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To: Aggie who wrote (46979)	6/27/1999 12:12:00 PM
From: Think4Yourself	Respond to of 95453

Natural Gas Well On Fire MORGAN CITY, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 25, 1999--A leaking natural gas well is on fire tonight after apparently being struck by lightning at approximately 8:45 this evening. No injuries have been reported as a result of the lightning strike or fire at the well located approximately two miles southeast of Amelia, Louisiana, in Assumption Parish. The incident occurred at the Falcon Rig No. 16 which was completing the C.M. Thibodaux No. 2 well operated by The Meridian Resource Corporation. The well had been safely venting natural gas for the past 12 hours. The federal on-scene coordinator in charge of the incident, US Coast Guard LT Scott Stoermer, says the fire is beneficial because flames are burning up the leaking gas and preventing any danger of explosion. Local, state, and federal officials and well control specialists hired by Meridian will remain on the scene overnight to monitor the situation. The fire should continue to burn until morning when officials will reassess the situation. As a safety precaution, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Department evacuated approximately 25 residents from Avoca Island early this morning. Evacuated residents have been provided with meals and hotel rooms until parish officials determine it's safe for residents to return home. Meridian has set up a Claims Center at the Holiday Inn in Morgan City at 504/385-2200 extension 300 to assist any evacuated residents and process any damage claims. State Police Trooper E.J. Chesne says the following roads remain closed: LA 182 from LA 662 (east side of Amelia bridge) to the old Avondale shipyard; Highway 90 eastbound and westbound traffic will detour at LA 662. A ten-mile stretch of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway remains closed because of a safety zone established by the U.S. Coast Guard. Officials with Meridian and the U.S. Coast Guard, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana State Police, Assumption Parish, St. Mary Parish, and Terrebonne Parish have set up a Unified Command System on the scene to coordinate response efforts. MEDIA ADVISORY: (NOT FOR BROADCAST OR PUBLICATION) Local, state, and federal agencies and Meridian have established a Joint Information Center on the second floor of the U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office at 800 David Drive in Morgan City. All future news releases, media briefings and inquiries will be handled by the JIC at 504/380-5307. During overnight hours when the JIC will not be staffed, media can contact the USCG Watchstander at 504/380-5322. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact: Joint Information Center, 504/380-5307