Massive gas leak near Los Angeles plugged after 16 weeks

The company responsible for a massive methane leak outside Los Angeles that was first detected in October said Thursday it was “temporarily” under control, and that it was working to permanently seal the well. Residents have complained of nausea, dizziness, headaches, nose bleeds and fatigue. Over winter vacation, the Los Angeles Unified School District moved almost 2,000 students to different campuses to avoid the gas. “It’s been disgusting. You want the adjective?” SoCalGas said Thursday that those residents have already been notified about the day’s progress. The leaking well is one of 115 wells at the Aliso Canyon storage facility, which is one of the biggest natural gas storage facilities in the country.

The leak, the biggest in California’s history, has been deemed an environmental disaster by several outside experts.

Sempra has at least four types of insurance policies with a combined available limit of more than $1 billion that it may use to cover costs associated with the leak, according to the company’s filing. The company had to relocate about 4,500 families. It would be impossible to calculate the probable damages from innumerable lawsuits, penalties from government agencies and the expenses to mitigate pollution, and all this is still being amassed. The gas company pumps natural gas into the reservoir in summer when demand is low and extracts it in winter when demand is high.

It was piped out during cold months or to fuel gas-run electricity plants during energy spikes.

In recent weeks, many people have gone home as the rate of the leak dwindled and air filters were installed in their homes. This would kick off a three-step process to kill and permanently close the well.

Residents in temporary housing including hotels will have up to eight days to return home.

“It’s been awful”, she said.

Share with Us – We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article, and smart, constructive criticism.

Police patrols became a regular a feature after residents anxious that their well-publicized exodus would bring crooks. “We’ll leave it at that”.