The Southern California natural gas well that leaked methane into the atmosphere for four months has been permanently sealed, California regulators confirmed Thursday.
Officials with the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources told the Southern California Gas Co. that the well in the Aliso Canyon area of Los Angeles is permanently sealed. A relief well drilled last week temporarily stopped the leak while crews finished the job.
“While the leak has been stopped and the well permanently sealed, we have much work to do, partnering with state and local agencies to help the local community and impacted residents return to normal,” said Dennis Arriola, chairman, president and CEO of the company. “We’ve already started inspecting all of the other wells at Aliso Canyon and will work closely with [regulators] to verify that the wells can be operated safely in the future.”
The well at Aliso Canyon started leaking in October and was stopped temporarily on Feb. 11. The Environmental Defense Fund estimated it poured 96,000 metric tons of methane into the atmosphere while it leaked.
Environmental groups have said stronger regulations could have prevented the leak. The well was not required to have a safety valve that would have stopped the leak once it occurred, they note.
The amount of methane spilling from the well caused more than 2,000 people to flee their homes in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of Aliso Canyon.
According to the statement from the company, residents will be able to transition back into their houses during the next week.
Four top Democrats on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office asking it to investigate the incident to see what it could mean for the rest of the country’s natural gas wells.
