Sidoarjo mud flow
Sidoarjo mud flow The Sidoarjo mud flow or Lapindo mud is the result of an erupting mud volcano in the subdistrict of Porong, Sidoarjo in East Java, Indonesia that has been in eruption since May 2006. It is the biggest mud volcano in the world; responsibility for it was credited to the blowout of a natural gas well drilled by PT Lapindo Brantas, although some scientists and company officials contend it was caused by a distant earthquake. A magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred in Yogyakarta at ~06:00 local time 27 May 2006, approximately 250 kilometres Southwest of Sidoarjo. Seven minutes after the earthquake a mud loss problem in the well was noted. After two major aftershocks, the well suffered a complete loss of circulation. A loss of circulation happens when drilling mudâ€"necessary for maintenance of wellbore stabilityâ€"that is pumped down a shaft does not return to the surface but is lost into some opening or a fault system. This mud loss problem was finally stopped whe...