Oil drilling most likely cause of Indonesian mud volcano

The BBC reports that the majority of the scientists attending the American Association of Petroleum Geologists' meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, believe that a bore hole drilled by an oil company was most likely responsible for the creation of a mud volcano (Lusi) on the island of Java in 2006.

Since then the mud volcano has continued to spew mud, displacing tens of thousands of people, destroyed four villages and 25 factories, and is indirectly responsible for the death of 13 people. It may continue to erupt for decades.

The drilling company involved denies any responsibility, blaming instead a magnitude 6.3 earthquake 280km away.

You can read more about the Lusi volcano at Highly Allochthonous, with an update here.

I was tempted to title this post "Drill, Baby, Drill!" but encouraging stupidity is never wise.

[Image of Lusi mud volcano, credit: Durham University, found on this UC Berkeley press release regarding the Lusi volcano.]

[update 11/06/08: Highly Allochthonous was at the AAPG meeting and has a nice run down of the earthquake vs drilling talks at the Lusi debate.]