comment about gas explosion, in order of posted time; as of 2011-09-01

 

1) SOMERVILLE, Ohio, US; "Investigation continues in house collapse"

2) BAKERSFIELD, Calif. US; "Bakersfield resident hurt in natural gas explosion"

3) Pompton Lakes, NJ, US; "Update: Suspected gas explosion levels home in Pompton Lakes [raw video]"

4) Brantford, Ontario, Canada; "Natural gas explosion levelled Brantford house: fire marshal"

5) Warren, MI, US; "City of Warren Home Explosion Underscores Need for Natural Gas Safety"

6) Castleford, West Yorkshire, UK; "Dramatic footage shows huge gas explosion at Yorkshire home"

7) Warren Park, Harare, Zimbabwe; "2 seriously injured in Warren Park gas explosion"

8) Logan City, south of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia; "Seven children killed in gas explosion at house"

9) Herscher, IL, US; Douglasville, GA, US; "This Week In Natural Gas Leaks and Explosions – Aug. 22, 2011"

10) "Seven children killed in gas explosion at house" [See 8)]

11) Lakeview, MI, US; "Explosion inside Lakeview house causes fire, couple escapes with minor injuries"

12) Newborough, Victoria, Australia; "Gas blast destroys Newborough garage"

13) Cato, Montcalm, MI, US; "Couple escapes house explosion"

14) Glenrock, Converse, WY, US; "Oilfield explosion claims three"

15) St. Augustine, Fla, US; "Gas Station Explosion Site in St. Augustine now 'Stable'"

 

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* Comment by Starr DiGiacomo

We'll be seeing an uptick in unusual home and business gas explosions and I'm trying to locate specific ZT on the matter.  Below is a refresher for the many gas related news articles.

http://zetatalk5.com/index/blog0214.htm

SOZT

Fault lines, when adjusting, do not just rip apart one day during a dramatic earthquake. They most often creep. Laying gas lines along or across a fault line is asking for an accident of this sort. Fault lines are also seldom so clearly delineated that one can go a mile in this or that direction and avoid their action. Where a slip-slide fault such as the San Andreas will often leave a clear line on the surface, this is only the surface action, not what occurs in the rock layers on either side which can fracture for a long way to either side during any movement. The gas company, or the age of the pipes, will be faulted but in truth the finger should be pointed in many directions. The public, who insist on living at such a scenic spot, is to blame. Officials, who zoned for housing are to blame. The public utility company, for allowing gas lines in the area, is to blame. But this will change nothing, while man continues to live on the San Andreas, even as it awakens. EOZT

http://www.zetatalk5.com/ning/18sp2010.htm

SOZT

The danger from radon gas will not be increased as a result of the pole shift. Radon gas is emitted by rock containing uranium, which is degrading. In normal circumstances, where air can circulate, it is disbursed rapidly as is any methane created by decay of organic material. The danger from these gasses comes from confinement - being trapped in a mine, a basement, or beneath the permafrost. The dangers are well known. For methane, it is explosions. An accumulation of methane gas can be identified by the smell of rotten eggs, or as some have described it, dirty socks or cabbage soup. For radon gas the danger is lung cancer, from the continual exposure to the radioactive air. Radon gas is odorless, and cannot be detected except by specialized equipment not in the hands of the average person.

In that the pole shift, or the Earth changes preceding the pole shift, can fracture rock and release pockets of either gas, survivors should be cautious about huddling in bunkers. You are safer out in the open air, or in a trench you have dug that will allow the pole shift winds to pass over you, but nothing to fall on and crush you. The fact that both methane gas and radon gas can accumulate in the bunkers of the elite is one of the reasons we have stated that they have dug their own graves. EOZT

http://www.zetatalk5.com/ning/12mr2011.htm

 

* Comment by Starr DiGiacomo

SOZT

Anyone watching the news, for instance the news on the San Bruno explosion in a distribution line close to the San Andreas Fault line, knows that gas in any form is a danger. Oil and gas refineries explode when rigid piping cracks. Oil or gas wells explode when the ground around them moves. And the gas distribution lines running under cities are no exception. They likewise will explode. Gas lines, whether along the street or within a home, are rigid. In some cases automatic shutoff valves can limit the amount of gas available for an explosion by sensing a drop in pressure, but this is always after the fact. The explosion has already occurred. Utilizing gas on a planet prone to earthquakes was a mistake to begin with, but man never thinks of the consequences when striving for modern conveniences. We have advised turning off the gas at the street, though when the street explodes and your neighbor's homes are on fire you are not likely to escape the holocaust. A better alternative is to live in an area where gas is not available, as in your rural safe location where you will be doing a form of camping while gardening. A campfire at night, for cooking and washing and a bit of friendly light before bed. Nothing explosive. EOZT

http://www.zetatalk5.com/ning/02oc2010.htm

 

* Comment by Starr DiGiacomo

SOZT Answer: It is no accident that the New Madrid fault lies under the Mississippi River near Memphis, as rivers form in lowlands created when land pulls apart, separating the rock fingers and weakening support for the land. Thus, the Ohio River bed also is an indication of where rock fingers will pull apart. Two adjustments in Kentucky, a day apart, are not an accident, but an indication of the speed at which the stretch zone is starting to adjust. Rail lines are frequently an early harbinger of such adjustments, as they run long distances, whereas structures within cities, such as tall buildings, take up relatively little space and have a small footprint. Our warning that imploding cities will be experienced, before the hour of the shift, are in this regard. Be warmed, it will not just be your rail lines and gas and water mains that will shatter and be pulled apart during the stretch. The foundations of your tall buildings will likewise be vulnerable.EOZT

http://www.zetatalk5.com/newsletr/issue008.htm

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[Original post on January 20, 2011]

Original title: Gas explosion kills 1, injures 5 in Philadelphia

 

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/19/pennsylvania.gas.explosion/index.h...

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• The explosion occurred in Philadelphia's Tacony neighborhood
• The blast killed one utilities worker and injured five other people
• Some of the injuries are serious

(CNN) -- A gas main explosion in Philadelphia Tuesday evening killed one utilities worker and injured five other people, a fire department official said.

Philadelphia Gas Works employees were responding to a gas main break in the city's Tacony neighborhood when the explosion occurred, fire department spokesman Jim Smith said.

"They were trying to control it and found a source of ignition," according to Smith, who said four PGW employees and a firefighter were among the injured. He said some of the gas workers' injuries were serious.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/natural-gas-explosion-philadelphia-...

http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/caught-on-tape-gas-main-explodes-126...

[Howard]

New Jersey House Explosion Levels House, Kills Resident (Aug 28)

Neighbors were stunned this morning when a house exploded in the first block of New Street in Hampton, New Jersey.

The home at 74 New St. was destroyed about 7 o'clock in what a neighbor said was two explosions. Residences on both sides of the home were evacuated.

Emergency radio reports said at least one of the two people living there -- a man resided upstairs and a woman in the basement.  The man escaped but the woman was killed.

The body of 56-year-old Deborah Smith was found in the basement of the home on New Road that exploded this morning, State Police Spokesman Sgt. Adam Grossman said. The origin and cause of the explosion and fire remain under investigation.

Neighbors tried to save the woman trapped inside the burning home here this morning, rushing to the house and attempting to gain access, authorities said.

"It was reported that she was communicating with them as they attempted to rescue her," Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III said. "Their heroic acts, although unsuccessful, are a credit to these individuals and their community should be proud of them.”

A friend of the woman, who lived in the home's basement, came to see what he could do.

"When the house first exploded she called one of my friend's moms to help her get out," said Steve Babus, who lives in a nearby condo. The phone then cut off and the woman didn't make it out of the house, he said.

Tom Dellaventura, a retired captain in the Plainfield, N.J., Fire Department who lives at 64 New St., said he tried to rescue the woman.

The rear of the home had collapsed and Dellaventura could hear the woman calling for help, he said. He tried to clear debris to get into the house, but the flames got too intense and he said he had to back off.

"Maybe with a few more people, I could have done something," Dellaventura said, adding that he tried to fight the blaze with a neighbor's garden hose. "It's very frustrating to hear someone and not be able to help."

Babus said he last saw his friend Sunday.

"She was an outgoing person, kind," Babus said. "She'd do anything for anybody to help them out. She was a very up-spirited person, always happy."

Those who knew her, called her “Jesse James” due to her “feisty, tough-as-nails” personality.

“She made gold out of dirt,” said Rae Reid, of Byram, N.J.

Ali Dalpe, who lives at 60 New St., said she was awakened by an explosion. Her father and she ran outside. The house at 74 New St. was still standing; there was heavy smoke but no flames were initially visible, she said.

"All of a sudden the house just erupted," she said of the second explosion. "It was horrifying.

"... I was just hoping everyone was OK and the fire department could contain it."

The second explosion was a few minutes before rescue personnel arrived, she said. Officials later said what she thought was a second explosion was actually the house collapsing.

Another neighbor, who lives next to the house but didn't want to give her name, said, "I heard a boom and I saw it collapse."

The explosion shook her house so badly she thought a car struck her home, she said, adding there was no damage to her house as far as she knows.

"I am just shocked," she said. "I have no words. You never expect your neighbor's house to blow up."

Angela Patterson, who lives across the street, said she an explosion woke her up. Mirrors and furniture were shaking in her house, she said.

"This is unbelievable. To think that we're that close to something this tragic. It's really scary," she said.

A computer monitor and what looked like propane tanks were visible in the rubble.

The home did not have natural gas service, a spokesman for Elizabethtown Gas said.

"As a precaution we performed inspections of the natural gas main in the vicinity and found no leaks on our system," Duane A. Bourne said in an email. "Elizabethtown Gas is dedicated to the safety and reliability of our natural gas system and we are currently providing any assistance requested by local authorities as they respond and investigate this incident."

Sources

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/hunterdon-county/express-times/inde...

http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2013/08/neigh...

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/hunterdon-county/express-times/inde...

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://www.freep.com/article/20130831/NEWS01/308310078/Downtown-Det...

Blasts in downtown Detroit blow off manhole covers

A problem with an electrical cable beneath the streets of downtown Detroit sparked an explosion Saturday that blew off manhole covers at Washington and Grand River, according to DTE Energy.

Scott Simons, a spokesman for DTE, said an underground electrical cable failed. He said crews were making repairs and trying to determine what caused the explosion.

Simons said six manhole covers were blown off. No customers were affected, he said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

The Detroit Fire Department responded to the scene, according to an advisory from the Detroit Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The office asked people to avoid the area

and another link

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/detroit/underground-explosions-...

Underground explosion blows manhole covers into the air in downtown Detroit

Posted: 08/31/2013
Last Updated: 21 hours and 56 minutes ago

DETROIT (WXYZ) - The City of Detroit's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management says there has been an explosion at an underground electrical substation at Washington and Grand River.

DTE says the problem originated with a underground cable and the situation is ongoing. They are working to resolve the problem.

The scene is near the Rosa Parks Transit Center. Officials are asking people to avoid the area.

The blast launched manhole covers into the air in an alley in the area of Washington Boulevard and State Street. Windows in the alley were blown out by the explosion.

The Detroit Fire Department responded to the situation, but has since cleared the area. DTE crews remain on the scene.

There are no reports of injuries.

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://www.kwkt.com/news/oil-rig-explodes-south-tx

Oil rig explodes in south TX

video in link

Thursday, August 29, 2013 - 4:56pm

CNN — Investigators are trying to figure out what caused a oil rig explosion near Victoria, Texas.

Houston based EOG Resources operates the well, workers were drilling into the Eagle Ford when something went wrong, sending crew members scrambling for cover.

A spokesperson for EOG says all of the workers made it off the rig safely, firefighters and private contractors are working to extinguish the flames.

The fire is expected to burn for a couple of days.

UPDATE: OSHA investigating Lavaca County oil rig explosion

• Photo by Susie Albert •

The scene of the rig fire off of Highway 111.

photo link:   http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2013/aug/29/oil_rig_fire_folo_...

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/128547/Local_Media_Natural_Ga...

UPDATE: Fire Put Out On Oklahoma Natural Gas Pipeline after Blast

by  Reuters

|

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

NEW YORK, Aug 20 (Reuters) - A fire on Tuesday caused by an explosion at a natural gas pipeline owned by Enable Midstream Partners near Kiowa, Oklahoma, has been extinguished, an Enable spokeswoman said. The cause of the blast was unknown and there were no injuries reported. The incident occurred on a small gathering pipeline in a rural area about 60 miles southeast of Oklahoma City. The affected section of the pipe was isolated and the remaining gas emptied from that portion of the line.

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/new-details-explosion-reported-nea...

NEW DETAILS: Explosion reported near UNI campus; no one hurt

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Two utility workers escaped injury after a power-generating plant blew up while they were testing it Monday morning.

Steve Balthazor and Kevin DeSerano were at control panels for the No. 2 gas combustion turbine at 2506. W. 27th St. on the outskirts of Cedar Falls around 9:45 a.m. when the blast tore apart a section of the building, according to firefighters and CFU officials.

“Just about everybody in town called it in ... I was sitting in City Hall in the mayor’s conference room, and it shook the building,” said John Schilling, chief of Cedar Falls Fire Rescue.

City Hall is about three miles from the CFU facility.

“It took out about half the power-generating portion of the (CFU) building ... There were no signs of fire, just signs of a large explosion. The two people who were inside the building weren’t hurt. They were treated and evaluated by the paramedics and refused transport,” Schilling said.

Balthazor and DeSerano, full-time CFU workers who are normally stationed at another plant, were wearing hearing protection because of normal noise in the West 27th Street facility, said Betty Zeman, CFU’s public information officer.

There were no fires or gas leaks at the damaged building, Schilling said.

He said no debris from the explosion left the site, which is surrounded by a chain-link fence, and windows in neighboring buildings were intact. Other structures on the site, including a second turbine building and two above-ground fuel oil tanks, weren’t damaged, Zeman said.

“We were told it wouldn’t effect the power-generating capabilities for this city, even with the higher heat coming up this week,” Schilling said.

The cause of the explosion hasn’t been determined.

Zeman said the site is a backup facility and only used during days with peak power demand or during emergencies.

“It’s not a unit that’s used very often, but when you need it, you really need it,” she said.

She said the accident happened during a mandatory annual “urge test” at the facility.

“Basically what you are doing is confirming the capacity of the unit ... That’s a routine thing done once a year,” she said.

The employees were conducting a startup of the gas turbine as part of the test when the explosion happened.

A diesel engine starts up the equipment, and then natural gas is injected and burned to produce electricity, Zeman said. She said the accident happened sometime after the natural gas injection had begun.

Updated at 11:05 a.m.

CEDAR FALLS —No injuries were reported after a power generating station exploded on the outskirts of Cedar Falls this morning.

Two Cedar Falls Utilities workers were inside the building at 2506 W. 27th St. when the blast damaged the facility, said Fire Chief John Schilling. He said the two were examined by paramedics and released at the scene.

The cause of the explosion hasn’t been determined, but Shilling said the blast leveled about half of the building.

The explosion happened at about 10 a.m. and was heard across the city. Schilling said he heard the noise from city hall downtown.

He said the accident won’t effect power to the city.

Schilling said there was no debris outside the site, and windows in neighboring buildings were intact.

Betty Zeman, a CFU spokeswoman, said the site is a backup facility and only used during days with peak power demand or during emergencies. This morning, the two workers — Steve Balthazor and Kevin DeSerano — were undertaking a required annual “urge test” on the No. 2 gas combustion turbine when the explosion occurred.

They were at a control panel when the blast occurred in another part of the building, she said. She said they were wearing hearing protection because of normal noise in the facility.

She said there were no issues with gas leaks.

UPDATED 10:55 a.m.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — No injuries were reported after a power generating station exploded on the outskirts of Cedar Falls this morning.

Two Cedar Falls Utilities workers were inside the building at 2506 W. 27th St. when the blast damaged the facility, said Fire Chief John Schilling. He said the two were examined by paramedics and released at the scene.

The cause of the explosion hasn’t been determined, but Shilling said the blast leveled about half of the building.

The explosion happened at about 10 a.m. and was heard across the city. Schilling said he heard the noise from city hall downtown.

He said the accident won’t effect power to the city.

Schilling said there was no debris outside the site, and windows in neighboring buildings were intact.

Betty Zeman, a CFU spokeswoman, said the site is a backup facility and only used during days with peak power demand or during emergencies. This morning, the two workers were undertaking a required annual “urge test” on the No. 2 gas combustion turbine when the explosion occurred.

She said there were no issues with gas leaks.

UPDATE at 10:30 a.m.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- No injuries were reported after a power generating station exploded on the outskirts of Cedar Falls this morning.

Two Cedar Falls Utilities workers were inside the building at 2506 W. 27th St. when the blast damaged the facility, said Fire Chief John Schilling. He said the two were examined by paramedics and released at the scene.

The cause of the explosion hasn't been determined, but Shilling said the blast leveled about half of the building.

EARLIER STORY

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Rescue crews are on the scene of an explosion near the University of Northern Iowa campus near the UNI-Dome.

Officials with Cedar Falls Fire Rescue were called to 2602 W. 27th St. about 10 a.m. on a report of an explosion.

There were no reported injuries.

But the boom from the explosion could be heard for blocks. People working and living near campus took to social media right afterwards, reporting that the walls of the McLeod Center shook during the blast. Another said the blast could be heard at Gold Falls apartments.

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://en.ria.ru/world/20130811/182708384/1-Dead-6-Injured-After-Ex...

2 Dead, 16 Injured After Explosion in Eastern Ukraine

Взрыв газа в доме в Луганске

© Ilya Bogrov

17:53 11/08/2013

MOSCOW, August 11 (RIA Novosti) – Two people were killed and 16 people injured in an explosion that tore through an apartment block in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk on Sunday, Ukrainian officials said.

“The shock waves damaged concrete slabs and partitions on the 5th, 6th and 7th floors. The explosion took place on the 6th floor,” a local emergency services official said. The blast was likely to have been caused by a gas leak, according to officials.

People may still be trapped in the damaged building, where Ukrainian rescuers are working to find survivors, and about 60 people have been evacuated from the area, a local emergency services official said.

The explosion happened in an apartment block in the center of Lugansk, a large town about 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian capital Kiev, and near to the country’s border with Russia.

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2386911/Dramatic-moment-mys...

Underground electrical explosions in Sutton (the 4th such explosion since April)

Dramatic moment mystery explosion causes pavement to catch fire leaving 100 homes without power

• Family of four return home to see car engulfed in flames and hedge on fire
• Bradley Wakelin's car was written off and his scorched drive left in tatters
• More than 100 homes were without power for nearly eight hours
  
• It was the fourth underground explosion in Sutton since April
• Electrical firm UK Power Networks is in compensation talks with the family

By STUART WOLEDGE

PUBLISHED: 11:27 EST, 8 August 2013 | UPDATED: 12:16 EST, 8 August 2013

A family's car was written off and 100 homes were left without 
power after a mystery explosion sparked an inferno causing flames to come shooting up from underneath the pavement..

The Wakelin family, from Hackbridge in Sutton, were shocked when they returned home to see that their hedge was on fire and their car had been engulfed in flames.

The heat was so intense, it also burnt Bradley Wakelin's drive leaving it in tatters. The incident caused a powercut to 107 customers, who were without energy for nearly eight hours.

Inferno: Faulty underground cabling caught alight after the explosion causing a powercut to more than 100 properties

Mr Wakelin said: 'My family and I came home to find my vehicle and front hedge on fire with the firefighters putting it out.

'I didn’t know what was going on. I saw the car and the hedge alight and knew it wasn’t good.

'When they told me what happened I just couldn’t believe it. I just didn’t think it could happen.

'My car is written off. My driveway is crumbled from the heat as well. It was frightening.'

Neither he, nor his wife Emma and daughters Kelsie, five, and Keira, nine, were harmed during the incident, but he Mr Wakelin is worried something like this might end up happening again.

'This was caused by a fire in the electrical junction box underneath the ground that had got so fierce that it caught my hedge and car alight,' he said.

'I feel that people of Sutton and the surrounding areas should be made aware of the dangers that are beneath us.

'I want to send a clear message to UK Power Networks to do something about the situation and the dangers it can cause.'

Explosion: Firefighters were called to the scene of the incident in New Road, Hackbridge, which engulfed a family's car in flames

Tackling the flames: Firefighters were called to the scene and put the fire out, but Mr Wakelin was shocked at the damage it had caused

Firefighers from Wallington Fire Station were called to the scene at about 5.50pm on Sunday, July 28 and tackled the blaze using water.

A fault on UK Power Networks' electrical equipment beneath the ground was blamed for causing the explosion that led to the fire.

Similar incidents in April caused three explosions underground near Sutton train station, leading to blackouts in the town centre.

The incidents reportedly caused chaos on the railway, with the departure boards going down. A lift was also damaged and the pavement where the explosions had been was lifted.

Across London, a manhole cover also exploded in Pimlico.

UK Power Networks, which operates the electrical cables under Sutton, confirmed it was in talks with Mr Wakelin over compensation for the damage the fire caused.

A spokeswoman added: 'UK Power Networks engineers worked through the night to restore power after a fault on the underground electricity network in the New Road area of Hackbridge interrupted supplies to 107 customers.

'We appreciate how difficult it is to be without power and are sorry for the inconvenience caused.'

The faulty equipment was replaced and power supplies restored by 2.55am the following day.

Aftermath: Mr Wakelin's car, which had been parked on his drive, was completely written off by the fire

Burnt out: The engine of the victim's car was damaged beyond repair by the fire

[KM]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23594429

Rosario: Blast rocks Argentine apartment block

Footage from the scene shows the devastating aftermath of the blast, as Lucy Hockings reports

A powerful blast in a residential building in the Argentine city of Rosario has killed at least five people and injured more than 50 others.

Emergency teams have been trying to put out a fire and rescue the people who remain trapped in the upper floors.

Rescue teams say there is a risk of the apartment block collapsing. Nearby buildings have also been affected.

The explosion was probably caused by a gas leak in the building's heating system, local authorities said.

"We have 51 people injured and five confirmed deaths," said Santa Fe province Health Minister Miguel Cappiello.

One of the victims is reported to be a 21-year-old woman.

'Falling ceiling'

Witnesses say the blast could be heard several kilometres away. The explosion happened just before 1000 local time.

"I was in the bath when the explosion took place and the ceiling fell over my head. I have lost everything," a fifth floor resident identified only as Evangelina told La Nacion newspaper.

The 10-storey building's facade was ripped off by the blast.

Evangelina said the accident in the Salta street apartment block may well be linked to problems with the gas system.

"Two weekends ago, someone tried to rob the gas meter. A gas engineer was due to come to fix it today, so we were informed the gas was going to be cut off between 0900 and 1400.

"The huge explosion which destroyed one of the sides of the building happened at 0945."

Rosario city mayor Monica Fein is visiting the area affected. Via her Twitter feed, she asked residents to avoid approaching the zone so the rescue teams could carry on with their work.

Rosario - the birthplace of Barcelona football star Lionel Messi - is Argentina's third largest city, after Buenos Aires and Cordoba.

[Starr DiGiacomo]

This ZetaTalk, written in late December, 2007 indeed describes what the holographic presentation that Nancy attended in November, 2009 was intending to relay. We have confirmed that some of these incidents will be part of a movement to the 7 of 10 stage, and by the end of 2010. In that we have also confirmed that burning oil fields in Iraq, caused by the rolling of the Arabian Plate, will be part of an 8 of 10, our 2007 ZetaTalk was also speaking of this point in time.

http://www.zetatalk.com/ning/12ju2010.htm

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleNO=22637#.Uf3k8dK1G30

Blast disables Iraqi domestic gas pipeline

 

file photo: Reuters

[8/3/2013 9:37:31 AM]

IRAQ (Reuters) - An explosion and fire disabled a pipeline carrying gas from Iraq's northern oil fields to power stations early on Friday, the oil ministry said.

It was not clear what caused the blast, which took place around 60 km (40 miles) west of Kirkuk, but it is another indication that Iraqi energy installations are becoming more vulnerable to technical glitches and insurgent attacks.

“A blast and fire halted gas flow through a domestic pipeline transporting gas to power stations in Baiji, Mosul and Taji near Baghdad at 3:30 am local time,” said oil ministry spokesman Asim Jihad.

“The reason behind the blast is not clear yet and our crew has started repair work which could take 2-3 days”.

Security in Iraq has been deteriorating in recent months as Sunni Islamist insurgent groups including al Qaeda regain momentum in their insurgency against the Shi'ite-led government.

Bombs and leakages have repeatedly interrupted oil flowthrough the pipeline linking Kirkuk to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, and repair crews sent to fix the damage have come under attack. The pipeline has been idled since Wednesday.

Iraq, OPEC's second largest crude producer, has signed oilcontracts with a number of foreign firms to develop its long-neglected energy sector.