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Office of Conservation Hires Contractor to Drill New Water Well, Test Aquifer in Assumption Parish

New water well part of effort to determine extent of potential natural gas presence in Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer

BATON ROUGE – Louisiana Commissioner of Conservation James Welsh announced today that the Office of Conservation has obtained a landowner agreement allowing access to drill an observational water well between the Napoleonville Salt Dome and the Bayou Corne community, clearing the way to move forward with the project.

The Office of Conservation has selected a contractor to drill the new water well, which is intended to test for concentrations of natural gas present in the Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer between the western side of the salt dome and the Bayou Corne Community.

Scientific staff with the Office of Conservation’s Ground Water Resources Program selected the site from a standpoint of public safety, because it lies between the salt dome and the community, and as a likely gathering point for any natural gas that might be found in the aquifer.

The Office of Conservation has contracted with Walker-Hill Environmental to do the drilling, and the Office of Conservation will be on hand to observe the drilling and testing of the water, coordinating any sampling and testing activities with the state Department of Environmental Quality.

The driller is expected to move equipment on site next week and begin drilling, pending equipment availability.

The findings from the drilling and water sampling associated with the observational well will determine the next steps in the process of investigating the condition of the aquifer. Public safety remains DNR’s top priority and the findings will be made public as information is received.