Now that the FERC and FDEP have all but assured Sabal Trail/Spectra Energy freedom to have their way with the Florida environment, this becomes a very real threat, given Spectra’s abysmal safety record. See this orginal post here, or continue reading.
Aerial footage shows California methane leak (VIDEO)
December 28, 2015
Ben Karkela | Energy Media Group
Methane gas continues to leak from a California storage facility at a rate of 110,000 pounds per hour.
Aerial footage using a specialized infrared camera shows the extent of the leak. The video was taken Dec. 17 and released by the Environmental Defense Fund.
The leak emits methane at a rate of about 50,000 kilograms per hour, about one-quarter of all methane emissions in California.
Southern California Gas Co. first discovered the leak at its Aliso Canyon storage facility Oct. 23. Since then, nearby Porter Ranch residents have complained about headaches, nausea, nosebleeds and other symptoms. The gas company is offering free, temporary relocation for nearby residents. So far, hundreds have been moved to escape the fumes.
Plugging the well
The company expects to fix the leak by late March.
Workers continue to drill a relief well that connects to the leaking well 8,000 feet below ground. Once the relief well is finished, mud and other fluids will be pumped into the well to stop the flow of gas. Cement will then be pumped into the well to permanently plug it.
Operations run around the clock. By Saturday, the relief well had reached a depth of 3,800 feet.
In case the relief well fails, a backup relief well will be drilled in January.
In a letter to the community, SoCal Gas President and CEO Dennis Arriola assured those affected by the natural leak that the company is working as quickly and safely as possible to stop the flow of natural gas from the leak.
“Stopping the flow of gas is a complicated effort that involves world class technical experts, state and local government officials and emergency responders,” Arriola wrote. “We are making good progress on drilling a relief well to stop the leak and are on schedule to complete it by late-February to late-March.”
Hope they can learn from this…