Testing continues at giant Louisiana sinkhole after Hydrogen Sulfide detected

ASSUMPTION PARISH, LA (WAFB) - There are more developments concerning the giant Louisiana sinkhole in Assumption Parish and once again, the highly toxic gas Hydrogen Sulfide is involved.

Two weeks ago, Texas-Brine detected amounts of Hydrogen Sulfide in its deepest well. Now the company has reported to the Department of Natural Resources that it has detected amounts of the gas in one of its flow lines in the failed cavern that caused the sinkhole.

According to Assumption Parish Director of OEP John Boudreaux, officials from DNR and his office tested the company's flow line themselves for the gas Thursday but did not detect Hydrogen Sulfide.

The next step will be for OEP and DNR, along with Texas-Brine to test the flow line in the cavern again Friday to see if the gas is present.

The danger now is that if it is detected, the cavern cannot be plugged and the gas will have to be removed as it flows. "If it is present then they'll have to bring in scrubber units and put those devices in the line and scrub out the hydrogen sulfide as well as remove the hydrogen sulfide and dispose of it in the proper manner," said Boudreaux.

Officials will test the cavern for Hydrogen Sulfide Friday morning.

Copyright 2012 WAFB. All rights reserved.