Lake Peigneur Drilling Accident
Why Hacker News recommends it
Linked in salt mine and industrial accident threads as a fascinating, quick account with striking footage.
What it is
A short documentary about the 1980 Lake Peigneur accident in Louisiana, where an oil rig drilled into a salt mine beneath the lake. The lake drained into the mine, creating a whirlpool that swallowed barges.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2020 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Recommends kyuudou · 2020-04 · on “What is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?”
I bet you know about that salt cavern that collapsed at Lake Peigneur[1]. There should be a documentary on youtube where you can see the footage, including a really big boat going "phoomph" into the whirlpool created by the bayou water filling in the cavern. Edit: here's one[2] [1] [LINK] [2] [this video] still blows my mind
Recommends ljoshua · 2023-12 · on “Was an ancient bacterium awakened by an industrial accident?”
Also fascinating because we have video footage of it, and it’s as crazy as it sounds. Quick 8-minute documentary on it that I found interesting: [this video]
Cites tunap · 2020-01 · on “Detroit's salt mine: City beneath the city”
Fascinating story, even more amazing nobody died when you realize barges were sucked down into it and the ocean water ran miles(?) inland to fill the void. Saw this documentary on TV a decade or so ago. [this video]
Cites wewewedxfgdf · 2026-03 · on “One of the largest salt mines in the world exists under Lake Erie”
Reminds me of the Lake Peigneur disaster in 1980 in Louisiana when an oil drilling rig entered a salt mine located under the lake. [LINK] [LINK] [this video]