[SoCalGas] – Southern California Gas Co. announced Monday that it has begun the process of permanently sealing the well at its Aliso Canyon storage facility. SoCalGas is working closely with the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources throughout this process.

On Dec. 4, 2015, SoCalGas commenced drilling a relief well to control the flow of natural gas by plugging the leaking well at its base. On Feb. 11, 2016, the company pumped heavy fluids and successfully controlled the flow of gas out of the leaking well. On Feb. 12, SoCalGas began to pump cement from the relief well into the base of the leaking well.

“We have started the process of permanently sealing the well,” said Jimmie Cho, SoCalGas senior vice president of gas operations and system integrity, and SoCalGas incident commander. “We will be working with DOGGR to complete a diagnostic process to confirm that the cementing process was successful and the well is permanently sealed.”

SoCalGas has begun the process of permanently sealing the leaking well at the Aliso Canyon storage facility. Source: SoCalGas

Representatives from DOGGR and other state and local agencies are at the site and are observing the operation to seal the well. The leak event will be officially terminated when DOGGR confirms that the well has been permanently sealed, a process that could take multiple days.

As part of their independent responsibilities, the California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District have been monitoring on an hourly basis methane levels in the community. Both agencies have reported an abrupt decline of methane levels in the community, consistent with the temporary control of the flow of gas on Feb. 11. Those reports are available at CARB/AQMD.

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, “mercaptans and other odorants have not been associated with long-term health effects and short-term symptoms will go away once the odor exposure has diminished.” Since the well is now controlled, there is no longer any gas or odorant being released from the well. As a result, residents should no longer experience short term symptoms related to the release of odorants from the gas well.

Residents in Porter Ranch who temporarily relocated because of the gas leak have been notified of this important milestone in the process, as have other residents of Porter Ranch and the surrounding communities. Once DOGGR confirms the permanent sealing of the well, residents who have temporarily relocated to short-term housing, such as hotels, will have up to eight days/seven nights to transition back home, and residents who have been placed in rental housing will have through the agreed term of their leases to return home. Specific information on the return home process and exceptions for special circumstances can be found at: www.alisoupdates.com/acu-return-home-faq

About: Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 145 years. It is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 21.6 million consumers connected through 5.9 million meters in more than 500 communities. The company’s service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.