Leaking Los Angeles gas well ordered shut down

On Tuesday evening, Southern California’s air quality regulator sued SoCal Gas, the company that owns a leaking natural gas storage well just north of Los Angeles. The complaint filed against the utility claims it created a public nuisance and that people were harmed because of the gas leak that has sickened thousands of residents in the affluent neighborhood. It is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 21.4 million consumers connected through 5.9 million meters in more than 500 communities.

“The Aliso Canyon gas leak is obviously what’s sparking a lot of things, but we came up here back in August even before the leak and wanted to get a good site tour and talk to the gas company and find out how far this goes, where the fields are and the impact, (among other concerns)”, Knight said.

SoCal Gas officials said Monday that a relief well being drilled at Aliso Canyon in an effort to cap the leak is nearing completion, but they warned it will still take time to finish the job. Some health experts are skeptical, however, because there’s virtually no research on prolonged exposure to mercaptans, and trace amounts of benzene, toluene and other known toxins associated with the leaked gas have also been detected.

Some Porter Ranch residents were upset that the Air Quality Management District hadn’t ordered the gas company to shut down the entire Aliso Canyon facility, which contains more than 100 wells.

The two businesses, real estate firm Saab Properties and family-operated Nail Garden, hope to recover damages lost during these past three months as residents have left the neighborhood in droves, as reported by the Los Angeles Daily News. To minimize the leak, the proposed order demands that SoCalGas cease all gas injection at the storage field until the well is sealed. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, the leak that started October 23 and has released an estimated 80,000 tons of methane into the atmosphere and poisoned the Porter Ranch community of Los Angeles.

Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in early January. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has developed a standard to compare the global warming impacts of different greenhouse gases. The agency has ordered Southern California Gas Co.to permanently shut down the well, and is suing the company for negligence. Residents and organizers are happy with some of the elements of the abatement order, including permanent sealing of the well, independent health study, continuous air monitoring, continuous infrared monitoring until 30 days after the leak has stopped and a comprehensive leak detection system, but are quick to point out that only the total closure of the Aliso Canyon facility can protect the environment and local community. The company told the Los Angeles Times last night that it would “not comment on pending litigation”. That includes one filed in December by Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, who alleged that Southern California Gas was not adequately prepared for a leak.

“Once drilling reaches the leaking well’s base, crews will transition from drilling operations to pumping heavy fluids, cement, and drilling mud into the target well to stop the flow of gas”, the OES wrote.

The California Air Resources Board estimates that the emissions from the leak have declined by almost 70 percent since November, according to the Gas Co. Over 11,000 people have evacuated as of the first part of 2016, with several more on their way out.