Southern California Gas Co. has successfully located the leaking well at its Aliso Canyon Storage Facility in Porter Ranch at a depth of 3,800 feet. Crews identified the leaking well on Dec. 27 using active magnetic ranging tools. This marks the third phase of the company’s process to stop the leak. The company estimates the fix will take two to three additional months. Now that the problematic well has been identified, SoCalGas will continue to drill a relief well for more than 8,000 feet deep to intercept the leaking well at its base. “Once we intercept the well, we will pump heavy mud and fluids into the leaking well to stop the flow of gas from the reservoir and into the well. Once the flow of gas has been stopped, we will pump cement into the bottom of the well to permanently seal it,” the company stated on its website. The gas leak was detected from an underground pipe at the Aliso Canyon facility on Oct. 23. The leak has been seeping into the ground and rising to the surface, resulting in a bad odor and growing health concerns from San Fernando Valley residents. To date, the company has relocated more than 2,200 families to temporary housing, according to the Los Angeles Daily News, and many residents continue to complain of headaches, nausea and nosebleeds. SoCalGas said the drilling process will continue around the clock and is expected to be completed by late March.
